Justin Gatlin: Why Gatlin Will Be Among 2012 Olympics' Most Polarizing Athletes

American sprinter Justin Gatlin may have won the gold medal in the 100-meter dash of the 2004 Athens Olympics, but he missed the 2008 Beijing Olympics because he was serving a four-year doping ban.

That's why there's plenty of buzz surrounding Gatlin this year as he returns to the Olympics and tries to steal the gold medal away from reigning Olympic champion Usain Bolt and reigning world champion Yohan Blake.

Gatlin has come out determined leading up to the 2012 London Olympics, capturing the 100-meter U.S. Olympic trials final in a career-best 9.80 seconds. At 30 years of age, he's still not content with coming in second place.

Gatlin said, via SuperSport.com:

"

I've heard a lot of words over the past year or so – my road, redemption, my journey. 

I have been through some dark past. What has kept me going is the faith of my fans knowing I am a legitimate athlete. I've been tested multiple times since I have been back. I'm a clean athlete. I'm focused on that.

"

Regardless of Gatlin's natural ability, there will always be those who discredit his success. In addition to his gold medal in the 100-meter in 2004, he also won a bronze in the 200-meter and a silver in the relay.

He also emerged victorious in the 100-meter and 200-meter in the 2005 Helsinki World Championships before his ban from 2006-2010.

We can't say for sure what Gatlin was doing back in 2004 and 2005, but suspicion alone casts a negative light on the electric sprinter. That's why you better believe he wants a gold medal more than ever in 2012, to shed the tag of him simply being a doctored athlete.

If Gatlin wins this year, nobody can question his ability.