PARIS • Controversial world 100m champion Justin Gatlin was left off the list of nominees for the International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) World Athlete of the Year awards.

The American sprinter, who has served two doping bans, was a surprise winner of the 100m in London in August as Jamaican great Usain Bolt bowed out of his top-class career with a disappointing bronze medal.

However, when the IAAF named its 10 male and female nominees for this year's awards on Monday, Gatlin's name was conspicuous by its absence.

It is the first time since 2004 - when Gatlin was also omitted - that the world or Olympic 100m champion has been left off the list.

But his omission comes as no surprise after the athletics' governing body changed its rules in 2015 to exclude from its list anyone who has been sanctioned for a serious doping offence.

That decision was made after Germany's Olympic discus champion Robert Harting asked for his own name to be removed from the list in protest against Gatlin's inclusion at the awards in 2014.

This year's list is led by British 10,000m world champion Mo Farah and South Africa's 400m star Wayde van Niekerk.

The women's list includes comeback queen and 100m hurdles champion Sally Pearson of Australia, and South Africa's Caster Semenya, the winner of the 800m.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE