Gatlin makes winning return after doping ban

US SPRINTER Justin Gatlin easily won his 100 metres heat yesterday in his first competitive race after a four-year doping ban with a time of 10.34 seconds.

Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic sprint champion was running at the KuldLiiga meeting in Rakvere, north-east Estonia as he starts his comeback aiming for the Olympic Games in London in 2012.

The American has not run a competitive race since June 2006 after being banned because of a positive test for the male sex hormone testosterone and its precursors.