Former Olympic champ Justin Gatlin loses 100 meters in photo finish but wins 200 in Sardinia

Gatlin loses 100 but wins 200 in Sardinian meet

ARZANA, Sardinia — Former Olympic champion Justin Gatlin lost the 100 meters in a photo finish but won his first race at 200 meters since returning from a four-year doping ban.

Gatlin ran the 100 in 10.15 seconds Tuesday at the Terra Sarda meet in Sardinia. It was the same time as winner and fellow American Mike Rodgers. Britain’s Dwain Chambers, also previously banned for doping, was third in 10.26.

Gatlin won the 200 in 20.63, with Oral Thompson of Jamaica next in 20.99.

Gatlin had planned to end his outdoor season in Padua, Italy, last week but decided to race again.

Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius finished fourth in the 400. He finished in 46.87, nearly a second off the 45.95 he needs to qualify for next year’s world championships.