RIO DE JANEIRO _ Sprinter Justin Gatlin on Saturday dismissed a suggestion made last week by gold medal-winning U.S. swimmer Lilly King that he should not be allowed to compete in the Rio Olympics because he has served two drug suspensions.
King, who won the women's 100-meter breaststroke last week, was contemptuous of Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova, who has served a 16-month suspension and tested positive for meldonium this year but appealed and won the right to compete in these Games. After swimming against Efimova, King called for the exclusion of any athlete who has served a drug-related ban. Asked whether she meant to include fellow American Gatlin _ who is expected to contend for medals here in the 100- and 200-meter dashes _ she didn't back down.
"Do I think people who have been caught doping should be on the team? They shouldn't. It is unfortunate we have to see that," she said.
Gatlin was suspended for two years in 2001 after testing positive for a substance in the medication he was taking for attention deficit disorder, but his term later was reduced to one year. He won gold in the 100 in Athens in 2004 but served a four-year ban from 2006 to 2010 after testing positive for testosterone. He returned to win bronze in the 100 at London in 2012.
"I don't even know who Lilly King is. She does swimming and I'm track and field, so I'm not worried about that," he said Saturday after being timed in 10.01 seconds in the first round of the men's 100-meter dash, the swiftest time of the day.
Gatlin added that he has confidence in the work of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency and in his own policies.
"I've come back and did what I need to do, and I've worked hard and I get tested just like everybody else and I'm back here," he said. "I believe in the system. Everybody else believes in the system, too."
A female Bulgarian steeplechase runner, Silvia Danekova, on Friday was declared ineligible to compete because of an anti-doping rule violation. The decision was made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Gatlin's first-round 10.01 was effortless, as was the 10.07 run by two-time defending Olympic champion Usain Bolt, who eased to the finish line. Ben Youssef Meite of Ivory Coast had the second-best qualifying time, 10.03. Canada's Andre De Grasse, who briefly competed for USC, advanced with a 10.04. Americans Trayvon Bromell (10.13) and Marvin Bracy (10.16) also advanced, as did 40-year-old Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis (10.18).
Bolt, as always, was a favorite of the sparse crowd at the Olympic Stadium, and he put on a typically animated show. "I feel good. I'm happy that I got through the first round," he said.
