Olympic champion Gabby Thomas and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden face tension due to their coach's doping history. Thomas expressed her stance against doping but refrained from naming names. Jefferson-Wooden, coached by Dennis Mitchell, could break Florence Griffith Joyner's 100m world record.

Mitchell, a leading sprint coach, has a history of doping. He tested positive for testosterone in 1998 and was banned for two years. Despite this, he trains Jefferson-Wooden, who is among the fastest women ever. The potential for her to break Joyner's record adds to the controversy. Read more racing coverage.

The brewing tension in women's sprinting mirrors the 1988 Olympics clash between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis. No athletes involved have failed drug tests, but suspicions persist. Mitchell's past actions and associations with other doping cases further complicate the situation. Related: Chalmers Aims for Olympic Qualification in 2027.

This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from The Guardian Athletics. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.