Britain's Chambers eases to gold at European Indoors

British sprinter Dwain Chambers coasted to victory in the 60 metres final at the European Indoors Athletics Championships yesterday but favourite Blanka Vlasic flopped in the women's high jump.

Chambers, who revealed in his autobiography last week that he took a cocktail of more than 300 drugs in one year, won in 6.46 seconds - slower than the European and championship record of 6.42 he set in Saturday's semi-final.

The 30-year-old will now prepare to face world record holder Usain Bolt in the World Championships in Berlin in August.

Croatia's world champion and Olympic silver medallist Vlasic only finished fifth behind winner Ariane Friedrich, of Germany, who leapt 2.01m.

"I could not find the technique in my legs. I don't know what happened," Vlasic said. "I was not thinking hard. I missed my focus... it happens sometimes."

Russia had another good day with Mariya Savinova running the quickest time indoors this year to win the women's 800m in one minute 58.10 while Yuriy Borzakovskiy triumphed in the men's race.

Yevgeniya Polyakova also edged the women's 60m final with her season's best time of 7.18 and the Russian women's 4x400m team surged to victory.

Hosts Italy had joy in the men's 4x400m relay final when they edged out Britain while Portugal's Rui Silva won the men's 1,500m and Alemitu Bekele Degfa of Turkey held on to take the women's 3,000m title.

Away from the track, Sebastian Bayer, of Germany, prevailed in the men's long jump with a European and championship record of 8.71m following just one earlier leap of 8.29 in the final.

Scerri's debut

Maltese sprinter Lara Scerri had a positive debut in indoor events after breaking into the eight-second barrier in the 60 metres heats.

On Saturday, Scerri, Malta's sole representative in Turin, placed eighth in the fourth heat, clocking 7.98 seconds.

Russia's Natalya Murinovich won the race (7.31) ahead of Sweden's Lena Berntsson (7.32) and Romania's Angela Morosanu (7.39).