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In brief: While chasing Usain Bolt, Justin Gatlin shakes off criticism at worlds

Jamaica's Usain Bolt coasts to a victory during his heat of the men’s 200m at the World Athletics Championships at Beijing. (Associated Press)
From Staff And Wire Reports
Jamaica's Usain Bolt coasts to a victory during his heat of the men’s 200m at the World Athletics Championships at Beijing. (Associated Press)

TRACK AND FIELD: Usain Bolt returned to the track at world championships and eased his way through the preliminary round of his favorite race, the 200 meters.

Justin Gatlin also cruised, doing nothing to diminish his role as Bolt’s top challenger.

When Gatlin lined up for the 100-meter final Sunday night in Beijing, a scintillating race he lost to Bolt by .01 seconds – he was on the line with three other athletes who had served doping bans: Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell and Mike Rodgers.

Their doping pasts have barely been footnotes to the narrative in the 100. And the other athletes competing in Beijing despite their doping histories have essentially gotten a free pass, as well, even as track and field has been hit with multiple reports alleging drug-related cheating among athletes in almost every corner of the sport.

There has been vigorous debate over whether a convicted doper should be able to compete again. Gatlin has been snubbed by some meets since his return from his second doping conviction in 2010.

But there is no keeping him out of major events like this one, or the Olympics.

In 2011 and 2012, the Court of Arbitration for Sport delivered a pair of decisions that reversed an IOC rule banning anyone who’d served a doping suspension of longer than six months from competing in the next Olympics. Those decisions sparked debate about whether a lifetime ban should be in order for a first offense. That didn’t happen, but last year, the World Anti-Doping Agency passed a rule that increased the possible penalty for a first offense from two to four years.

“The reality is that your decisions have consequences and some are permanent,” U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart told the AP.

Back on the track Tuesday night for the 200 heats, Bolt worked hard through the turn, staked himself to a massive lead, then jogged to the finish and crossed the line first in a time of 20.28.

The 200 final is on Thursday.

Mexico’s 11-1 win eliminates Taiwan

LITTLE LEAGUE: Catcher Raul Leon drove in five runs with a homer and a single, and Mexico eliminated Taipei, Taiwan, with an 11-1 victory at the Little League World Series at South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Mexico will face Japan or Venezuela, which are both unbeaten and play each other today.

• California eliminates Kentucky with 11-3 win: California took control right away, scoring three runs in the first inning and California eliminated Kentucky with an 11-3 victory at the Little League World Series.

California will play Thursday against the loser of today’s game between Texas and Pennsylvania. The winner of that game advances to the championship of the U.S. bracket.

• Missouri beats Canada 18-6 in LLWS consolation: Devrin Weathers pitched into the fifth inning and hit a two-run homer, leading Webb City, Missouri, to an 18-6 victory over Canada in a consolation game at the Little League World Series.

Notre Dame will add stadium video board

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Fans will be able to watch instant replays on an end zone video board at Notre Dame Stadium at South Bend, Indiana in a couple of seasons.

More than a year after announcing a $400 million construction project known as Campus Crossroads to add buildings around the outside of the historic stadium as well as thousands of premium seats, the school released plans to include a video board atop the south end zone.

• Rutgers investigating communication: Rutgers is investigating whether football coach Kyle Flood violated school or NCAA rules by contacting a faculty member about the academic status of a player.

• Rutgers suspends Carroo, Laviano, 3 others: Rutgers has suspended star receiver Leonte Carroo and quarterback Chris Laviano, along with three other players, for the first half of its season opener against Norfolk State for a curfew violation.

Also suspended for the opener at home on Sept. 5 are punter Tim Gleeson, defensive back Ruhann Peele and linebacker Kevin Marquez.

• FSU running back returning to field: Florida State running back Dalvin Cook plans to head back to the field after a jury found him not guilty of punching a woman in the face outside a bar in June following a shouting match. The college immediately lifted his suspension after the verdict.

American Pharoah 1-5 favorite in Travers

MISCELLANY: Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is the overwhelming 1-5 favorite in a 10-horse field entered for Saturday’s Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course at Saratoga Springs, New York.

• Valencia beats Monaco in CL playoff: Valencia lost 2-1 at Monaco but advanced to the Champions League group phase on a 4-3 aggregate score, while Swedish side Malmo rallied to oust Celtic in their playoff, 2-0.

• Valverde wins 4th stage if Vuelta: Former champion Alejandro Valverde won the fourth stage of the Spanish Vuelta, while Colombian Esteban Chaves protected the leader’s jersey for a third straight day.