Christian Coleman cannot be face of athletics after missed tests – Michael Johnson

Sprinter Christian Coleman cannot be the face of athletics following the controversy over his missed drugs tests, says US legend Michael Johnson.

The US Anti-Doping Agency charged Coleman with missing three tests in 12 months before withdrawing the claim.

The 23-year-old American is the fastest man in the world over 100m this year.

“It completely disqualifies him, at this point, from ever being that face of the sport. This will follow him, as it should,” Johnson told BBC Sport.

“I don’t think that will happen now as a result of this. I think that fans of athletics don’t have any tolerance at this point for any sort of doping infraction.”

Coleman is world indoor champion over 60m and won silver in the 100m at the last World Championships in London two years ago. His 9.81 seconds in the 100m at the Diamond League in California in June is the fastest time in the world this year.

In response to the controversy, he has said he has “never failed a drug test and never will”.