Veteran US sprinter won glittering 15 Olympic and world medals but also served two doping bans during career

Justin Gatlin – one of the most decorated but controversial sprinters in track and field history – has retired from the sport at the age of 40.

The American announced on his Instagram that he had hung up his spikes after a 20-year career with a post titled "Dear Track".

"From running around play grounds playing tag as a kid, to burning down sidelines of youth football fields, to racing the neighbourhood kids on foot while they were on bikes. My life changed the moment I knew your name...Track," Gatlin said.

"With love comes challenges and you gave me so many throughout my career, some that were easier than others and some that hurt more than life itself.

"Looking toward the future, I want to live a true legacy that continues to inspire others. Turning one year older and shifting my energies into new career endeavours, I hope to continue to inspire those who have supported me throughout my whole career."

His retirement isn't particularly a shock given Gatlin is now deep into his twilight years as a sprinter, emphasised by the fact that he failed to qualify for the US team at last year's Tokyo Olympics.

Nonetheless, he ends his career as an Olympic and four-time world sprint champion. He has won an astonishing 15 Olympic and world medals, two world indoor sprint titles and three consecutive Diamond League titles.

His 60m, 100m and 200m personal bests of 6.45, 9.74 and 19.57 also sees him place ninth, fifth and sixth on the respective all-time lists.

For over a decade he was part of a sprinting generation, including Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Tyson Gay, which captured the imagination of athletics fans around the world.

Gatlin was the first on the scene when he struck Olympic gold in the 100m at Athens 2004 before going one better a year later at Helsinki 2005 by winning the world sprint double of 100m and 200m.

His rivalry with Bolt ended up becoming must-watch action and after finishing second to the Jamaican in the 100m at Moscow 2013 and Beijing 2015 he finally avenged defeat with victory at London 2017.

However, he will also be remembered as one of the most high-profile athletes in track and field history to serve two doping bans.

The first occurred in 2001 when Gatlin was banned from international competition for two years, later reduced to one, by the then IAAF for amphetamine.

Gatlin, who was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, appealed on the grounds that he had taken the medication since he was a child to treat the disorder. The appeal resulted in the IAAF reinstating Gatlin to competition but he was still banned from competing internationally.

In 2006 Gatlin, at that point the reigning Olympic and world 100m champion, tested positive for testosterone.

As this was his second doping ban the American faced a lifetime ban from the sport but due to co-operation with the authorities and the "exceptional circumstances" around the first case it was reduced to eight years. Gatlin first accepted this but later appealed to the American Arbitration Association which reduced it to four years.

A further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport – reduction of the four-year ban to two years based on the first 2001 case not being part of the evidence – failed. Gatlin subsequently missed Beijing 2008, an Olympics which saw Bolt break world records in both the 100m and 200m.

The retirement of Gatlin marks the end of an era for one of the quickest and explosive yet controversial sprinters in athletics.

The legacy he leaves behind will certainly not go unnoticed.

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