GATLIN the BOO merang ! Are we a Sport ?

Gatlin, 35, clocked 9.92 seconds as he beat second-placed compatriot Christian Coleman and legendary Jamaican Usain Bolt, who was third. Bolt, 30, was unable to secure a 20th global gold in his final individual 100m race before retiring.

Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, was booed before and after Saturday's World Championship final at London Stadium, and when he was presented with his medal. In 2001, when he was still at college, Gatlin was given a two-year suspension for taking a banned amphetamine. He successfully argued this was because of medication he took for attention deficit disorder and was allowed to return to competition after a year. Then, in 2006 - having won the 100m and 200m double at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki - he tested positive again, this time for testosterone. Gatlin was banned for eight years, avoiding a lifetime ban in exchange for his co-operation with doping authorities. This suspension was halved to four years on appeal. But the crowd at London Stadium booed before and after Saturday's World Championship when Gatlin was presented with his medal. Even the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) chief Lord Sebatian Coe aired his views saying  "I'm not eulogistic that someone who has served two bans has walked off with one of our glittering prizes."

It's not Gatlin's fault in any way that he proved his mettle. He played by the rules laid down by WADA [the World Anti-Doping Agency] that allow him to return. The IAAF reinstated him and allowed him to compete. Bolt had no problem with Gatlin competing and later winning the race which was to be the Grand Finale to a glittering career of Usian Bolt; he remains the grand sportsman that he is but the reaction from the crowd & Lord Coe is indeed worth reviewing. Gatlin won the bronze medal at London in 2012 [Olympics] and no-one said a word. It was only when he started to challenge Bolt after 2015 it became an issue. Booing of Gatlin was surely “disrespectful to the sport" as remarked by Gatlin’s father.

The point to ponder is; what drew such reaction from the crowd. Are we not human enough to forgive faults or are we such hero worshippers that we can’t see our hero fading away? Can we forget the un-fateful day on 13 March 96 at Eden Gardens Kolkatta when the fans got unruly and hurled abuses at the Srilankan Cricket team since their heros were at the point of surrender and finally the match referee Clive Lloyd awarded the match to Srilanka. Next day the crowd did apologise and over the next few days, Concern for Calcutta an NGO placed half-page advertisements in newspapers with a single word, “Sorry”, printed in 400-point size across the space.  In an arena where sportspersons display their spirit does the crowd have the right to display their disdain and not allow an athlete to ever prove his/her mettle as if a final verdict has been passed against their participation. Are we sport enough to participate, even as an audience ?