A lawsuit filed by Tyson Gay’s former coach Jon Drummond, who claims he was falsely accused of supplying the sprinter with performance-enhancing drugs, is ‘baseless’, the United States Anti-Doping Agency said.

The lawsuit comes as USADA is seeking a lifetime ban against Drummond for supplying the joint second fastest man in history with performance-enhancing drugs.

“Drummond’s baseless lawsuit against the US Anti-Doping Agency is an effort to circumvent the mandatory arbitration process established to protect the rights of all clean athletes, coaches and the integrity of competition,” USADA spokesperson Annie Skinner said in a statement to Reuters.

“Under the rules which were approved by athletes, the US Olympic Committee and all US sport federations, Drummond will have the opportunity to have his case heard by a panel of independent arbitrators, who will ultimately weigh all evidence presented and determine the outcome of the case.

“As in numerous previous cases, we will ask the court to dismiss Drummond’s lawsuit in favour of the well-established arbitration process.”

Drummond, a former Olympic sprinter who coached the US relay team at the 2012 London Games, filed a defamation lawsuit this week against Gay, USADA and USADA chief Travis Tygart.

“Jon Drummond categorically denies ever having encouraged Tyson Gay, or any other athlete, to use any banned substance,” Mark Whitburn, one of Drummond’s lawyers, said in a statement emailed to Reuters.

Gay, the gold medal winner in the 100 and 200 metres and 4x100 relay at the world championships in 2007, was handed a one-year ban earlier this month after testing positive in 2013 for a banned anabolic steroid.

He has returned the silver medal he won with the US 4x100 team at the 2012 London Olympics but will be eligible to return to competition as early as next month after admitting his offence and co-operating with investigators.