Gatlin speed impresses NFL coach

World and Olympic 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin has trained with NFL side Houston Texans as he waits for his drugs case to go to arbitration.

The American faces a ban of up to eight years after testing positive for testosterone at the Kansas Relays in April, his second failed drugs test, although the 24-year-old, who equalled Asafa Powell’s world record last season, is hopeful of being cleared.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak was impressed with Gatlin’s session as a receiver but claimed offering him a contract was “not something we could do right now”.

Kubiak added: “It would be a big step for him to step up and start playing football.

“But that looks like something he is interested in.

“He did a good job (in the workout). Some of our people who were watching him were amazed at how fast he ran.

“I don’t even know if he was full-speed at that time, but he did catch the ball pretty good.”