Drugs ban was a gift and a curse, says in-form Justin Gatlin

A four-year doping ban served from 2006-10 has been both "a gift and a curse", controversial in-form American sprinter Justin Gatlin admitted.

Speaking ahead of last night's Diamond League meet in Monaco, Gatlin acknowledged that hitting the peak of his form at the age of 33 was connected to sitting out four seasons of track action after a positive test for testosterone.

With Jamaican Usain Bolt struggling with a pelvic injury, the American will head to next month's Beijing world championships as firm favourite in both the 100 and 200m, having set a personal best of 9.74 seconds over the 100m in May as part of an unbeaten streak of 26 races dating back to August 2013.

Gatlin won the 2004 Olympic 100m title and was 2005 world sprint double gold medallist, but then served his second doping ban before returning to nail the 2012 world 60m indoor title, Olympic bronze at the London Games and a world silver in Moscow a year later.

"Theoretically I never had any injuries, I've been away from the sport for four years - I literally didn't run for four years, so my body's been rested," Gatlin said of his longevity and current prowess. "My body feels it's like a 27-year-old instead of a 33-year-old who's run those four years and feels tired.

"My being away from the sport has been a gift and a curse in a way. For me it's saddening I had to be away, but I'm able to have had adequate rest and sit back and see my opponents and their growth and use that to my advantage."

Turning to the August 22-30 Beijing worlds and a potential showdown with Bolt, Gatlin said he would return to his Florida home in Orlando for three weeks before joining up with the US team at a training camp in Japan from August 10.

"All the hard work is done now, it's just about staying sharp for competition," he said, adding he had become an outspoken role model for younger training partners. "They hang on to my every word. I'm like the on-court coach, like [basketball stars] Kobe Bryant or LeBron James."