Olympic Champion Harting Objects to Gatlin
Olympic discus champion Robert Harting says he wants to be taken off the short list for the athlete of the year because it also contains Justin Gatlin, an American sprinter who has been convicted of doping.
Gatlin and Harting were among the 10 athletes nominated by the IAAF for the annual award. Gatlin has served a four-year doping ban.
Harting tells Spiegel magazine "it's insulting for me and my fans" to be on the same list with Gatlin.
The three-time world champion says he is "officially asking" to be removed from the list.
Harting says he finds the nomination "great, but I am a candidate along with a doping offender and that's the reason for me to withdraw."
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