Gatlin, Powell, Ogunode and Gay have served eight and a half year’s worth of drugs bans between them (Pictures: AP, AP, Reuters, Getty)

Justin Gatlin said he wanted to ‘set the tone’ after posting a remarkable time of 9.83seconds in his 100 metre heat at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing.

And while the American has undoubtedly laid down a gauntlet to Usain Bolt and co, the tone that has been set on the opening day at the Bird’s Nest is an altogether more alarming one for athletics.

And that’s because out of the seven 100m heats run on Saturday, four were won by athletes who have tested positive for banned substances.

Asafa Powell, Tyson Gay, Femi Ogunode and Gatlin won the first, second, third and sixth heats respectively, and have also served drugs bans of six months, one year, two years and five years respectively, with Gatlin’s coming in two separate spells.


The heat winners Asafa Powell – 9.95s Tyson Gay – 10.11s Femi Ogunode – 9.99s Trayvon Bromell – 9.91s Jimmy Vicaut – 9.92s Justin Gatlin – 9.83s Usain Bolt – 9.96s

Powell, Gay and Gatlin all say they did not knowingly take any illegal substances, and while you can’t deny that their times – especially Gatlin’s – aren impressive, athletics fans may be left with a sour taste in their mouths should any of them take the gold medal on Sunday.