Doha (AFP)

Christian Coleman reached the top of the world sprint at lightning speed, but the 23-year-old American also lost no time to see his image damaged by suspicion, a plaster that he will have more trouble to get rid only his opponents on the track.

The revelation at the end of August of his three breaches of his localization requirements for anti-doping controls made the effect of a bomb on the planet athletics. A halo of doubt now surrounds each of the Atlanta runner's outings even though the offense has not been characterized by the US Anti-Doping Agency. Usada was mistaken on a date, making the period of the three failures more than a year, a few days.

But the damage is done and Coleman, just installed on the throne of the 100 m, must now lead a difficult battle to prove his good faith and restore a blazon already largely dehorned. The first Olympic sport was looking for a star and a successor to His Majesty Usain Bolt to the unblemished resume? He must now deal with his perfect antithesis.

Where the lanky Jamaican (1.95 m) walked his broad smile and loved the contact with the fans, the Coleman (1.75 m) rammed prefers to adopt the posture of the big arm, tight jaw and black eyes, not hesitating to watch his opponents. An attitude even accentuated since the outbreak of the "case".

If Bolt was voluble and tactile, the Coleman dragster is a quiet and spongy little. A character inherited from childhood: his family have not forgotten that he was elected to the board of students of his elementary school without making any speech.

- Methodical progress -

Coleman, however, had to be violent to defend his honor, after the announcement of his three location defects. In a video published on the internet, he did not hesitate to settle his accounts with Usada in unfamiliar terms.

"It's a shame for Usada that this case has been made public and that they are asking athletes to follow a regulation they do not understand themselves.This organization is supposed to protect the athletes, but I feel as a victim, I work hard, I drink water and work harder the next day, so I have never been tested positive and it will never happen, "he said. , bravache.

Coleman's story had ideally begun. Vice-champion of the world in 2017 in London at just 21 years old, the former sports management student of the University of Tennessee, who fumbled for the long jump and has long hesitated to opt for American football, experienced a journey without pitfalls until his recent misstep, with a methodical progression until his coronation in Qatar.

In 2018, he won his first title on the international stage in the 60 m indoor World Championships in Birmingham, a few days after losing his compatriot Maurice Greene to the world distance record (6 sec 34), and nothing more then seems to be able to stop the rise of the one who has completed the last three years with the first place in the balance sheet on the straight line.

The World Championships in Doha serve as a consecration for the American, who became the 6th performer in history (9 sec 76) after a breathtaking performance in the final. But his recent mishap has spoiled everything and will remain as an indelible stain on a resume so far without any frills.

© 2019 AFP