Controversial world champion Justin Gatlin was left off the list of nominees for the IAAF’s World Athlete of the Year awards. Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, was a surprise winner of the 100 metres in London in August as Jamaican great Usain Bolt bowed out of his top-class career with a disappointing bronze medal.

When the IAAF named on Monday their 10 male and female nominees for the 2017 awards, Gatlin’s name was conspicuous by its absence. It is the first time since 2004 – when Gatlin was also omitted – that the world or Olympic 100 metres champion has been left off the list. Gatlin’s omission is no surprise, though, as the IAAF changed its rules in 2015 to exclude from its list anyone who has ever been sanctioned for a serious doping offence.

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That came after Germany’s Olympic discus champion Robert Harting asked for his own name to be removed from the list in protest at Gatlin’s inclusion in 2014. The 2017 list is led by British 10,000-metre world champion Mo Farah and South Africa’s 400-metre star Wayde van Niekerk. The women’s list includes comeback queen Sally Pearson of Australia, the 100-metrre hurdles champion, and South Africa’s Caster Semenya, the winner of the 800 metres.

Nominees


Men: Mutaz Essa Barshim (Qatar) high jump; Pawel Fajdek (Poland) hammer; Mo Farah (Great Britain) 10,000 metres; Sam Kendricks (USA) pole vault; Elijah Manangoi (Kenya) 1,500m; Luvo Manyonga (South Africa) long jump; Omar McLeod (Jamaica) 110 metres hurdles; Christian Taylor (USA) triple jump; Wayde van Niekerk (South Africa) 400m; Johannes Vetter (Germany) javelin.

Women: Almaz Ayana (Ethiopia) 10,000 metres; Maria Lasitskene (Russia – competing as a neutral) high jump; Hellen Obiri (Kenya) 5,000 metres; Sally Pearson (Australia) 100 metres hurdles; Sandra Perkovic (Croatia) discus; Brittney Reese (USA) long jump; Caster Semenya (South Africa) 800 metres; Ekaterini Stefanidi (Greece) pole vault; Nafissatou Thiam (Belgium) heptathlon; Anita Wlodarczyk (Poland) hammer.