Justin Gatlin (file photo)

Banned American sprinter Justin Gatlin has lost his appeal to run in the U.S. Olympic athletics trials in Eugene, Oregon.  Gatlin says he will end his legal effort rather than take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
   
Gatlin has twice tested positive for banned substances.  But his first doping violation resulted from prescribed medication to treat attention deficit disorder.

In a brief decision Thursday, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta ruled Gatlin's case is not eligible for an injunction.  Earlier this month, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a four-year ban against Gatlin for doping violations.

The defending Olympic 100-meter champion sought a court ruling that would allow him to run in the U.S. trials starting Saturday. 

Some information for this report was provided by  AP and Reuters.