Summary Justin Gatlin was left off the list of nominees for the IAAF's World Athlete of the Year awards.
PARIS (AFP) - Controversial world 100-metre champion Justin Gatlin was left off the list of nominees for the IAAF s World Athlete of the Year awards.
Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, was a surprise winner of the 100m in London in August as Jamaican great Usain Bolt bowed out of his top-class career with a disappointing bronze medal.
When the IAAF named on Monday their 10 male and female nominees for the 2017 awards, Gatlin s name was conspicuous by its absence.
It is the first time since 2004 -- when Gatlin was also omitted -- that the world or Olympic 100m champion has been left off the list.
Gatlin s omission is no surprise, though, as the IAAF changed its rules in 2015 to exclude from its list anyone who has ever been sanctioned for a serious doping offence.
That came after Germany s Olympic discus champion Robert Harting asked for his own name to be removed from the list in protest at Gatlin s inclusion in 2014.
The 2017 list is led by British 10,000m world champion Mo Farah and South Africa s 400m star Wayde van Niekerk.
The women s list includes comeback queen Sally Pearson of Australia, the 100m hurdles champion, and South Africa s Caster Semenya, the winner of the 800m.
Nominees:
Men: Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) high jump; Pawel Fajdek (POL) hammer; Mo Farah (GBR) 10,000m; Sam Kendricks (USA) pole vault; Elijah Manangoi (KEN) 1,500m; Luvo Manyonga (RSA) long jump; Omar McLeod (JAM) 110m hurdles; Christian Taylor (USA) triple jump; Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) 400m; Johannes Vetter (GER) javelin.
Women: Almaz Ayana (ETH) 10,000m; Maria Lasitskene (RUS - competing as a neutral) high jump; Hellen Obiri (KEN) 5,000m; Sally Pearson (AUS) 100m hurdles; Sandra Perkovic (CRO) discus; Brittney Reese (USA) long jump; Caster Semenya (RSA) 800m; Ekaterini Stefanidi (GRE) pole vault; Nafissatou Thiam (BEL) heptathlon; Anita Wlodarczyk (POL) hammer.
