Triple jumper Idowu bolsters Beijing medal hopes

Phillips Idowu recorded the longest triple jump of 2008 at the British Olympic trials on Sunday to underline his gold medal chances in Beijing.

The 29-year-old, who will be competing at his third Olympics next month having failed to win a medal in Sydney and Athens, managed 17.58 metres on his first attempt in Birmingham.

"I feel like Superman. I don't think anyone can stop me. I'm bullet-proof," the world indoor champion told the BBC.

On Saturday, controversial sprinter Dwain Chambers won the 100 metres in an impressive 10.00 seconds but must now wait for a High Court ruling on Thursday before knowing whether he will be allowed to compete in Beijing.

Chambers, who completed a two-year doping ban in 2006 following a positive test for the designer steroid THG, is appealing a British Olympic Association (BOA) bylaw which prevents any athlete guilty of a doping offence from being selected for the Olympics.

Chambers received support from twice Olympics 400 metres champion Ed Moses yesterday.

"We have to deal with this problem where a national ruling body have rules which are more restrictive than the IOC," Moses said.

"You have to be fair to the athletes and there will be other athletes in China who have tested positive in the past."