ATLANTA — Banned sprinter Justin Gatlin is expected to appeal a ruling by a federal judge in Florida that prohibits him from competing in this weekend's U.S. Olympic track and field trials.

His lawyer, Joseph A. Zarzaur Jr., said Wednesday he planned to file a motion with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta by the end of the day, asking that Olympics officials be prevented from barring Gatlin from the trials before the court hears his case.

Gatlin's event, the 100 meters, begins with qualifying Saturday. USA Track and Field officials said they have made contingency plans for Gatlin to run if the courts rule he can.

Judge Lacey Collier of Pensacola, Fla., decided Tuesday that U.S. courts had no authority to overrule the recent Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that upheld a four-year doping ban against the defending Olympic champion.

Last week, Collier issued a temporary restraining order that would have allowed Gatlin to compete, but his latest decision vacated that order.

Collier said the court system didn't have jurisdiction over this case, because a federal law provided the U.S. Olympic Committee "with exclusive jurisdiction over all matters concerning this country's participation in the Olympic Games."

But while the judge said the courts didn't have jurisdiction, he also pointedly disagreed with the decision to bar Gatlin.

"The basic argument from these defendants is that they are not interested in fairness for Mr. Gatlin; they are interested only in their rules," Collier wrote.

He set up a quick remedy should Gatlin receive a different decision about the jurisdiction from the appeals court.