MONTE CARLO, Monaco: Athletics received just the tonic it needed at a thrilling Diamond League meet in Monaco yesterday after a week tainted by the positive drugs tests of two of the best-ever male sprinters.
The failed tests of American Tyson Gay and Jamaican Asafa Powell, second and fourth fastest men of all time, and Powell’s compatriot, three-time Olympic medallist Sherone Simpson, again brought into question the credibility of track and field just ahead of the world championships in Moscow.
But that was dispelled as a high-quality line-up led by American sprinter Justin Gatlin, Kenyans Asbel Kiprop and Edwin Soi, and an unlikely new European record in the 1500m going to Briton Mo Farah in perfect, balmy conditions at the Stade Louis II.
Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion who rebounded from a four-year doping ban to win bronze at the London Games, scorched to victory in the 100m in 9.94sec, pushed all the way by teammate Dentarius Locke (9.96) and Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut (9.99).
Earlier in the evening, Farah’s decision to compete in the 1500m, stepping down from the 5,000 and 10,000m in both of which he is defending Olympic champion, was rewarded with a European record.
The Briton was in fifth with two laps to run after a fast pace set by two hares.
Kenyan world champion Kiprop then fired through solo with 400m to go and clocked an astonishing 3:27.72, the fourth fastest time ever run over the distance. AFP
