Blasted by a bleeping timepiece

Justin Gatlin's reign as the World's Fastest Man lasted five days.

Instead now he can say he is one of the World's Two Fastest Men.

Gatlin rocked the track world on May 12 when he ran the 100 meters in an apparent world record time of 9.76.

But after reviewing the race results, track and field's governing body, the IAAF, shocked the track world five days later when it said that Gatlin's time was actually 9.77, not 9.76. So instead of a world record, Gatlin gets to share the mark with Asafa Powell, who ran 9.77 last year.

This isn't the first time that a track world record has been expunged. The IAAF wiped out 100-meter world records held by Ben Johnson and Tim Montgomery because both sprinters were tainted by performance-enhancing drugs.

But Gatlin didn't cheat or do anything wrong. All he did was celebrate his record then watch helplessly as it was taken away.

Do you think he'll be motivated when he gets to race Powell in a few weeks?

Actually, Gatlin and Powell will both be racing this Sunday at the prestigious Prefontaine Meet at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. But thanks to track and field's convoluted, money-driven structure - or lack thereof - Gatlin and Powell will run in separate, back-to-back 100-meter heats.

Instead of racing on American soil, they are scheduled to face off on June 11 at a meet in Gateshead, England.

Why don't they just race in Eugene and get it over with?

Because Gatlin and Powell were offered a humongous bonus to hold off until Gateshead.

America's loss is Great Britain's gain.

Now let's hope they can find a working timepiece across the pond.