GATLIN BREAKS BOLT RECORD: Justin Gatlin cruised to victory 9.75 secs in the men's 100 metres at the Rome Diamond League meet on Thursday....Gatlin last month clocked the fastest time of the year, 9.74, in Doha

American Justin Gatlin (centre) finishes ahead of the field
 to take the men's 100m event at the Golden Gala, the 4th
stage of IAAF Diamond League 2015 on Thursday.
(Photo: AFP)

Thursday, June 04, 2015 | 3:07 PM    

ROME, Italy (AFP) — American Justin Gatlin cruised to victory in the men's 100 metres at the Rome Diamond League meet on Thursday.

Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion who served a four-year doping ban in 2006-2010 for using testosterone, stopped the clock at 9.75sec to match the seventh-fastest time in history at the distance.

Gatlin last month clocked the fastest time of the year, 9.74, in Doha -- a performance that earned the American sprinter a new sponsorship deal with sportswear giant Nike, who ditched him in 2006 after he tested positive for the second time in his career.

France's Jimmy Vicaut was second in a season's best of 9.98, a time matched by American Michael Rodgers who tied for second place.

The rest of the field, including Kim Collins of Saint Kitts and Nevis, finished outside the 10-sec mark.