Gatlin faces prospect of life ban

World and Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin is facing a lifetime ban after confirmation that his B sample tested positive for testosterone.

The American announced on Saturday that he had failed a doping test in April.

And anti-doping chief Dick Pound and Gatlin's lawyer Cameron Myler told Five Live on Sunday that the 24-year-old's B sample also tested positive.

Gatlin will now wait to learn his fate before a United States Anti-Doping Agency hearing.

Interview: World anti-doping chief Dick Pound Interview: Asafa Powell's agent Paul Doyle Interview: Justin Gatlin's lawyer Cameron Myler

"The B sample is positive, they've gone through that whole exercise," World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) chairman Pound told Five Live.

If he can find somebody who did in fact spike it that's for them to prove Dick Pound, Wada chairman

"What remains now is for the appropriate penalty to be handed out by the US Anti-Doping Agency and that will be reviewed by the IAAF, and by Wada if we're not satisfied that the right result has been achieved."

Gatlin also tested positive for an amphetamine in 2001 and Pound confirmed that if the World Anti-Doping Code is properly applied the American faces a life ban.

"(Gatlin) needs to be banned for up to life," said Pound.

"There may be some extenuating circumstances but if he just continues some sort of bland denial that will not help him when it comes to sentencing.

"If he can find somebody who did in fact spike it that's for them to prove, but short of something like that he faces a very serious problem."

Myler told Radio Five Live her client struggled to come to terms with the news when he was first told.

JUSTIN GATLIN 1982: Born in Brooklyn, Feb 10 2001: Wins US college 100m & 200m while at University of Tennessee 2001: Banned for two years for testing positive for an amphetamine 2002: IAAF reduces ban to one year 2002: Turns professional and begins working with coach Trevor Graham 2003: Wins US and world indoor 60m titles 2004: Wins 100m gold at Athens Olympics in 9.85secs 2005: Wins 100m & 200m gold at World Championships in Helsinki 2006: May 12 equals world record of 9.77secs in Doha 2006: July 29 announces he has tested positive for unusual levels of "testosterone or its precursors"

"He was in shock," said Myler. "Justin has not done anything, he has not taken anything, hasn't used anything and he certainly hasn't authorised anyone else to.

"He is finding it very difficult."

Gatlin's coach Trevor Graham has already said his athlete has been "sabotaged" and that he knows who is responsible.

But Pound said: "Bear in mind Trevor Graham is himself being investigated by the Grand Jury because a surprising number of his athletes have been found guilty of doping offences."

Myler added: "I heard of (Graham's) comments and read them in the press this morning - they are not authorised by us and we didn't know about them.

"Trevor's comments were not made with the knowledge or authorisation of either Justin or us. At this point we are trying to figure out what was the cause of the positive test."

Wada chairman Pound said that Gatlin's positive drugs test is proof that doping is widespread in athletics.

"It's an indication that there is still rampant drug use going on," said Pound.

"And it's not just in the middle of the pack or at the back of the pack, it's the leaders."

Pound did concede that small steps are being made by the sport in the USA to tackle doping in athletics.

"There certainly was in the past quite a lot of sweeping under the carpet and it's been a bone of contention between me and USA Track & Field (USATF) for a number of years," he said.

"This time at least USATF has come out and said this is a problem we acknowledge that there's a (positive) test and it's a very serious matter, so I think that there's some evolution but there's a long way to go too."

Eriksson's agent 'in Villa talks'

Sven-Goran Eriksson's agent Athole Still is reportedly part of a consortium keen on buying Aston Villa.

Still held talks with Villa officials on Wednesday, after local businessman Michael Neville tabled a bid of about £64m for the Premiership outfit.

Neville says he has lined up a manager should he win control of the club, expected to be Martin O'Neill.

American billionnaire Randy Lerner has pulled out of the running but a group of Arab businessmen are interested.

Eriksson is Still's most high-profile client and the two were caught in a tabloid sting in January when they held discussions with an undercover reporter, posing as a Sheik, in Dubai.

The News of the World published Eriksson's revelations, including that he would consider becoming manager of Aston Villa if there was a takeover of the club.

Just eight days later, Eriksson agreed he would leave the England job at the end of the World Cup.

Lerner pulled out of the race on Wednesday after his talks with Villa chairman Doug Ellis.

Lerner, 44, the owner of NFL outfit Cleveland Browns, was reportedly angry with the way Ellis handled talks.

It is understood Ellis refused to meet Lerner one-to-one, then told him he wants to remain in charge at Villa.

BBC Five Live Sport's Pat Murphy said: "It would be a major surprise if Mr Lerner came back to the negotiating table, but there are at least three other groups seriously interested.

"But I'm told a group of Arab businessmen based in Dubai are keen on Villa and Still has been seen at Villa Park too.

"Doug Ellis' attitude to any potential deal remains crucial. If he's not onside Villa will continue to fester.

"His 38.9% stake means he has the final say.

"I understand he played hardball with Lerner on Wednesday, believing he still has a key role to play in Villa's future, a view that didn't chime well with Mr Lerner."

A separate consortium led by lifelong fan Michael Neville had earlier submitted a £64m bid for the club.

Solihull businessman Neville bid unsuccessfully when Ellis put the club up for sale last season but has since assembled new backers to enable him to make a concrete offer.

Neville said the breakdown in talks between Lerner and Ellis had not put him off meeting the Villa chairman in the near future.

I want to make this club great again Michael Neville

He told Five Live: "I think with any bid that is tabled, following on from that there has to be a very sensible conversation with Mr Ellis and the board.

"I don't know why this one has gone wrong - I am looking forward to talking to Mr Ellis in the next day or two.

"If Mr Lerner has withdrawn his bid, then I am not sure whether it helps or hinders us. Our bid is either competitive and attractive in its own right or it's not."

Aston Villa has confirmed it has received "a number of indicative offers" to buy the club and in a statement to the London Stock Exchange, the Villa board said it "will be appraising these" and "will update shareholders and supporters when appropriate".

Ellis, who has a 39% controlling stake in Villa, returned from holiday in Spain on Tuesday and is believed to be ready to explore options to sell the club.

It is understood the 82-year-old has been told by Neville he will still have a role to play at Villa.

Neville is hoping that his Birmingham connections will win over Ellis and the present Aston Villa board.

"I grew up in Erdington and Aston. I understand the area, the supporters and the culture. "The fans are the lifeblood of any football club so I would want a very close collaboration with them.

"I am a local boy and I have the best interests of the club at heart - for the long term. I want to invest in the players and the stadium.

"I want to make this club great again, Aston Villa should not be where it is."

Jockey Apologizes for Head-Butting Horse

LONDON (July 25) - Jockey Paul O'Neill apologized Tuesday for head-butting his horse at a race last weekend.

Who's the Biggest Butt-Head?

AP, AP, ABC

The Horseracing Regulatory Authority is holding an inquiry after reviewing TV footage of the incident at the Stratford races on Sunday.

"I would just like to say to the public that I'm very sorry they had to see such a thing," O'Neill said in a statement. "I've never done it before and it will never happen again."

TV replays showed the horse, City Affair, being unruly in the parade ring, ultimately throwing O'Neill. The jockey got to his feet and grabbed the reins, before lowering the butt of his helmet into the horse's nose.

"When I got to the start he headed straight for a car with me, stopped five feet from the car, whipped round and dropped me," O'Neill said. "I landed on my feet, but a bit awkwardly for my knee and I was a little bit angry then, but I've never done anything like this before and I'm glad to say the horse is OK after it."

City Affair went on to finish fourth in the two-mile event. O'Neill was given a caution by stewards for his use of the whip in the race.

O'Neill's actions will be reviewed at an HRA disciplinary hearing on Aug. 3, where he is expected to face a fine and short ban.

The 26-year-old O'Neill, who has ridden 51 winners, was previously questioned by the HRA over his ride of a novice hurdler in March.

British newspapers likened the incident to Zinedine Zidane's headbutt of Marco Materazzi in the World Cup final, with many headlines reading, "Jockey does a 'Zidane' to his horse."

Bergkamp given rousing farewell

Bergkamp given rousing farewell

It was a family day for Bergkamp as he said his footballing farewells Dennis Bergkamp bowed out of football on a entertaining, celebratory opening day at Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium. A sell-out crowd revelled in seeing some of the club's greats play in a second-half Legends match against Bergkamp's first club, Dutch side Ajax. Ian Wright, Emmanuel Petit, Patrick Vieira and Marc Overmars were some of the names to return for the Gunners. And 59-year-old Johan Cruyff and Holland manager Marco van Basten came on for Ajax in the last 10 minutes. Ajax's Dutch international striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar had the honour of scoring the first goal at the 60,000 capacity stadium in a first half in which the clubs sent out a host of youngsters for a regulation pre-season run-out. Huntelaar went close on a couple of occasions before turning in Edgar Manucharyan's low, flat cross from the left. After the break the girths were a little wider and the legs, in some cases, a bit slower than in their heyday as a new match began between two teams of legends. But it was Arsenal's only present day player on show who gave the hosts the lead. It's difficult to say goodbye Dennis Bergkamp Thierry Henry, having chartered a private jet to fly back from a family holiday in the USA for the match, converted Lee Dixon's cross to the delight of the home fans. And after Ronald De Boer blazed a penalty over following Gilles Grimandi's foul on Tottenham's Edgar Davids - the day's pantomime villain, Kanu's deflected shot made it two to Arsenal. He may not have scored, despite being put through one-on-one on the right in the closing minutes, but the day was all about one man and Bergkamp was given a rousing send off. "If I was to have a testimonial it was always going to be against Ajax and their fans have put in a lot of effort to come here," he said in an emotional speech after the final whistle when he gave thanks to one and all. "My mum and dad were always there from the beginning and have probably seen every game. "And my wife has been amazing over the years. You can't do a career like this alone and if it wasn't for her I would not be here. "It's difficult to say goodbye. I've had a fantastic time over the last 11 years and a big part were the fans and how they treated me - they have been fantastic." Bergkamp was carried shoulder high during a lap of honour by Vieira and Henry - Arsenal captains past and present. It was applauded long and loud by the legends on the pitch as well as the crowd who have marvelled at his Arsenal displays for the last 11 years during which he has scored 120 goals in 423 games.

Emotional Woods wins third Open

By Matt Slater BBC Sport at Hoylake

Woods has had to cope with the recent loss of his father

Tiger Woods won his third Open title and 11th career major with a consummate display of control and precision on Royal Liverpool's hard-baked links.

The defending champion, Woods finished on 18 under, two shots ahead of Chris DiMarco and five clear of Ernie Els.

DiMarco tried to provide a dramatic finish and at one stage reduced his Ryder Cup team-mate's lead to just one.

But that excitement was only temporary as Woods immediately responded with cushion-restoring birdies.

Having been the very definition of steely determination for the entire week, Woods broke into tears after tapping in for par at the last and shared emotional embraces with his caddie Steve Williams, wife Elin and coach Hank Haney.

This may have been major number 11 for the remarkable American but it was major number one for him without having his father Earl to celebrate with.

Woods' sporting inspiration died in May and the world number one took nine weeks out of the game to grieve.

Missing the cut in his first event back, the US Open, prompted some to question how Earl's absence would affect Tiger. The answer has been emphatic this week.

"Stevie (Williams) said to me as we were coming up the last, 'this one is for dad'," said the 30-year-old, who carded a 67.

I just miss my dad so much... I wish he could have been here to witness this Tiger Woods

"And then, after the putt, all these emotions just poured out of me. They have been locked in there.

"I just miss my dad so much. I wish he could have been here to witness this.

"He enjoyed watching me grind out major wins and this would have brought a smile to his face."

Woods then congratulated his friend DiMarco on a typically dogged display. A performance all the more impressive as the New Yorker, who was also second to Woods at the 2005 Masters, has recently lost his mother.

The two men have swapped kind words all week and it was perhaps fitting that it should be DiMarco who ran Woods closest on a day that almost but never quite reached the dramatic heights most had hoped for.

Sergio Garcia, given the thankless task of taking on Woods one-on-one, saw his challenge falter almost from the off.

Brilliant on the front nine on Saturday, the 26-year-old Spaniard was woeful on the front nine on Sunday.

A fine striker of the ball, Garcia is suspect on the greens, particularly under pressure.

And so it proved here as shots were dropped on the 2nd and 3rd. By the time Woods holed a superb eagle putt at the long 5th his one-shot overnight advantage over Garcia had become a five-shot gap in little over an hour of play.

That eagle also knocked the wind out of Els' challenge.

The 36-year-old South African, playing alongside DiMarco in the group ahead, had birdied the same hole to join Woods on 13 under.

That would be as low as Ernie would go as he struggled to rediscover the form he showed in matching Woods on Friday.

Woods is one major closer to Jack Nicklaus' record of 18

Two one-under 71s at the weekend were never going to be enough to beat his old nemesis.

Hoped-for challenges from others also failed to materialise. Experienced American Jim Furyk struggled before a late rally lifted him into fourth place on 12 under.

And Angel Cabrera's attempt to emulate Argentine compatriot Roberto de Vincenzo's win here in 1967 - the last time Hoylake hosted an Open - was irretrievably damaged by a triple-bogey seven at the 2nd.

Far better challenges came from two unheralded sources, Japan's Hideto Tanihara and Anders Romero, another Argentine. There was, however, to be no Ben Curtis-style story as they both stalled at 11 under, Romero later sliding to nine under.

World number six Adam Scott found some form only to drop three shots over the last two holes. The Australian remains an unproven performer on the biggest stage.

Not that British observers should take any comfort from that.

It is now seven years and 28 majors since a domestic player last won a major - Paul Lawrie's Open victory at Carnoustie in 1999.

That same year, Jose Maria Olazabal won the Masters and a 19-year-old Garcia gave Woods a scare at the USPGA. Europe is still waiting to celebrate another champion.

There was some consolation, however, when Norway's Marius Thorp claimed the Silver Medal for the lowest amateur.

The best-placed British player here was 31-year-old Londoner Anthony Wall. His eight-under-par total was good enough for a share of 11th.

He should be delighted but the much-touted Paul Casey, Luke Donald, David Howell and others saw their chances disappear days ago.

For Woods, this week has been another superlative effort. He makes it look so easy it is sometimes difficult to appreciate just how good he is.

Woods, the best front-runner in sport, has now won 11 of 11 majors he has led after 54 holes and seven of seven after 36 holes.

He is now tied with Walter Hagen in second place in the major-winners stakes, seven behind Jack Nicklaus' haul of 18.

The Golden Bear's record was once considered insurmountable but Woods has won 11 majors two years younger than Nicklaus was when he claimed his 11th, the 1972 US Open.

The California-born star is only the 19th player in Open history to win three Claret Jugs and he is the first man to win back-to-back Opens since Tom Watson in 1982 and 1983.

There was one other winner here this week, Hoylake. Out of the loop for 39 years, many had worried the old course could not hack it anymore.

Well, they were wrong. The links played hard but fair, the sun shone, the crowds came in their thousands and everybody said they wanted to see the Wirral venue back on the rotation. Over to you R&A.