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The winter Olympics are fast approaching but the drama surrounding one of America’s biggest track stars has recently come to light.
World 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin has fired his coach Dennis Mitchell after reporters from The Telegraph published the account of an undercover investigation where Michell and track agent Robert Wagner offered to sell and administer testosterone and human growth hormone.
The undercover reporters even posed as an actor training for a film who was looking for an HGH hook up and Mitchell and Wagner were down to get the substance from an Austrian doctor for $250,000.
Gatlin took to Instagram to let his fans know that despite his coach being caught up in the scandal, he’s never used PEDs and was just surprised as everyone else when the news about Mitchell came out.
“I am not using and have not used PEDs. I was shocked and surprised to learn that my coach would have anything to do with even the appearance of these current accusations. I fired him as soon as I found out about this,” he said. “All legal options are on the table as I will not allow others to lie about me like this. I have no further comments as it is now a legal matter. They will next hear from my lawyer.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc4A29PDZ1K/?hl=en&taken-by=justingatlin
This isn’t the first time Mitchell has found himself mixed up in controversy. Back in 1999, he was hit with a two-year ban, after human growth hormone was found in his system the year before. His excuse was the most iconic part of the entire ordeal, saying “five bottles of beer and sex with his wife at least four times… it was her birthday, the lady deserved a treat.”
Prior to the scandals, Mitchell was actually a talented runner who won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics and two world titles.
