Gatlin was in superb form in Rome

The Athens gold medallist made a good start and pulled away from Ghana's Aziz Zakari to win in style in 9.96 seconds.

"I ran a superb race, I was pretty relaxed, but I'm really happy to be victorious," he told BBC Sport after clocking a season's best time.

"I used 80% of my strength. I used my technique, stayed relaxed in the second half, and came through."

New 100m world record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic silver medallist Francis Obikwelu pulled out of the meeting because of a minor strains.

And world champion Kim Collins finished a disappointing eighth in 10.27secs, while American Leonard Scott claimed third in 10.11secs.

Meanwhile, world steeplechase record holder Saif Saaeed Shaheen was pushed all the way by Paul Koech.

The former Kenyan, who now runs for Qatar, trailed by 10m before overhauling Koech at the final barrier to win in a year's best of seven minutes 56.34 seconds.

American Dominique Arnold won a competitive men's 110m hurdles in 13.11sec, with China's Olympic champion Liu Xiang in second.

And in the 800m, Kenyan 18-year-old Alfred Yego shocked Olympic silver medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi with a great sprint finish to win in 1:44.62.

In the women's 100m, Christine Arron beat home five Americans in 11.03sec.

Britain's only competitor Jo Pavey claimed her personal best in the 5000m, finishing seventh overall.