America's Justin Gatlin runs fastest 100 metres race of the year in Brussels
Last Updated: 06/09/14 11:06am
Disgraced sprinter Justin Gatlin clocked the fastest 100 metres time in the world this year at the Memorial van Damme in Brussels.
The American, who has served two bans after testing positive for banned substances, scorched to victory over a world-class field and crossed the line in a personal-best 9.77 seconds.
Winning the final Diamond League meeting of the season extended Gatlin's unbeaten run to 17 races as he matched the time he set in 2006 - a world record which was later erased from the history books following his doping ban.
The 32-year-old also claimed overall victory in the Diamond Race, and he remains a huge threat to Usain Bolt at next year's World Championships.
But having served a four-year suspension before returning to athletics in 2010, there are many within the sport that would feel aggrieved if Gatlin was to be crowned world champion.
Great Britain's former world 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene said on Twitter: "I enjoy watching athletics but it's hard to do so when I've not raced because of injury and the coverage is full of drug cheats winning."
American Mike Rodgers finished second behind Gatlin in 9.93secs, while Britain's European champion James Dasaolu ended the series on a high as he ran a season's best 10.00s and declared himself "happy" with his run as he beat the likes of Tyson Gay, Nesta Carter, Richard Thompson and Kim Collins.
Gatlin also produced another superb run in the 200m an hour later, destroying another high-quality field to win in a time of 19.71 seconds.
His compatriot Allyson Fox took both the Diamond Race and the best time of the year as she came home first in the women's 200 metres.
The 28-year-old returned earlier this year after a nine-month injury lay-off but was too good for the rest of the Brussels field and clocked a time of 22.02 seconds.
Myriam Soumare of France took second with a personal best of 22.11, with Great Britain's Jodie Williams unhappy after finishing eighth.
"That was awful," she conceded. "But I cant complain really as I have had a great season but that was probably a step to far for me."
Elsewhere, Eilidh Child, another European champion, was third in the 400m hurdles in a time of 54.76.