Former Olympic champion and convicted drugs cheat Justin Gatlin has been handed a new sponsorship deal by Nike , sparking outrage in the Athletics world . The 33-year-old was the fastest man in the world last year , but few expected him to be handed such a lucrative contract after twice being banned for doping . And several British athletes , including Paula Radcliffe , who is also sponsored by the sports goods company , hit out at the decision . Justin Gatlin ( left ) has been given a new sponsorship deal by Nike , despite two bans for doping . Gatlin was the fastest man in the world last yea , but his new deal has sparked controversy . ' I am very disappointed to hear this news , ' Radcliffe wrote on Twitter . ' I do n't believe it truly reflects the core values of the NIKE that I am poud to represent , nor the integrity and ideals of the people there that I work with on a daily basis . ' Olympic silver medalist Steve Backley questioned Nike 's message to young athletes , while former heptathlete Kelly Sotherton also hit out at the deal . 'What sort of a message is that from # Nike signing new sponsorship with multiple drug cheat Justin Gatlin ? # DrugCheatsOut ' wrote Backley on Twitter . The American sprinter has won Olympic gold , but his two drugs bans have made him a controversial figure . Sotherton tweeted : 'What inspiration does Justin Gatlin give up & coming athletes @ nike ? Take drugs , get caught twice and sign a shoe contract ? ! # Doping # cheat ' . Gatlin was banned for a maximum of eight years by the United States Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for testosterone at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence in 2006 - his second failed drugs test . He served a four-year ban after appeal to arbitration and - after his return to the sport in 2010 - he ran the fastest 100 metres in the world in last year as he clocked 9.77 seconds to claim a dominant victory at the Memorial van Damme in Brussels last September .
Gatlin will run with Nike sponsorship this season . The British sprinter has twice been banned for drug offenses . Paula Radcliffe is among American athletes to speak out against the deal .