Justin Gatlin the sprinter lived life in sub-10-second bursts. Justin Gatlin the banned doper has had four years to obsess about getting that life back.
Four years to think about how his suspension cost him his prime years. Four years to think about how to repair his tattered reputation. Four years to figure out how to catch the fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt.
Eligible for reinstatement July 24, Gatlin has intensified his training, determined to write a successful final chapter to a career that has included tying a world record, an Olympic gold medal and the humiliation of being caught doping -- something he promised would never happen.
"I just hope that 9 seconds of my life from this point on can make up for four years," the 28-year-old Gatlin told The Associated Press in an extensive phone interview.
There was a time when Gatlin -- not Bolt -- was the face of track and the sprinter to beat.
Gatlin was one of the fastest men on the planet then, tying the 100-meter world record of 9.77 seconds, a run that came weeks after a positive test in April 2006 for excessive testosterone and has since been erased.
He won Olympic gold in the 100 meters at the 2004 Olympic Games, followed by world titles in the 100 and 200 a year later.
He said he no longer has a relationship with his former coach Trevor Graham, who was given a lifetime ban from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for his role in helping his athletes obtain performance-enhancing drugs. Graham, who was based in Raleigh, also coached dopers Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery.
Nadal has no trouble
Rafael Nadal improved his record at the Rome Masters to 24-1 with a methodical 6-3, 6-2 win Thursday against 39th-ranked Victor Hanescu.
The four-time winner in Rome saved all five break points late in the match, including one when he was serving for the match.
He will face Stanislas Wawrinka, the 2008 runner-up, who took out Robin Soderling 6-3, 6-2.
Second-ranked Novak Djokovic defeated Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-4 and will meet Fernando Verdasco in the quarterfinals. Verdasco edged Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-4, 7-6 (2) to improve his record to 13-2 on clay this year.
David Ferrer earned his tour-best 21st win on clay this year, stopping Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4.
Porsche Grand Prix: Justine Henin outlasted Belgian teammate Yanina Wickmayer 6-3, 7-5 Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals in Stuttgart, Germany.
Henin's path to the final was eased when top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, still bothered by a sore ankle, lost 6-4, 6-4 to Lucie Safarova.
Henin took a 5-1 lead in the second set and twice served for the match but could not finish it off. Wickmayer tied it 5-5 before Henin won the next two games.
The Chicken is the man
Plucked from among all sports mascots, San Diego's Chicken still rules the roost.
The Chicken ranks first in Forbes magazine's survey of 10 most-liked sports mascots. Ted Giannoulas, the man inside the costume, has a 78.7 awareness in the rankings.
Trailing the Chicken are the Phillie Phanatic; Mr. Met; the Racing Sausages of the Milwaukee Brewers; The Gorilla of the Phoenix Suns; Benny the Bull of Chicago; Wally the Green Monster, who represents the Red Sox; Billy the Marlin; Rocky of the Denver Nuggets; and The Coyote of the San Antonio Spurs.
Forbes polled the public on awareness, appeal and team recognition of more than 50 major sports team mascots.
IHRA at The Rock
Rockingham Dragway, site of the International Hot Rod Association's inaugural national event in 1971, will host the IHRA's new Nitro Jam series on Saturday and Sunday.
Among the highlights of the Spring Nitro Jam will be three nitro-powered classes - Top Fuel and Pro Fuel Dragsters and Prostalgia Nitro Funny Cars - along with regional drivers in heads-up doorslammer and dragster racing, dueling jet semis and the "Cool Bus" wheelstander.
Six-time IHRA Top Fuel points champion Clay Millican of Drummonds, Tenn., will be among the drivers returning to The Rock.
Tickets, which include pit passes, cost $15 for adults and $5 for ages 6-12 Friday, and $35 and $10 Saturday and Sunday. Call 910-582-3400 or visit www.rockinghamdragway.com.
From event news release
