Justin Gatlin on how his mother's financial expertise prevented him from going broke during tulmtuous four-year doping ban.
American sprinting icon Justin Gatlin, who faced one of the most tumultuous periods in his career after being handed a four-year doping ban between 2006 and 2010, recently revealed how his mother’s financial acumen became a cornerstone of his comeback.
Gatlin, once celebrated as an Olympic champion and world-beater, found his life unraveling after testing positive for testosterone, a scandal that saw him ostracised from the sport and plunged into personal despair.
While the ban stripped him of his ability to compete and earn through athletics, Gatlin shared that his mother Jeanette's sharp financial skills helped him weather the storm.
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“The four years were hard,” Gatlin admitted in a recent interview on Run Your Race, “but the three years after were even harder because I was coming back to the sport after already serving almost half a decade. Now I cannot even make money in the sport.”
During this challenging period, Gatlin had to rely on modest income from competing in small, obscure races that barely covered his travel expenses. It was his mother, with her banking background, who ensured that the financial turmoil didn’t spiral out of control.
“Luckily, my mom was a financial wiz,” Gatlin said. “She had a background in banking. I was able to save up my finances, stack them up, double them up, and make my money grow. It became a blessing on that side.”
Her meticulous planning and sound advice not only kept the family afloat but also gave Gatlin the breathing room he needed to focus on rebuilding his career.
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During his ban, Gatlin explored other avenues, including an unexpected detour into professional football. His world-class speed earned him tryouts with NFL teams like the Houston Texans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I did a mini-camp with the Buccaneers,” Gatlin shared, reflecting on the experience. “But I realised that as much as I wanted to do another sport and run away from everything that was happening to me, I had to face it and get back to where I was because that is where I was a king.”
Although his time in football was short-lived, the experience underscored the unique challenges of transitioning between sports and reinforced his passion for track and field.
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Despite the ban and the struggles that followed, Gatlin’s eventual return to athletics was a testament to resilience.
Overcoming depression, financial uncertainties, and professional setbacks, he not only reclaimed his place among sprinting’s elite but also found renewed gratitude for the support system that carried him through.