Justin Gatlin’s 100 metres gold medal ceremony has been moved from its primetime slot amid fears over the reception the American will receive at the World Championships.
The IAAF has switched the presentation from 8pm to 6:50pm this evening after it was initially pencilled in for a central spot in London.
It has been denied that the change was down to Gatlin beating Usain Bolt in the 100m final on Saturday and, officially, it has been moved for operational reasons, it is understood.
The ceremony will now be held 10 minutes before the start of the evening session having been swapped with the long jump.
Gatlin, who has been banned twice for doping violations, beat Bolt into third in the Jamaican’s final solo race before retirement.
American Gatlin had been booed throughout the 100m heats, semi-final and final and the London Stadium briefly fell silent after it became apparent Gatlin had won, with USA team-mate Christian Coleman second.
