Doha (AFP)

Christian Coleman, Justin Gatlin, Andre De Grasse, Yohan Blake: they are four sprinters to break away to obtain the world crown of the 100 m, of which the semi-finals and the grand final will be held Saturday in Doha.

- Christian Coleman: a coat of arms to regild -

The Atlanta speedster, the fastest man on the planet since 2017, will play very big and will be the center of attention on Saturday. Announced as the favorite of the 100m, the vice-champion of the world (23 years) landed in Doha with a huge blunder on his feet after the disclosure of his three breaches of his localization obligations for doping controls, ultimately not sanctioned for a question of date. Enough to put a huge pressure on him as these Worlds had to accede his accession to the top of the sprint. His series performance Friday, his first race since the outbreak of the "case" in late August, however, was impressive (9 sec 98 without forcing). But even in the event of a coronation, his misadventure may stick to the basques for a long time.

- Justin Gatlin: the "old man" always runs -

The years pass and Gatlin is still there, despite a reputation largely tainted by two suspensions for doping during his long career. At 37, the reigning world champion, looking for a fourth gold medal, is not about to give up and will still be a big client to watch for young wolves in the 100m. On Friday, he looked rather well from his glitch to his left thigh, which occurred on September 3rd.

"It was my first race since my injury in Zagreb," said the 2004 Olympic champion, "I have not had any pain, I'm fine, I'm 37 years old, I have to warm up a bit more I'm just a runner among others, as if I wanted to win my first gold medal, I do not think I'm defending anything. "

A possible success of Gatlin however would make as much talk as that of Coleman, the American not having completely cut the bridges with his former coach Dennis Mitchell, trapped in 2017 by journalists of the Telegraph to whom he had proposed doping products.

- Andre De Grasse: a new start? -

Considered a possible successor to legend Usain Bolt after the very promising Rio Olympics in 2016 (3rd in the 100m, 2nd in the 200m), the Canadian, 24, saw his rise stopped for two years by worries physical. But this year marks finally his great return to the highest level. Whoever had signed in 2017 a breathtaking time of 9 sec 69, not approved because of a wind too strong (+ 4.8 m / s), before forfeiting the Worlds a few weeks later, can legitimately aim a podium after running in 9 sec 97 in 2019, a first under 10 seconds since the Rio Olympics.

"I feel like I'm a little sleepy in the blocks, it will work on it for tomorrow, he dropped after finishing 2nd in his series (10 sec 13) behind Gatlin. feel good after my injuries, I come back from afar, I'll take turns just one after the other.

- Yohan Blake: the "Beast" outsider -

His career looks like a roller coaster. The 29-year-old Jamaican, with Justin Gatlin, is the only world champion in Doha, with his 2011 title in Daegu (South Korea), the year Bolt was disqualified for a false start. Second best performer in history on the distance (9 sec 69 in 2009, tied with the American Tyson Gay), he has not yet won an individual medal in a major league since the 2012 London Games!

© 2019 AFP