Bahamas savour men's 4x400m triumph

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The Bahamas won the men's 4x400 metres final at the Olympic Stadium with a time of 2mins 56.72secs.

The United States came second and Trinidad third, 0.31s ahead of Great Britain.
Great Britain finished an agonising fourth in the 4x400 metres final as a courageous anchor-leg run from Martyn Rooney just came up short.
Rooney attacked round the final bend and on the home straight past Russia's Pavel Trenikhin and was closing on Trinidad's Deon Lendore, but was held off.
The host quartet, which also included Conrad Williams, Jack Green and Dai Greene, finished in two minutes 59.53 seconds.
South Africa, with Oscar Pistorius on the fourth leg, finished eighth.

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Athletics pair suspended for doping

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Moroccan runner Amine Laalou and Belarusian hammer thrower Ivan Tsikhan have been provisionally suspended and charged with doping violations.

Both had been due to participate in the Olympics.
A spokesman for athletics' world governing body the IAAF said: "The IAAF is now in a position to confirm that Ivan Tsikhan and Amine Laalou have both been charged with anti-doping rule violations under IAAF rules.
"Each athlete has been provisionally suspended by the IAAF pending the outcome of a hearing before the relevant disciplinary tribunal of his respective federation."
Laalou, 30, had been due to race in the men's 1,500 metres heats yesterday but was not among the starters, while Tsikhan was expected in the hammer qualifying, also yesterday, but did not appear.
Earlier on Saturday, the International Olympic Committee confirmed Colombian 400m runner Diego Palomeque has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for testosterone.
The 18-year-old was due to run in the 400m heats but was withdrawn following his suspension.
The IOC have also confirmed Russian track cyclist Victoria Baranova's expulsion from London 2012.
The 22-year-old tested positive for testosterone in a sample taken on July 24 in Belarus and her departure from the Games was first confirmed by cycling's world governing body, the UCI.

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Liu upgraded to silver after controversy

China's Liu Xiang was upgraded to the silver medal in the men's 110m hurdles at the World Championships after race winner Dayron Robles was disqualified in Daegu.

Meanwhile, Briton and European champion Andy Turner was also upgraded to the bronze medal.
He had finished fourth behind Robles, who was involved in a clash with Liu during the closing stages.
The pair touched arms in the final 30m, something which clearly hurt Liu's chances - he had been leading at the time.
Instead Robles crossed the line first in 13.14secs, 0.02 ahead of American Jason Richardson, with Liu in third (13.27).
However, the Chinese team soon protested, Robles was disqualified for obstruction and a counter-protest from the Cuban team was rejected by the IAAF jury of appeal.
Robles was disqualified under IAAF rule 163.2 which disqualifies "any athlete who jostles or obstructs another athlete so as to impede his progress".
Richardson was instead crowned champion, with Liu upgraded to silver and Turner, who had finished in 13.44, the same time as American David Oliver, taking the bronze.
That completes a stunning turnaround in fortunes for Turner, who recovered from losing his lottery funding for the 2009 season to win European and Commonwealth gold last year and now has a global medal in his collection.
He said: "I've got mixed emotions - I don't know what to do. I want to cry, but I don't want to cry - I won't believe this is happening until I have got that medal round my neck!
"I've thought about this and dreamt about winning a world medal after my success in Barcelona last year but it was a big step and I just won't believe it until I've got that medal."
After all the changes, Turner's team-mate Will Sharman was joint fifth in 13.67.
In the immediate aftermath of the race, Robles had described his clash with Liu as "normal" on Channel 4 and denied he was concerned about a possible protest from the Chinese.
"It's normal in the hurdles. Every athlete has a different technique.
"I feel great."
That would not last long, however.
Liu had added: "I felt like someone touched my elbow and I lost my balance for a while but then I managed to stabilise it.
"It happens all the time in competitions, but this time, in the final of the World Championships, it was kind of different. I am okay with everything that happened today and this is a good achievement for me. I tried my best, no regrets.''

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Bolt majestic in Daegu

Usain Bolt issued an ominous warning to the challengers for his World Championship title with a commanding victory in the heats of the 100 metres in Daegu.

Bolt admitted two days ago that he was not in the same sort of shape which saw him win the sprint double in Berlin two years ago, setting world records in both events for good measure.
But the 25-year-old Jamaican looked in impressive form on the opening evening of the championships in South Korea, cruising to a time of 10.10 seconds - the fastest in qualifying - despite glancing around from halfway and easing down to the line.
"I felt great," said Bolt, who saw perhaps his biggest rival, compatriot Asafa Powell, withdraw from the event with injury earlier this week.
"I got a great start. I feel so happy. I've been working on it so hard throughout the whole season. I got it when it's necessary so I'm happy. A lot of work has gone into it."
Asked about the perception that he can now produce another spectacular time in the semi-finals or final, Bolt added: "If people want to think that...I'm just saying I'm here to defend my title and show the world, 'Look, I'm still the best'."
Britain's Dwain Chambers was second in the heat, behind Bolt, and said: "Judging from what I saw there's nothing wrong with him and he's more than capable of winning.
"Having Usain in the heats helps you get used to situations like that and competitors of his calibre."
Bolt's compatriot Yohan Blake was the second fastest qualifier in 10.12secs, with European champion Christophe Lemaitre, former world and Olympic champion Justin Gatlin and Trinidad's Richard Thompson all advancing.

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Blake claims Bolt's sprint crown

Yohan Blake is the new 100m world champion after hot favourite Usain Bolt false-started in Daegu.

Blake won the race in 9.92secs but the story was all about world-record holder and defending champion Bolt being disqualified at the start.

Bolt clearly went too early and knew it immediately, ripping off his running vest in frustration.

Once the stunned crowd had calmed down, 2003 champion Kim Collins made the fastest start but he was hauled in by Blake once the Jamaican got into his stride.

American Walter Dix took the silver in 10.08, with the 35-year-old Collins, of St Kitts and Nevis, hanging on for the bronze in 10.09.

Blake said the win felt "like a dream".

"I can't find words to explain it,'' he told Channel 4.

"I feel like I want to cry. I've been praying for this moment. It feels like a dream.

"I felt sorry for Usain, my training partner. I had to take it out in the race for him. When he did the false start I was so surprised because we had been talking about that in training - he false starts a lot - and now it happens.

"I knew I would challenge Bolt one day but I did not expect it today. I am traumatised and have mixed feelings, I am very sad for Usain Bolt but at the same time I am enjoying this very much.''

Bolt was nowhere to be seen after the race and later released a short comment via the IAAF website, saying: "I have nothing to say right now. I need some time.''

Asked about the defence of his 200m title which begins on Friday, Bolt added: "How will I go? We'll have to see on Friday.''

Silver medallist Dix said of Bolt's disqualification: "I couldn't believe it, it's kind of surreal.

"I didn't think they were going to kick him out. It's pretty hard to kick Usain out of the race.''

Collins suggested the false-start rule is not right in its current form, which sees an athlete disqualified for any early move.

"I don't think it is,'' he said.

"These things happen and you've got to give people a chance."

Previously athletes had been allowed one false start before being disqualified for a second, but new rules were introduced by the IAAF for the start of the 2010 season.

Rule 162.7 states: "An athlete, after assuming a full and final set position, shall not commence his start until after receiving the report of the gun. If, in the judgement of the starter or recallers, he does so any earlier, it shall be deemed a false start. Except in combined events, any athlete responsible for a false start shall be disqualified.''

The victorious Blake, just 21, did not compete in the last World Championships in Berlin after testing positive for the stimulant methylhexanamine.

A disciplinary panel organised by the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission cleared him of a doping infraction on the grounds that the drug was not on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list.

However, JADCO appealed their own panel's ruling, stating that Blake should be disciplined as the drug was similar in structure to the banned substance tuaminoheptane.

With no decision possible before Berlin, Blake was withdrawn by the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association and an appeals tribunal subsequently ruled he should receive a three-month ban.

Briton Dwain Chambers had earlier suffered the same fate as Bolt, being disqualified in the semi-finals.

Chambers left distraught after twitching in the blocks and subsequently being shown the red card.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet but I've got to keep my thoughts and frustrations to myself at the moment,'' Chambers said as he left the track. "Obviously the gun went and I moved. It's a bit unfortunate. The rules are the rules and I false-started.

"Today I was optimistic about my chances but I was up against guys on paper faster than me so I would have had to run beyond my best to qualify.''

Asked about his future plans with his Olympic ban ruling him out of the London Games next year, Chambers added: "It's too soon to make any decisions on my current situation. I'm still enjoying it and we will see what happens.''

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Marlon Devonish also went out at the semi-final stage.

Aikines-Aryeetey finished third in 10.23 in his race, while Devonish was seventh in his in 10.25.

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Pistorius decision a farce says scientist

A South African sports scientist believes allowing Oscar Pistorius to compete at this month's World Athletics Championships is a farce, as he will have a decided advantage.

He has claimed that the sprinter's prosthetic limbs give him a 10-second advantage.
The four-time Paralympic gold medallist has been selected to race against able-bodied runners in a global championships for the first time in Daegu after setting a 400 metres personal best of 45.07 seconds.
Pistorius was initially banned by the IAAF after it was ruled his carbon-fibre blades gave him an advantage but that decision was overturned ahead of the 2008 Olympics, which the 24-year-old would have been eligible for had he run the qualifying time.
But Dr Ross Tucker, a senior lecturer with the University of Cape Town's Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Department, believes the decision was flawed and has compared the engineering involved with that of Formula One.
Dr Tucker told insidethegames.biz: "I don't think he should be running. I think he gets an enormous advantage, and two of his own scientists who did the testing to clear him recently published a paper saying that he had a 10-second advantage.
"The media never picked up on this, but the short version is that the Court of Arbitration decision that cleared him was a complete farce, scientifically, as was the testing that got him off.
"I don't wish to watch Formula One where the engineers can tinker with equipment to find half a second, and that seems to me to be a possibility in this instance."

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Athletics: Greene eyes relay success

Dai Greene is confident he's done enough to be part of Great Britain's 4x400metre quartet as he strives to win as many major medals as possible throughout his career.

The European and Commonwealth 400m hurdles gold medallist will be among the favourites for glory at the World Championships in Daegu later this month and next year's London Olympics.
But while Greene is firmly focused on individual honours, the Swansea Harrier is also proving to be one of Britain's fastest around one lap and managed to finish a highly creditable third in the 400m at the UK Trials and Championships in Birmingham last weekend.
The 25-year-old said: "I need to learn to run on the flat without hurdles, it's totally different. You get a bit lazy in your body position and you've got to work out when to kick, when to slow down and things like that.
"I want to be in the relay so obviously I've got to keep running faster times and that will come with practice.
"I'd like to think I should be selected off my hurdles times alone and to finish third here suggests I'm arguably one of the top four 400m runners in the country too.
"I can't do much else than put myself in the mix with these guys and take them on head-to-head.
"I have concentrated solely on the hurdles and not really prepared for the 400m, so I just wanted to see what I could do really.
"You only have a short lifespan as an athlete so I want to win as many medals as I can, and being part of the relay team can help me do that.
"It does double my chances as these guys are really good when on form. I'd like to think I'm one of the best in the world over hurdles so there's no reason why I shouldn't be involved in the quartet and I hope my performances have shown I can compete with the others head-to-head."
British champion over 400m Martyn Rooney would be delighted to see Greene in the final four in Daegu.
The Croydon athlete said: "I've been pushing for Dai to be in the relay team for a long time. Anyone who can run that quick over the hurdles is going to be a very important asset to our team and now he's just proved that."
Greene has enjoyed a superb season in his individual event having won two Diamond League meetings including a triumph over former world champion Bershawn Jackson in Birmingham, so it's no surprise he only has eyes on gold in Daegu.
The Welshman said: "At this point in the season everything has been going really well so it would be pointless going for anything other than gold.
"I'm not saying I wouldn't be happy with something else but at the moment I'm going for gold. There's just four weeks left so I shouldn't set my target any lower.
"I don't feel any pressure really because I still remember when I wasn't winning races or doing very well. I worked really hard to get where I am so I'm not going to shy away from anything.
"Obviously I've had a fantastic year so regardless of what happens in Daegu I should still be very happy with the season. I've prepared 100% for the worlds so I want a very good result there to make it all worthwhile and that will give me a lot of confidence going into the Olympics."

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Athletics: Jenkins seals Olympic spot

Britain's Helen Jenkins secured a spot at London 2012 after taking a superb victory in the World Championship Series triathlon around the Olympic course in Hyde Park.

The 27-year-old had not previously triumphed in a WCS race but coasted away from her rivals during the run to claim her biggest win since the World Championships in 2008.
There was not much separation between the favourites after the Serpentine swim as Jenkins emerged from the water well-placed with British team-mates Kerry Lang, Jodie Stimpson and Vicky Holland.
The seven bike laps, which saw the athletes head out of Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace, were also cagey and it was not until the 10-kilometres run that the field broke up.
Knowing that a podium place would secure her spot on the Olympic team, Jenkins instantly went to the front and piled on the pressure.
The Swansea athlete had pulled clear by the second lap and then continued to increase her advantage and sealed an emphatic victory.
"It's a massive relief. I knew that I'd had the form but you have to deliver it on the day and I wasn't sure whether I could today [Saturday]," Jenkins said of her Olympic qualification.
"It gives me a good year to focus on the Olympics and it's great to know your training's worked. It gives you confidence that hopefully you can replicate that in the future."
Jenkins said that she had been struggling with a cold in the week leading up to the race but felt strong at the start of the run and never looked back.
She added: "It was really tough. I had an all right swim, the bike was quite easy but I was not feeling brilliant, my legs were aching. I've had a bit of a cold leading up to the race so I haven't done my usual training.
"On the run, I ended up at the front out of transition so I just kept running and running. Everyone was shouting, 'you've got a gap, you've got a gap', so I kept pushing on.
"On the last lap I heard 20 seconds but I knew I had to keep going because if I blew up they'd catch me. It wasn't until I got onto the blue carpet (finishing straight) that I relaxed a bit. I'm so happy. It's unbelievable."

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Athletics: Powell out of Aviva GP

Jamaican Asafa Powell has pulled out of this weekend's Diamond League meeting in London with a groin injury.

Powell, the fastest man in the world this year, was due to run in the 100m at the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace on Friday night.
But with the World Championships less than a month away, Powell is taking no chances with the niggling injury.
"I've had some tightness in my groin since [competing in] Budapest [last week], I had hoped that it would have cleared by now but it's still there," Powell said.
"I've been seeking treatment but had to make the decision today to withdraw.
"I am focusing on Daegu and as much as I'd like to run tonight, I just can't take the risk with the major championships three weeks away."
"It's a tough decision as I always love to run in London, the fans here are incredible and I want to thank them for their support," added the former world record holder.
The 28-year-old clocked 9.78 seconds in Lausanne in June and remains a threat to world record holder Usain Bolt in Daegu, South Korea.

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Athletics: Wariner out of Daegu meet

Former Olympic and world 400m champion Jeremy Wariner has been ruled out of the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, later this month with a torn toe ligament.

The 27-year-old, the third fastest 400m runner in history, tore a ligament in the second toe of his left foot while training in July, a statement on the USA Track and Field website confirmed.
The injury was diagnosed this week.
"I am disappointed that I will not be able to try to regain the world title in the 400 meters in Daegu," Wariner said in a statement posted on www.usatf.org.
"Right now my focus is to get healthy, prepare for the 2012 season and try for my second Olympic gold medal in the 400. I wish my team-mates the best in Daegu."
Wariner won the 2004 Olympic title in Athens and the world titles in 2005 and 2007.
He had to settle for silver at the 2008 Games in Beijing and the 2009 World Championships behind fellow countryman LaShawn Merritt, though.
Merritt will compete in Daegu after serving a 21-month doping ban for taking a banned steroid contained in an over-the-counter male enhancement product.
The World Championships gets under way on August 27.

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Third place for Ohuruogu

Christine Ohuruogu insists there is "no crisis" ahead of next month's World Championships, despite only finishing third in the UK Trials in Birmingham.

Ohuruogu needed to put in a late surge to come home behind hurdles specialist Perri Shakes-Drayton and Shana Cox in the 400 metres, the event in which she won the Olympic title in 2008 and World Championship gold in Osaka in 2007.
The 27-year-old has not broken 50 seconds since the Olympic final in 2008, while her season's best of 51.49 seconds leaves her a lowly 33rd in the world rankings.
But despite only managing 51.91secs at the Alexander Stadium, Ohuruogu insisted: "I'm happy with that. I'll honestly go home and be happy with that.
"I would have liked to have won it but it's a lack of training I think. It's two back-to-back races I really needed. We had a really good field today [Sunday]. I think it's the first time in ages we've had all of us together in one race. It's nice to have five, six quality 400m girls rather than just two or three.
"It was good for Perri and Shana to join us to really try and make everyone run harder."
Asked about her prospects in Daegu, Ohuruogu added: "I'll just wing it. I went to Osaka running 53 seconds so nothing's a crisis."
The first two in the trials were guaranteed selection for Daegu if they hold the 'A' standard, but with Shakes-Drayton concentrating on the 400m hurdles and America-born Cox not yet eligible, Ohuruogu will technically have to rely on a discretionary place available to selectors when the team is selected on August 8.

There were no such problems for Dwain Chambers in the 100m, the 33-year-old winning his fifth UK title to seal his place on the plane for Daegu.
"I tell you what, it's not getting any easier," admitted Chambers, who won in 10.09secs ahead of Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and 35-year-old Marlon Devonish, who both clocked 10.14. Mark Lewis-Francis was disqualified from the final for a false start.
"My age is kicking in now," Chambers continued. "But I relish the competition because that's what brings out the best in all of us. It keeps me on my toes.
"The main thing is I have to keep myself healthy and that's going to be difficult because my wife had a baby girl two nights ago. My duties are going to be double, but hopefully I can repeat my sixth from two years ago at the World Championships."
In the women's race, Olympic finalist Jeanette Kwakye put her injury nightmare behind her with victory in 11.23, ahead of Anyika Onuora and Laura Turner.
Kwakye has been plagued by injuries since reaching the Beijing final and said: "It's amazing to be back. There were times when I thought I would need a knee replacement so to be back running as fast as 2008 is a blessing."
Elsewhere, there were no qualification worries for defending world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis, who nevertheless competed in three events, with two more planned on Sunday.
The 25-year-old equalled her outdoor personal best of 14.25m in the shot, won the high jump with a best of 1.89m and then finished second in the 100m hurdles in 12.96 behind new British record holder Tiffany Porter (12.76).
"It's nice to do five events and not have to end with the 800m like the heptathlon, but my legs were a bit dead by the hurdles final," Ennis said.
"I wanted to put some events together and see how it's going. After this weekend I'm hoping to do a hurdles race in Loughborough the week before we go out to Daegu. That'll be it.
"I would put the whole performance as okay. I'm just hope I'm saving the big performances for a few weeks' time."
In the 400m hurdles, Nathan Woodward booked his place in Daegu with an impressive victory, but second-placed Richard Davenport failed to achieve the 'A' standard and an automatic place despite a personal best of 49.76.
Davenport now has a week left to achieve the time of 49.40. If he fails to do so, the selectors may well select European Under-23 champion Jack Green instead, along with European and Commonwealth champion Dai Greene.
Green was "gutted" to miss the trials through illness and would have missed out on Daegu if Welshman Rhys Williams finished in to the top two on Sunday. Williams had the 'A' standard but could only finish fourth.
Meanwhile, Greene shrugged off the effects of a virus to set a new personal best of 45.95 in the 400m, reaching Sunday's final as he looks to secure a place on the 4x400m relay squad.
None of Britain's athletes have yet achieved the 'A' standard of 45.25, while Michael Bingham - fastest this year with a time of 45.42 - did not even make the final after finishing third in heat three.
Hannah England claimed a narrow victory ahead of Lisa Dobriskey in the women's 1,500m, while Jenny Meadows and Marilyn Okoro headed the qualifiers for Sunday's 800m final.

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Ennis to shine at home Games

Top British heptathlete Jessica Ennis believes she will thrive on the pressure of competing in the London Olympics next summer.

World and European champion Ennis is confident the expectation levels on her of taking part in a home Olympics will bring the best out of her.
Ennis is looking to make up for missing the 2008 event in Beijing through a stress fracture of the foot and is favourite to take the gold medal.
"All British athletes will feel some pressure next year because it's a home Olympics," Ennis told BBC Sport.
"I hope that pressure will bring out a better performance in me.
"I'm feeling alright at the moment. Next year I might be twitching in my chair a little because it will be so close.
"There's always a level of expectation. We need to go out and enjoy (the Olympics), make the most of it and do what we know we are capable of doing."
Ennis insists her injury agony before Beijing means she will take nothing for granted in terms of winning medals in 2012.
"I experienced before the last Olympics how it can go so well and then be over in an instant so I don't think about gold until I've done everything I need to do."
Ennis' immediate goal is next month's world championships in South Korea.
She said: "The world championships is a big focus. I hope to go there and compete well."

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Cavendish claims green jersey at Tour

Mark Cavendish powered to victory on stage eleven of the Tour de France and moved into the sprinters' green jersey in the process.

The 167.5 kilometres route from Blaye-les-Mines to Lavaur came down to the expected sprint finish and Cavendish's HTC-Highroad team controlled it superbly in the torrential rain.
They first of all did the bulk of the work to reel in an early six-man break - which comprised Lars Boom (Rabobank), Mickael Delage (FDJ), Andriy Grivko (Astana), Jimmy Engoulvent (Saur-Sojasun), Rubén Pérez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Tristan Valentin (Cofidis).
The catch came with just under 5km remaining, though Boom then launched an attack off the front which briefly delayed matters.
And heading into the finish Mark Renshaw guided Cavendish into position before the Manxman opened up an early sprint and comfortably held off all his rivals, in the process avenging his defeat by André Greipel 24 hours earlier.
On this occasion Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto) was a clear second, with Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) in third. Denis Galimzyanov (Katusha) was fourth and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) fifth after another strong lead-out by Geraint Thomas.
The victory, combined with the points he took when leading the bunch over the line in the day's intermediate sprint, puts Cavendish in front as he battles for a first green jersey.
With just two more sprinter-friendly stages to come, he has 251 points, 16 more than José Joaquín Rojas and 20 in front of Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto).
It was Cavendish's 18th stage victory at the Tour, which puts him seventh on the all-time list, and his third at this year's race.
Afterwards he once again paid tribute to his team-mates, telling ITV4: "When the guys ride all day like they did yesterday [Tuesday] and I don't finish the job, I usually go out the following day and react like I have done today [Wednesday].
"I asked them to do it again and, when I got the lead-out today [Wednesday], I really hit it. You can see I got the gap with my acceleration and I then made sure I held that gap.
"The guys were phenomenal today [Wednesday] for me because it was a strong breakaway group that we had to catch, some of the strongest riders in the peloton.
"Lars Bak and Danny Pate worked for much of the day and then at the end we had to put Tejay (Van Garderen) and Peter Velits up there as well Bernie Eisel to pull it back.
"It just shows that guys like Peter Velits and Tony Martin, both going for GC, are willing to give everything to make sure we win here. It underlines what an incredible group of guys I'm working with.
"It's incredible to win today [Wednesday], it's so nice to be back in green."
With the field finishing in a bunch, the top of the general classification is unchanged; Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) continues to lead the way, maintaining his lead of one minute and 49 seconds to Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank), with Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) in third.
The overall contenders were saving their legs for Thursday when the race hits the high mountains for the first time, with the 211km stage from Cugnaux finishing with the hors categorie climbs of the Col du Tourmalet and Luz-Ardiden.
Leading final positions after Stage 11 (Blaye-les-Mines - Lavaur, 167.5 km): 1 Mark Cavendish (Gbr) HTC-Highroad 3hrs 46mins 07secs, 2 Andre Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto at same time, 3 Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo at same time, 4 Denis Galimzyanov (Rus) Katusha Team at same time, 5 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling at same time, 6 Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team at same time, 7 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team at same time, 8 Sebastien Turgot (Fra) Team Europcar at same time, 9 Francisco Jose Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar Team at same time, 10 William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ at same time, 11 Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ at same time, 12 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quickstep Cycling Team at same time, 13 Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Saur - Sojasun at same time, 14 Sebastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale at same time, 15 Gianni Meersman (Bel) FDJ at same time, 16 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto at same time, 17 Pablo Urtasun Perez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at same time, 18 Mark Renshaw (Aus) HTC-Highroad at same time, 19 Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team at same time, 20 Tomas Vaitkus (Lit) Pro Team Astana at same time
Selected others: 24 Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Sky Procycling 3hrs 46mins 07secs, 113 Ben Swift (Gbr) Sky Procycling at same time, 126 David Millar (Gbr) Team Garmin-Cervelo at same time
General classification after stage 11: 1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 45hrs 52mins 39secs, 2 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team at 1min 49secs, 3 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team at 2.26, 4 Frank Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek at 2.29, 5 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek at 2.37, 6 Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad at 2.38, 7 Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-Highroad at same time, 8 Andreas Kloden (Ger) Team RadioShack at 2.43, 9 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 2.55, 10 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek at 3.08, 11 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 3.36, 12 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD at 3.37, 13 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale at 3.45, 14 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team at 3.47, 15 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team at 4.01, 16 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard at 4.07, 17 Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo at 4.22, 18 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne at 4.52, 19 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo at 4.53, 20 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 5.01
Selected others: 28 David Millar (Gbr) Team Garmin-Cervelo 45hrs 58mins 11secs, 31 Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Sky Procycling at 5mins 51secs, 110 Mark Cavendish (Gbr) HTC-Highroad at 45.42, 116 Ben Swift (Gbr) Sky Procycling at 47.43

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Farah's sacrifices pay off.

Britain's Mo Farah maintained his unbeaten record since changing coach and moving to the United States with a superb victory over 5,000m at the Aviva Grand Prix.

Despite winning the long-distance double at last year's European Championships in Barcelona, Farah felt he needed to make a drastic change to be able to challenge for medals in the World Championships and Olympics.
That meant moving his wife and young daughter to Portland, Oregon, to be coached by Alberto Salazar, but what could have been a massive gamble has paid immediate dividends, with Farah retaining his 3,000m indoor title, winning the New York Half Marathon on his debut over the distance and last month smashing the British and European 10,000m records.
And the Somalia-born 28-year-old again got the better of training partner Galen Rupp at the Alexander Stadium on Sunday, producing a devastating last lap of 54 seconds to win in a time of 13 minutes 6.14 seconds.
"People said why change when things are going well and it has not been easy making the change, but as an athlete if you want success you have to make sacrifices," Farah said.
"I'm a lot more confident and I'm looking forward to the World Championships in Daegu. Running a paced race here and running a championships are completely different, but if I can stay injury-free and keep enjoying it that's the main thing."
Farah and Jamaica's Asafa Powell were the star attractions at the ninth Diamond League meeting of the season, and Powell also did not disappoint with victory in the 100m.
Powell had insisted he was the man to beat this year and not third best behind fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt and American Tyson Gay, and the 28-year-old lived up to the hype with victory in 9.91s, leading home compatriots Nesta Carter and Michael Frater.
"I was a bit cautious in the final with all the false starts and it was cold out there so I didn't push it from the start," admitted Powell, who has now run under 10 seconds more than 70 times. "But it was okay, I'm fine with that.
"We all want to get the best start but when there's false starts it puts you in a different zone. I was only going to do enough to win today [Sunday]. I didn't want to push too hard. I just wanted to get the win.
"At the Worlds I'm definitely going to win. I'm going for it and I'll try not to disappoint."
Veteran Marlon Devonish was sixth in 10.25s, while fellow Britons Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Craig Pickering and Mark Lewis-Francis failed to qualify for the final.
There was better news for the home crowd in the 400m hurdles however, as Dai Greene produced another impressive performance.
The European and Commonwealth champion held off former world champion Bershawn Jackson on the line to win in 48.20s, his second Diamond League victory in quick succession, with 19-year-old team-mate Jack Green setting a new personal best of 48.98 in fourth.
"The weather conditions were miserable but I'm happy to have beaten Bershawn because I know he will be there in the World Championship final," the 25-year-old Welshman said.
"I'm very pleased with how I kept my form, it's the first time I've been in that situation, being chased to the line.
"After today [Sunday] and Lausanne the guys will be looking to me as someone to beat. They might have seen me winning the Europeans and Commonwealths but would not have taken much notice, but winning Diamond League meetings is different."
The poor weather hampered Greene's chances of breaking Kriss Akabusi's British record of 47.82s - set when winning bronze in the 1992 Olympics - and Greene joked: "When it's cold like this it's hard to be running fast times but 48.2 is pretty quick. I think Kriss Akabusi keeps sending me bad weather though."
Phillips Idowu was another British winner, the World and European champion easily winning the triple jump with a best of 17.54m in the third round.
But the much-anticipated clash between Idowu and French rival Teddy Tamgho - the indoor world record holder - proved to be something of a damp squib, Tamgho finishing a distant fifth with a best of just 16.74m.
"It's important to get that psychological victory," Idowu said. "It's 2-1 to me now in head to heads this year."
Holly Bleasdale had to settle for second in the pole vault, but the 19-year-old could still be pleased with a best of 4.61m behind Germany's Silke Spiegelburg (4.66m).
Bleasdale set a new British record of 4.70m last weekend, a vault which has suddenly elevated the Lancashire teenager to world-class competition.
In the women's 800m, Jenny Meadows allowed British team-mate Marilyn Okoro to set the pace before hitting the front with 100m to go and holding on to win in 2:02.06.
"I usually run from the front but it was important that I ran a different race to practise tactics and I am relieved to get the win," said Meadows, who won bronze at the last World Championships in 2009.
"It's a strange event this year, there is no dominant number one and with seven weeks to go to the Worlds it's all to play for."

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Ashwini's London dreams nearly over

Dope tainted athlete Ashwini Akkunji's London Olympics dreams are virtually over as her 'B' sample also tested positive for anabolic steroids.

Another quartermiler Priyanka Panwar's 'B' sample also tested positive for anabolic steroids.

Ashwini and Priyanka had their 'B' samples tested on Thursday at the National Dope Testing Laboratory and the results, which came on Monday, confirmed the presence of methandionone in them.

"We have received papers from the NADA that both Ashwini and Priyanka's 'B' samples have tested positive for the same anabolic steroids found in their 'A' sample," Athletics Federation of India Director M L Dogra said.

Ashwini and Priyanka, who were caught for doping just hours before they were to leave the country for the July 7-10 Asian Athletics Championships in Japan, will now be heard by a NADA Disciplinary Panel.

Both have been provisionally suspended by the AFI pending the decision by the NADA panel.

The maximum punishment if found guilty is a two-year ban as both committed their first dope offence.

This would make Ashwini, double gold medallist in the Asian Games - in 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay - virtually out of contention for a 2012 Olympics berth. She is yet to qualify for the London Olympics.

She will also miss the August 27-September 4 World Championships in Daegue, South Korea, though she has qualified for the event in 400m hurdles.

Ashwini's gold-winning relay team-mates Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose had also tested positive for anabolic steroids in one of the worst doping scandals in Indian sports.

Quartermilers, Jauna Murmu and Tiana Mary Thomas, long jumper Hari Krishnan Muralidharan and Sonia were the others who were caught for using anabolic steroids.

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Asafa Powell sets the pace

Asafa Powell defied an untimely downpour to run the 70th sub-10 second race of his career in the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham.

Powell had insisted before the ninth Diamond League meeting of the season that he was the man to beat this year and not third best behind fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt and American Tyson Gay.
And the 28-year-old, the fastest man in the world in 2011, looked in the mood to justify that claim as he cruised to victory in the second heat of the men's 100 metres at the Alexander Stadium in 9.95 seconds.
Powell even had the luxury of easing down and looking across at the clock several metres before the line, and if the weather improves for the final, his world best of 9.78secs could be under threat.
British trio Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Craig Pickering and Mark Lewis-Francis were left a distant fifth, sixth and seventh respectively, but veteran Marlon Devonish, 35, did advance to the final as a fastest loser from the first heat.

The rain continued to fall, but did not prevent Britain's Dai Greene from producing another impressive performance in the 400m hurdles.
The European and Commonwealth champion held off former world champion Bershawn Jackson on the line to win in 48.20s, his second Diamond League victory in quick succession.
"The weather conditions were miserable but I'm happy to have beaten Bershawn because I know he will be there in the World Championship final," Greene said.
"I'm very pleased with how I kept my form, it's the first time I've been in that situation, being chased to the line."

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Farah's sacrifices pay off

Britain's Mo Farah maintained his unbeaten record since changing coach and moving to the United States with a superb victory over 5,000m at the Aviva Grand Prix.

Despite winning the long-distance double at last year's European Championships in Barcelona, Farah felt he needed to make a drastic change to be able to challenge for medals in the World Championships and Olympics.
That meant moving his wife and young daughter to Portland, Oregon, to be coached by Alberto Salazar, but what could have been a massive gamble has paid immediate dividends, with Farah retaining his 3,000m indoor title, winning the New York Half Marathon on his debut over the distance and last month smashing the British and European 10,000m records.
And the Somalia-born 28-year-old again got the better of training partner Galen Rupp at the Alexander Stadium on Sunday, producing a devastating last lap of 54 seconds to win in a time of 13 minutes 6.14 seconds.
"People said why change when things are going well and it has not been easy making the change, but as an athlete if you want success you have to make sacrifices," Farah said.
"I'm a lot more confident and I'm looking forward to the World Championships in Daegu. Running a paced race here and running a championships are completely different, but if I can stay injury-free and keep enjoying it that's the main thing."
Farah and Jamaica's Asafa Powell were the star attractions at the ninth Diamond League meeting of the season, and Powell also did not disappoint with victory in the 100m.
Powell had insisted he was the man to beat this year and not third best behind fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt and American Tyson Gay, and the 28-year-old lived up to the hype with victory in 9.91s, leading home compatriots Nesta Carter and Michael Frater.
"I was a bit cautious in the final with all the false starts and it was cold out there so I didn't push it from the start," admitted Powell, who has now run under 10 seconds more than 70 times. "But it was okay, I'm fine with that.
"We all want to get the best start but when there's false starts it puts you in a different zone. I was only going to do enough to win today [Sunday]. I didn't want to push too hard. I just wanted to get the win.
"At the Worlds I'm definitely going to win. I'm going for it and I'll try not to disappoint."
Veteran Marlon Devonish was sixth in 10.25s, while fellow Britons Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Craig Pickering and Mark Lewis-Francis failed to qualify for the final.
There was better news for the home crowd in the 400m hurdles however, as Dai Greene produced another impressive performance.
The European and Commonwealth champion held off former world champion Bershawn Jackson on the line to win in 48.20s, his second Diamond League victory in quick succession, with 19-year-old team-mate Jack Green setting a new personal best of 48.98 in fourth.
"The weather conditions were miserable but I'm happy to have beaten Bershawn because I know he will be there in the World Championship final," the 25-year-old Welshman said.
"I'm very pleased with how I kept my form, it's the first time I've been in that situation, being chased to the line.
"After today [Sunday] and Lausanne the guys will be looking to me as someone to beat. They might have seen me winning the Europeans and Commonwealths but would not have taken much notice, but winning Diamond League meetings is different."
The poor weather hampered Greene's chances of breaking Kriss Akabusi's British record of 47.82s - set when winning bronze in the 1992 Olympics - and Greene joked: "When it's cold like this it's hard to be running fast times but 48.2 is pretty quick. I think Kriss Akabusi keeps sending me bad weather though."
Phillips Idowu was another British winner, the World and European champion easily winning the triple jump with a best of 17.54m in the third round.
But the much-anticipated clash between Idowu and French rival Teddy Tamgho - the indoor world record holder - proved to be something of a damp squib, Tamgho finishing a distant fifth with a best of just 16.74m.
"It's important to get that psychological victory," Idowu said. "It's 2-1 to me now in head to heads this year."
Holly Bleasdale had to settle for second in the pole vault, but the 19-year-old could still be pleased with a best of 4.61m behind Germany's Silke Spiegelburg (4.66m).
Bleasdale set a new British record of 4.70m last weekend, a vault which has suddenly elevated the Lancashire teenager to world-class competition.
In the women's 800m, Jenny Meadows allowed British team-mate Marilyn Okoro to set the pace before hitting the front with 100m to go and holding on to win in 2:02.06.
"I usually run from the front but it was important that I ran a different race to practise tactics and I am relieved to get the win," said Meadows, who won bronze at the last World Championships in 2009.
"It's a strange event this year, there is no dominant number one and with seven weeks to go to the Worlds it's all to play for."

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Saina: Athletes knowingly take drugs

Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal revealed many athletes and weightlifters had told her in the past that they knowingly consume banned drugs.

"I also know many athletes and weightlifters who themselves tell me that "we take it"," Saina said.

India was rocked by doping scandal recently with eight top national athletes who got training in National Institute of sports (NIS) failing dope tests.

There were also reports that banned drugs were widely available in chemist shops near the NIS in Patiala.

Asked if she was aware about the availability of banned drugs at medical stores, the world number six said, "I don't know whether it is available or not. I don't take it."

Saina, however, felt that lack of awareness about medicines was the major reason behind athletes testing positive for banned drugs in the country.

"It's really sad they don't know what they are taking.

“I'm sure everyone knows WADA rules, it’s very common. They have a website which mentions which medicines are banned and which are not. I think it’s just that they don't know. Many athletes and weightlifters are not very educated so whatever their coaches give they take that," she said.

The 21-year-old Hyderabad girl said she consults her physiotherapist and doctors before taking any medicine and others too should do the same.

"If I have fever I ask my physio and doctor which medicines can be taken and which are banned. They should be very careful regarding everything," she said.

Indian athletics had been rocked by a doping scandal in the last few days when Commonwealth Games and Asian Games gold-winning relay quartet members Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose as well another quartermiler Jauna Murmu tested positive for a banned substance -- methandienone -- in out-of-competition tests.

Apart from the trio, another quartermiler Tiana Mary Thomas tested positive for anabolic steroid epimethandiol, while long jumper Hari Krishnan Muralidharan and shot putter Sonia were the other two athletes who have tested positive in the last few days.

The scandal grew in proportion with two more athletes, the country's new golden girl Ashwini Akkunji and another quartermiler Priyanka Panwar, testing positive for the same anabolic steroid -- methandienone, hours before their departure for Japan for the Asian Championships.

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Idowu to face off with Tamgho

World triple jump champion Phillips Idowu will warm up for the defence of his crown in South Korea by taking on Teddy Tamgho at the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix.

Tamgho, the world indoor record holder and world number one this year, has confirmed he will compete at the Diamond League event at Alexander Stadium.
The 22-year-old will be Idowu's chief rival for the gold medal at the World Championships in Daegu and next year's London Olympics.
The experienced Briton beat him to the European crown in Barcelona last year, but Tamgho came out on top in last week's Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, his winning jump of 17.91 metres 0.1m further than Idowu's personal best.
Tamgho said: "I'm delighted to be competing at the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix against Phillips. I've always had great competition with him and it'll be nice to compete against him in his own country.
"The triple jump field is very strong at the moment and in my opinion this will only get better and better the more we compete against one another. Having guys like Phillips up against you really pushes and drives you and that's only good for me.
"I'm feeling in great shape and was really pleased with the way I jumped in Lausanne last week. It was nice to beat Phillips, but I'm sure he'll be desperate to come back and beat me in his home country, so if I'm going to win there, I'll have to jump even further."
Tamgho, who has won just three of his nine meetings with the 32-year-old Idowu, has set his sights on becoming just the third man to break the 18m barrier.
He added: "I feel there's plenty more to come from me, and I'm hoping to be jumping some big 18m jumps soon. I have it within me I'm sure, and hopefully I can do this in Birmingham.
"It's exciting for everyone there that they'll see us only months before the World Championships and a good performance in Birmingham is vital in my preparations.
"I won the World Indoor title last year and broke the world indoor record earlier this year in Paris, so it would be a dream couple of years if I could win the World Championships in Daegu later this summer.
"But I know it's going to be very tough and Phillips is going to be pushing me hard every step of the way."

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Greene wins in Lausanne

Athletics: Greene wins in Lausanne

Dai Greene admitted he is dreaming of World Championship gold in Daegu in August after winning the 400m hurdles at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne.

Welshman Greene clocked a time of 48.41 seconds ahead of second-placed Puerto Rican Javier Culson and America's Justin Gaymon, with Greene's training partner Jack Greene fourth in 49.44secs.
Greene told the BBC: "For the six or seven months of training I do in winter I don't imagine winning the silver medal. In an individual sport you have to believe you can win.
"I know I'm very close to the British record but I've been training so hard in the last few weeks and I want to save my best for the Championships.
"I'm ahead of schedule if anything so there's pressure on me not to train so hard, but I need to keep pushing if I want to stay in the top three come the World Championships."
Asafa Powell fired a warning to absent Jamaican sprint rival Usain Bolt as he blazed to the fastest time in the world this year of 9.78 on his way to winning the 100m.
Powell beat Michael Frater into second place with a personal best of 9.88 with Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre recovering from an awful start to come third in 9.95.
Powell said: "It was a fantastic run and I managed to push through. I'm taking one step at a time but when we get to the World Championships may the best man win."
Phillips Idowu was denied victory in the men's triple jump by enigmatic Frenchman Teddy Tamgho, whose leap of 17.91m once again marked him out as a threat to Idowu's Olympic hopes.

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