Athletics: Tyson Gay, back on the track hours after his world leading 9.75 seconds in the 100 metres, comfortably advanced through the opening round of the 200 metres at the US world championships trials in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday night. “I am not trying to be Superman,” said Gay, who clocked a wind-assisted 20.14 seconds in his bid to run a sprint double at the August 10-18 championships in Moscow. His time was the third fastest behind Isiah Young (20.09) and Curtis Mitchell (20.11). All were wind-assisted. Gatlin, who is nursing a strained hamstring, chose not to run the 200.
Rugby Union: Flanker George Smith, a veteran of 110 tests and the 2001 British and Irish Lions series, was called into the Wallabies squad for this week’s second test as injury cover yesterday. The 32-year-old will be joining the squad in Melbourne along with uncapped full-back Jesse Mogg and Queensland Reds centre Ben Tapuai after the Wallabies suffered a string of injuries in their 23-21 defeat to the Lions in Brisbane on Saturday. Australia had centre Christian Leali’ifano, fullback Berrick Barnes and replacement back Pat McCabe taken off the Lang Park field by stretcher on Saturday.
Golf: Bubba Watson retained a share of the lead after the third round of the Travelers Championship yesterday despite dropping three shots in the last six holes. The American, chasing his first PGA Tour win since he captured last year’s Masters, stumbled with bogeys at the 13th, 15th and 17th holes to finish with a round of even-par 70. Watson will go into the final round at 10-under par, tied for the lead with his countryman Charley Hoffman and Canadian Graham DeLaet, on a heavily congested leaderboard that included England’s newly-crowned US Open champion Justin Rose.
Cycling: Former champion Cadel Evans and emerging talent Tejay van Garderen will lead BMC Racing at the Tour de France, the team confirmed today. The 36-year-old Evans, who won the race in 2011 and challenged Sir Bradley Wiggins in the second week of last year’s event before falling away, will be contesting his ninth Tour de France. Earlier this year, the veteran rode to third place at the Giro d’Italia but despite the heavy schedule, the Australian insists he feels in great condition.
Doping: Spanish police have taken 84 people into custody and seized more than 700,000 doses of illegal doping products imported from Greece, China and Portugal, the Interior Ministry said yesterday. “Officers have dismantled two organisations importing the products, which can cause severe damage to health,” the Ministry said. Police seized anabolic steroids, growth hormone and the blood booster Erythropoietin (EPO) destined for gyms and private dwellings in Valencia, Catalonia, Andalusia, Madrid, the Basque Country and Asturias.