New York ? Sprinter Justin Gatlin received an eight-year ban from track and field Tuesday, avoiding a lifetime penalty in exchange for his cooperation with doping authorities and because his first positive drug test was deemed an honest mistake.

He will forfeit the world record he tied in May, when he ran the 100 meters in 9.77 seconds. At age 24, the lengthy ban would all but knock Gatlin out of competition for the rest of his life.

Gatlin tested positive at the Kansas Relays in April for testosterone or other steroids, five years after his first positive test, which was for medicine to control attention-deficit disorder. Under the World Anti-Doping Agency code, a second doping offense calls for a lifetime ban.

But Gatlin reached a compromise with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which levies doping penalties in America. Under terms of the compromise, he can still appeal to an arbitration panel in the next six months to have the term reduced.

He cannot, however, argue that the test was faulty.

“To his credit, it’s recognition that the science is reliable,” USADA general counsel Travis Tygart told The Associated Press. “Instead of wasting a bunch of resources attempting to create smoke where there’s not any, he’s acknowledging the accuracy of the positive test, and in exchange for his agreement to cooperate, we’ve recognized the nature of his first offense.”

That offense came while Gatlin was in college. He stopped taking an ADD medicine a few days before competition, but it did not clear his system. He received a two-year ban for that test, which was reduced by a year because of the “exceptional circumstances” of the offense.

“The nature of Gatlin’s first offense for use of his medication puts this violation in a unique category,” said USADA chief executive officer Terry Madden.

Gatlin has said he didn’t know how steroids got into his system this time.

His coach, Trevor Graham, who’s been involved with at least a half-dozen athletes who’ve received drug suspensions, has contended Gatlin tested positive after a vengeful massage therapist used testosterone cream on the runner without his knowledge.

“While we are glad Justin has taken responsibility for his positive test and will cooperate in USADA’s anti-doping efforts, we are sorely disappointed in him,” Craig Masback, USA Track and Field’s chief executive officer, said in a statement.