Gatlin reopens fight against doping ban

Olympic 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin began another challenge on Monday against a doping ban in the hope of competing in this week's American trials for the Beijing Games.

A US federal court in Gatlin's hometown of Pensacola, Florida, held a one-day hearing on a request for a preliminary injunction that would allow the 26-year-old Gatlin to take part in the trials in Eugene, Oregon.

The track meeting begins on Friday with the first two rounds of the 100 metres scheduled for Saturday.

US District Judge Lacey Collier said he would deliver a prompt ruling but gave no time frame.

Lawyers for athletics organisations argued that Gatlin could appeal an arbitration decision suspending him only at the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

"This court simply doesn't have jurisdiction to vacate that award," said Howard Jacobs, a lawyer for the US Olympic Committee. "Even if it did (grant the motion) the International Olympic Committee won't let him compete if he qualifies."

Collier issued a 10-day restraining order on Friday prohibiting the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), US Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Track & Field and the International Association of Athletics Federations from barring Gatlin from the trials because of his doping suspension.

The four organisations opposed Gatlin's request at Monday's hearing and Lorence Bielby, a USOC attorney, said it would appeal against any ruling by the judge in the sprinter's favour.

Gatlin was suspended for four years after testing positive in 2006 for the male sex hormone testosterone.

It was considered a second doping violation as the sprinter also tested positive in 2001 for amphetamines that were part of a medication to treat Attention Deficit Disorder.

He alleged in a lawsuit against the four organisations that the Americans with Disabilities Act was violated when an arbitration panel used the first positive test to increase his penalty for the 2006 offence.

The Court of Arbitration for Sports rejected an appeal from Gatlin this month after he asked the independent Lausanne-based body not to consider the 2001 ban in determining his suspension for the latter offence.

Gatlin could have been suspended for two years only had the positive test for testosterone been considered his first and would have been eligible to compete in the Olympic trials.