RIO DE JANEIRO -- It didnt take long for Justin Gatlins name to get dragged into the doping drama swirling at the Olympics.No big deal to Gatlin.The sprinter considered the best threat to stop Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt in the 100-meter final Sunday told The Associated Press hes not paying attention to what people are saying about him, and is not concerned with those who think he doesnt belong here.At the end of the day, the time has been served. Ive served that time, the 34-year-old Gatlin told the AP on Wednesday. Ive dealt with that punishment. Ive moved forward.Not everyone else has.Gatlin, who won gold at 100 meters at the 2004 Olympics, has been caught using banned substances twice. The first was for amphetamines, though arbitrators determined he didnt use them for doping but to treat attention deficit disorder. The second came for excessive testosterone in 2006 and resulted in a four-year ban.His name almost always comes up in the debate over how past dopers should be treated. In Rio, it surfaced in the wake of American swimmer Lilly Kings finger-wagging display toward Yulia Efimova, the Russian who was allowed to compete after a last-minute appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.Like Gatlin, Efimova has served a doping ban but was reinstated.But in refusing to bar the entire Russian team from the Olympics after investigations detailed state-sponsored doping in the country, the IOC put in a special caveat: Any Russian who had been previously banned for doping was not welcome.That rule was overturned by CAS, which had made similar decisions in previous cases, saying athletes cant be punished twice for the same offense.Kings criticism of Efimova -- and her icy stares toward the Russian before the two squared off in the pool -- instantly made King a voice in support of clean athletes everywhere.The dispute led to King, and many others, being asked whether it was fair that Gatlin was competing.Do I think people who have been caught doping should be on the team? They shouldnt. It is unfortunate we have to see that, King said.But, King said, she had to respect the rules.Same with sprinter Michael Johnson, the four-time Olympic gold medalist, who was asked whether Gatlin should be here.The issue people need to understand is that youre not going to solve the problem by pointing the finger at an athlete and making that athlete the villain, Johnson said, talking in general about athletes with violations.The athlete has been a villain and certainly has done damage to the sport. ... I dont appreciate that. But the athletes not the one thats making the rules that allows him to get back on the track or back in the pool, or back on the field.Gatlin does not see himself as a villain -- and does not buy into the now-hackneyed portrayal of him vs. Bolt as tracks version of Good vs. Evil.People want to label people and thats all they want to do, Gatlin said. They dont want to get to know them; they dont want to understand the story, in-depth.Though many of the headlines deride him, Gatlin insists hes popular in the athletes village.So many people have come up to me in the village and the cafeteria, showing me love, wanting me to go out there and do the best, be the best, he said. Taking pictures and everything. I get love, man.How will the fans -- and media -- react when he hits the track Saturday for the start of the mens 100?Hes not concerned.Ive worked hard, all the way from the bottom when I had nothing, Gatlin said. I worked hard to work back to where Im at now. I dont understand. The system has worked. I think people need to stop looking at trying to be the judge, the jury and executioner and let the system do its job. Cheap Adidas Shoes Australia . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. 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NORMAN, Okla. -- Khadeem Lattin showed he could also be a force on the offensive end for Oklahoma during the Sooners season opener on Sunday.The junior forward, mostly called upon for his defense to this point in his career, showed his offensive chops against Northwestern State, posting a career-high 19 points to go with 11 rebounds and lifting Oklahoma to a 97-61 rout.The only other returning starter from last seasons Final Four team, Jordan Woodard, added 16 points for Oklahoma (1-0). Coach Lon Kruger subbed early and often as 10 Sooners scored in the first half while Oklahoma raced to a 46-27 lead.Oklahoma has won 14 straight season openers and 19 straight home openers. The Sooners improved to 31-2 at home against nonconference opponents under Kruger.This group is going to make progress all the way through March, Kruger said. . Its going to be a work in progress for a while, but Im excited to see where they go and who steps up and who is doing what roles. Being that much different than last year is one of the more intriguing, enjoyable parts of this team -- the uncertainty of what lies ahead and who does what.Lattin was 7 of 9 from the field against Northwestern State (0-2). He had two baskets in an 18-2 run to start the game. After the Demons closed to 35-24, Lattin added two more during the final 4:24 of the half. The double-double was the third of his career.He said it was a different feeling to be an offensive focal point for the Sooners.You change the way you think, but you always just want the best results for your team, Lattin said. My teammates, we all do a really good job of moving the ball and were a really well-balanced team. We are able to attack and do things from all parts of the floor and thats really exciting.Zeek Woodley, the second-leading career scorer in NCAA Division I, led Northwestern State with 19 points, and Ishmael Lane and Malik Metoyer added 11 and 10, respectively. But there wasnt much else positive for the Demons, coach Mike McConathy said.Lane played hard but he couldnt finish plays, McConathy said. Zeek Woodley had a good line and Malik Metoyer . really had a lot of pop to him. Zeek is kind of a non-traditional player in that he is very efficient offensively. Hes very smooth. He kind of moves like hes loafing, but hes moving. I thought he competed well.BIG PICTURENortthwestern State: For the Demons, it was another chance to test themselves against a major-conference foe as they prepare for Southland Conference play.dddddddddddd Theyve got two more opportunities to do so -- and maybe steal what would be a highlight win -- with road games at Missouri and Mississippi State later this month.Oklahoma: This was a classic icebreaker for the Sooners, who wanted a low-risk game to get acclimated to life without Buddy Hield, Isaiah Cousins and Ryan Spangler -- who started the past three seasons -- before likely facing their true first test later this week. The Sooners are 9-1 all-time against current Southland Conference members, including 6-0 against Northwestern State.BUFORD OUTOklahoma was without one of its more experienced players in sophomore Dante Buford. Buford was ruled ineligible for the Sooners first three games of the season for receiving an extra benefit for one of his complimentary tickets during last seasons NCAA tournament. Buford averaged 3.5 points per game off the bench last season for Oklahomas Final Four team.OKLAHOMAS NEW KIWIMatt Freeman might be a long way from challenging Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams as the states favorite New Zealand native, but the 6-foot-10 freshman made a strong first impression. Freeman went 3 of 4 from 3-point range, had a steal-and-dunk in the second half and finished with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting.Im going to put it down to my poker face, to be honest with you, Freeman said. It was tough the first time I came out there . but the more you get up and down the court and get used to it, its just a basketball game.UP NEXTNorthwestern State: The Demons will take a break from their string of road games -- with four of their first six games against major-college foes -- to host NCAA Division III LeTourneau (Texas) on Friday and Louisiana State-Alexandria of the NAIA on Nov. 22.Oklahoma: The Sooners will travel to Orlando, Florida to play in the Tire Pros Invitational. Oklahoma will face Tulane on Thursday and either Arizona State or Northern Iowa on Friday, with the tournaments final round to be played next Sunday. Clemson, Missouri, Xavier and Davidson are on the other side of the bracket. ' ' '