Usain Bolt after his run in Beijing this morning

Justin Gatlin responded to boos from the Beijing crowd by storming to 9.83 seconds in the heats of the 100 metres at the World Championships.

The two-time drug cheat, cast as athletics' number one villain, especially in the wake of the doping crisis which has engulfed the sport in recent weeks, looked mightily impressive in qualifying fastest for Sunday's semi-finals at the Bird's Nest stadium.

Gatlin's introduction was greeted with audible jeers, but his time was an emphatic statement of intent, even with a marginally illegal following wind.

It was faster than Usain Bolt has run all year and suggests he is in shape to go faster than his world-leading personal best of 9.74secs come the business end of the competition.

Bolt's reception, back at the scene of his first triple Olympic triumph, was unsurprisingly in complete contrast as he lapped up the applause, but he could not match his rival's time.

The Jamaican won his heat in 9.96s, albeit into a slight head wind.

Gatlin refused to read too much into the first-round times, saying: "I went out there and ran the first half of my race really well. I feel good.

"Bolt did the same thing in 2012. He raced slower in the first round, picked it up in the semis and crushed it in the final."

Bolt said: "It wasn't as great as I wanted it to be, but I wasn't expecting the first one to be great.

"I wasn't trying to run fast. I wanted to save as much energy as possible. I am in wonderful shape."

Thirty-three-year-old Gatlin's 20-year-old team-mate Trayvon Bromell was the second fastest qualifier in 9.91.

There was mixed news for the Great Britain contingent, though.

Chijindu Ujah looked comfortable as he clocked 10.05 to go through second in his heat, while Richard Kilty, the world and European indoor champion, progressed as a fastest loser in 10.12.

But James Dasaolu was made to pay for a colossal and inexplicable error of judgement.

In the lead metres from the line he looked around and lost all momentum, coming home fourth in his heat in 10.13 to miss out on the semis by one hundredth of a second.

Gleneagles may now head for the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next month

Gleneagles could head for the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next month after being declared a non-runner in the Juddmonte International at York due to unsuitable ground.

The dual 2000 Guineas winner had been set to have his first start over 10 furlongs in a clash with unbeaten Derby hero Golden Horn, but persistent rain throughout Tuesday led to a marked softening of ground conditions on the Knavesmire.

After walking the track, trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He is a very fast horse, we saw at Newmarket what he could do on fast ground.

"It wouldn't be fair to ask him to run over 10 furlongs for the first time on this ground.

"It's soft in places and it wouldn't be fair on him.

"The lads were prepared to run him over 10 furlongs, but only on faster ground.

"We'll have a look a the Irish Champion (September 12) and if it is good to firm there we'd love to be there, if not he won't be "

Farewell: ‘Being AP’ will offer a fascinating glimpse into McCoy’s final year

The trailer for an upcoming documentary will offer a captivating insight into the final year of champion jockey AP McCoy.

'Being AP' was directed by by the BAFTA-winning film-maker Anthony Wonke, and it offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of a genuine sportsmen who gave horse racing everything he had. 

The all-access feature follows the Antrim native in his final year as a jockey who had notched up 4,357 wins over a career that spanned more than 20 years. 

During his career he suffered over 700 falls, with over 40 bones broken. His amazing record over jumps is unrivalled, and his final season was just as good as many of the others he'd had in his long, illustrious career. 

The trailer gives us an insight into what the documentary will offer; the tantalising final year he had and the affect it had on his family, particularly his wife Chanelle. 

She pleads with the racing-obsessed sportsman: "This year is a good year to call it a day." 

"Why on earth would any year be a good year to call it a day," he replies.

""Every part of my life was structured and controlled, but I could never control getting old," he says in the trailer. 

The Moneyglass Films Production was made in association with Roads Entertainment and Partizan Films and in association with BBC Films and with support from the Irish Film Board, Northern Ireland Screen and the British Horseracing Authority/Great British Racing. 

McIlroy.jpg

World number one Rory McIlroy has confirmed his intention to defend his US PGA Championship title this weekend at Whistling Straits.

McIlroy has spent the past few days practising on the Wisconsin course, having been sidelined since early July when he suffered a rupture of his left ankle ligaments during a game of football with friends.

However, he has said he is now fit and ready to return.

"If anything, my ankle feels even better when I swing hard," he told the Daily Mail.

The 26-year-old's injury ruled him out of the Scottish Open and the defence of his British Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational titles, but he has been playing since the Monday that Zach Johnson inherited his Open crown.

"I've played a lot of golf since then, just finding the middle of the clubface again," he said. "And I've been chipping and putting basically since it happened, with my protective boot on…

"I did think about coming back last week at the Bridgestone but Steve (McGregor, his fitness coach) held me back. He thought it important for me to basically play a tournament behind closed doors and after I completed that successfully, it felt the right time to come.

"I'm ready to play and I expect to do well."

The four-time major winner has been paired with Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson for the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday.

He has not played a competitive round since a closing 66 in the US Open at Chambers Bay on June 21.

The Northern Irishman insists that he has not rushed his return and expects to be competitive in Wisconsin.

"Obviously it's important to remain world number one, I've made that clear. It's been a year since I got it back," he said, according to irishgolfdesk.com.

"But it's just about playing well and winning tournaments and that's my main focus this week."

In his absence McIlroy has seen others such as Ireland's Shane Lowry make progress and he was quick to praise the 28-year-old for his victory at the Bridgestone Invitational – even if he is now another rival.

"Shane's victory was fantastic," McIlroy added. "I played 18 on Sunday morning and came back to the house we are renting to watch it.

"Once he got into the lead, he hit a couple of wonder shots – that shot on 10, which was incredible. And he holed some big par putt putts down the stretch

"I texted him last night and said it was a pretty ballsy victory. And yes, he could be in the Olympics too, depending on how everything goes the next 52 weeks."

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy has posted some pictures of his ankle on Instagram showing the extent of the injury he sustained last month.

The 25-year old damaged his left ankle while playing football with some friends and the injury ruled him out of the British Open, where he was to defend his title.

McIlroy hasn't played since but as he says in the post, he has come a long way since his ankle was horrifically swollen.

 

4 and a half and 3 and a half weeks ago respectively… I've come a long way since.

A photo posted by Rory McIlroy (@rorymcilroy) on Aug 6, 2015 at 2:35am PDT

There are conflicting reports about whether the Holywood man will be fit to play at Whistling Straights, to defend his USPGA title, but he posted video of his rehab work yesterday, so he is well on the way to recovery.

 

Working hard every day to come back stronger #dontmindthegrind

A video posted by Rory McIlroy (@rorymcilroy) on Aug 5, 2015 at 6:17am PDT

Question is will it be quick enough?