Los Angeles (AFP)

A real thunderclap! American Christian Coleman, the fastest man on the planet since Usain Bolt's retirement, could miss the Doha Worlds (September 27 - October 6) for failing to meet his localization requirements for doping controls. that he is the big favorite for the title on the queen distance of 100 m.

With Russia still suspended since November 2015 and a vast scandal of doping and corruption, the world athletics is found with a potential new business very embarrassing on the arms, all the more resounding that it concerns the 100 m and the States United States, the major discipline and nation of Olympic sport N.1.

According to US media and the Daily Mail, which revealed the information Thursday, Coleman would have missed three times its whereabouts obligations in one year, which constitutes an anti-doping offense, and would seek to challenge one of them for avoid a suspension.

As a result, Coleman faces a two-year suspension, reduced to one year at best, also jeopardizing his presence at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Contacted by AFP, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), responsible for investigating a possible file, did not wish to comment.

The US National Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), tasked with investigating a possible case, has not wanted to confirm the existence of a case involving Coleman.

"For any potential anti-doping violation, a full investigation is conducted, then the case must be resolved before USADA makes the information public," the organization told AFP.

Vice-world champion in London in 2017, holder of the 60m world record since February 2018 (6.34) and best performer of the year on the straight line (9.81 in Stanford, California on June 30th), Christian Coleman represents the US sprint, but also world, two years after the farewell superstar Usain Bolt (3rd behind Coleman in London) who left a gaping gap.

- Favorite Gatlin of the 100m? -

Ironically, if Coleman could not line up in Doha, it's the controversial Justin Gatlin, his fellow countryman in 100m, who would inherit the status of favorite at 37, when he - even already been suspended twice for doping in his career (between 2001 and 2002 and between 2006 and 2010).

A potential absence of Coleman could also whet the appetites of other competitors on a distance already announced very open, especially as the new American star Noah Lyles will be content to run the 200 m in Doha.

Two ex-cadors less prominent these days like the Jamaican Yohan Blake (2011 world champion) and the Canadian Andre de Grasse (3rd of the 2016 Olympics) could take advantage of the windfall, just like some outsiders (the South- African Akani Simbine, the Ivorian Arthur Cisse, the British Zharnel Hugues even the French Jimmy Vicaut).

Winner this season of two 100m of the prestigious Diamond League (Oslo and Stanford in June), Christian Coleman is automatically qualified for the final scheduled in Zürich (Switzerland) on August 29th.

Initially scheduled on the straight line in Birmingham on August 18, the American had forfeited "as a result of complications in training".

This new doping case adds to a long list that has already splashed the American sprint in the past: Justin Gatlin, but also the 2007 world champion Tyson Gay (steroids in 2013) or the couple Tim Montgomery (ephemeral record holder of the world) and Marion Jones (fallen five Olympic medals), who fell with the scandal Balco, a California laboratory at the heart of a doping system organized in the early 2000s.

© 2019 AFP