Berlin: Olympic discus champion Robert Harting wants to be removed from the shortlist for the 2014 athlete of the year award, because former banned sprinter Justin Gatlin has also been nominated.


Justin Gatlin and Robert Harting of Germany celebrates winning the discus throw gold at the London Olympics in 2012 (Pic/Getty Images) 

US sprinter Gatlin, 32, was banned from 2006 until 2010 after failing a doping test and Harting, who won Olympic gold in London in 2012, has asked the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) to cross the German's name off the list.