Justin Gatlin of the US competes in the 100 metres race during the Super Grand Prix in Doha in this May 12, 2006 file photo. Gatlin agreed on August 22, 2006 to an eight-year ban from athletics for a second doping offence, according to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.[filephoto]

Unless the ban is overturned in arbitration, Gatlin will lose the 100 meters world record of 9.77 seconds he jointly holds with Jamaican Asafa Powell.

The 24-year-old American tested positive for testosterone at the Kansas Relays on April 22.

The positive drugs test was the second offence for Gatlin, who tested positive for an amphetamine at the U.S. junior championships in 2001.

A New York native, Gatlin said the prohibited stimulant was contained in a prescription medicine he had taken for 10 years for attention deficit disorder.

"The nature of Gatlin's first offence for use of his medication puts this violation in a unique category," said Terry Madden, USADA chief executive officer.

"Given these circumstances and consistent with the international CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) precedent, a maximum of an eight-year suspension is a fair and just outcome