AFP, Eugene :
Controversial US sprinter Justin Gatlin signalled his intention to reign again on the world stage on Sunday, seizing the US 200m title in a blazing 19.57sec.
The victory at the US Athletics Championships raised the prospect of a mouthwatering double duel with sprint king Usain Bolt at the August 22-30 World Championships in Beijing.
It was a dominant performance, Gatlin coming off the turn with a clear lead and powering home to become the fifth-fastest man ever at the distance.
With his career-best performance, the 33-year-old improved on his own prior season-leading time of 19.68, set on the same Hayward Field track at the Eugene Diamond League meeting in May.
With his 100m berth in Beijing assured by virtue of his 2014 Diamond League title, Gatlin had skipped the 100m at the US Championships.
