In a statement released through his publicists, the Olympic and world champion in the 100-metres reiterated his disdain for cheating in a sport that has been wracked with doping issues.

"Cheating, in any form, is completely contrary to who I am as an athlete and a person," said Gatlin, who has long positioned himself as a champion of drug-free competition in track. "I will continue to co-operate with USADA and with their efforts to get to the bottom of this situation."

But, he said, he still fully intended to file for arbitration, in hopes of reducing the eight-year ban he received from the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

"I expect when that process is concluded that this entire matter will be resolved favourably," he said.

Gatlin has six months to appeal to an American arbitration panel. After that, he can take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

On Tuesday, Gatlin and USADA reached an agreement that scaled back his penalty from a lifetime ban to a maximum of eight years in exchange for Gatlin's help in other doping investigations – presumably one involving his coach, Trevor Graham.

The agreement also acknowledged that Gatlin's first positive test, five years ago, was an honest mistake – the result of his taking medicine to treat attention-deficit disorder.

In exchange, Gatlin agreed not to argue the validity of the latest positive tests, which found testosterone or other steroids in his system after an April race. He retained his right – as all athletes do – to appeal the case to arbitrators in hopes of a reduced sentence. (AP)