Gay beaten by Gatlin in return from doping ban

Gatlin trumped Gay in a scintillating 100m, the former clocking 9.80sec for victory. Only six men have run faster.

In his return from a one-year doping ban, Tyson Gay finished second to Justin Gatlin, who ran a year-best 9.80 seconds in the 100 meters at the Athletissima on Thursday.

Gatlin got a great start and pulled away after 40 meters.

Gay clocked 9.93 to beat Michael Rodgers in an all-American 1-2-3. It was a decent performance from Gay, but still far from the level that made him the second fastest sprinter behind Usain Bolt. Gay won the 100 at Athletissima in 9.79 a year ago.

“I’m happy with my time, I’ve been training all year,” Gay said. “It’s been tough training. I’ve been under a lot of stress and stuff like that, but I made it through.”

Also at the Diamond League meeting, Olympic champion Kirani James outpaced LaShawn Merritt in the final straight to post a year-leading time of 43.74 in the 400.

In the men’s 200, Alonso Edward was the surprising winner in 19.84, finishing ahead of Nickel Ashmeade and 2010 European champion Christophe Lemaitre. Yohan Blake, the Olympic runner-up, placed sixth in 20.48, slowly improving after a 2013 season marred by a hamstring injury.

World champion Bogdan Bondarenko and Andriy Protsenko both leaped 2.40 but Bondarenko won the men’s high jump by needing one fewer attempt.

Michelle-Lee Ahye beat worlds runner-up Murielle Ahoure in a photo finish to claim the women’s 100 in 10.98.

In the men’s pole vault, Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie outclassed the field, clearing 5.87 at his first attempt.

Also, worlds runner-up Piotr Malachowski edged Jorge Fernandez in the men’s discus, Barbora Spotakova dominated the women’s javelin, and Olympic champion Valerie Adams was a class apart in the women’s shot put.