FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – A judge has suspended a lawsuit filed by track coach Jon Drummond against Tyson Gay and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), saying it must be settled for now in arbitration, not in federal court.
Drummond has sued the USADA and Gay for defamation, saying claims that he encouraged the former sprint champion to use banned substances are false and damaging to his reputation. He also says the USADA is trying to give him a lifetime ban due to Gay’s allegations about him.
Gay is the American 100-metre record holder once coached by Drummond.
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor ruled yesterday that Drummond’s defamation claims are related to the ongoing arbitration over Drummond’s proposed lifetime ban.
O’Connor issued a stay in the case until the arbitrator makes a ruling.
The USADA and an attorney for Drummond did not immediately comment.
