Intro:

Justin Gatlin lived up to the pre-season hype, winning the 100-metres in a world-leading 9.74 seconds at the Diamond League opener on Friday (May 15) - a personal-best time and a new meet record in Doha.

Script:

Usain Bolt may be the fastest man on the planet, but in his absence, Justin Gatlin certainly impressed at the Diamond League opener in Doha.

The 33-year-old came into the event with considerable expectation surrounding his performance and he did not disappoint.

He was Olympic 100-metre champion at the 2004 Games but served a four-year ban from 2006 following a failed drugs test.

He blew away his opposition on the night running the distance in a world leading 9.74 seconds as he crossed the line ahead of Michael Rodgers in second and Keston Bledman in third.

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Meanwhile in the 3,000m race, double Olympic champion Mo Farah made his Doha debut.

However, he was unable to maintain the pace of Ethiopia's Hagos Gebrhiwet who crossed the line in seven minutes 38.08 seconds, ahead of the British runner.

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In the women's 200m, Allyson Felix breezed to victory in a meet-record 21.98 seconds.

It was her first 200m race of the season and there was no hiding her satisfaction as she caught a glimpse of her winning time.

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Finally, in the 100m hurdles, Jasmin Stowers impressed the crowd and cemented her status as a rising star as she ran a personal-best and new Diamond League record 12.35 seconds.

Olympic champion Sally Pearson and Dawn Harper-Nelson both finished outside the top three however.