US sprinter Justin Gatlin has apologised to the world of athletics for his pair of drug bans after claiming gold in the 100 meters at the IAAF World Championships in London recently.

Gatlin shocked Usain Bolt in London to win his first world championship gold medal in 12 years earlier this month but the American, who has twice been banned after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, was loudly booed as he topped the podium at the Olympic stadium.

However, more than five years after making his return to the sport, Gatlin finally offered a qualified apology to athletics supporters. In a television interview Gatlin said he apologise for any wrongdoings that he has brought on to the sport.

In the interview Gatlin explained that he targeted a programme where he went and talked to kids and told them about the pitfalls of falling behind the wrong people, about staying on the right path and doing the right things.

The 35-year-old has been accused of being unrepentant over his suspensions, the sprinter having insisted the first was as a result of medication he took for his attention deficit disorder and claimed the second was after he was sabotaged by a former employee.