Kenya and Ethiopia are set to continue their traditional role as the strongest African medal contenders at the Olympics.

Australia's Olympic athletes will be banned from using sleeping pills, officials said Tuesday, after ex-swimming star Grant Hackett admitted to a heavy use of the sedatives while he was still competing.

Katie Hoff's bid to at last strike the gold that eluded her in two Olympics looked dim Wednesday as she failed to advance from the 200m freestyle heats at the US swimming trials.

Tour de France champion Cadel Evans leads a strong Australia road cycling team named on Monday for next month's London Olympics.

Australian swimming great Grant Hackett says he is working to salvage his reputation after trashing his apartment in an alcohol-fuelled rampage last year that saw his wife leave him.

Justin Gatlin ran 9.90 seconds in the rain to set the 100-meter qualifying pace at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials, sending a message to global foes that he is ready for battle.

Reigning Olympic decathlon champion Bryan Clay was disqualified from the 110m hurdles after a stumble on Saturday at the US Olympic trials, dooming his bid for a gold medal repeat in London.

Reigning Olympic decathlon champion Bryan Clay was disqualified from the event after a stumble in the 110m hurdles on Saturday at the US Olympic trials, dooming his bid to repeat in London.

World 800m record holder David Rudisha and Olympic 1,500 metres champion Asbel Kiprop began their quest for places in the London Olympics with easy wins in the Kenya trials on Thursday.

British pubs and brewers are preparing for a bumper summer supplying pints for visitors to the London Olympics, desperately hoping the extra business will prove a pick-me-up for the ailing industry.

Australian swimming great Grant Hackett has been dumped by a children's anti-violence charity after pictures were published of his trashed apartment following an alleged drunken rampage last year.

British heptathlete Kelly Sotherton has been forced to retire from athletics due to a back injury, wrecking her hopes of taking part in the London Olympics.

Australian men's field hockey team head coach Ric Charlesworth says his world number one side have been disadvantaged by an unfair draw at the London Olympics.

Superstar shuttler Lin Dan survived a scare in the Thomas Cup quarter-finals in Wuhan Wednesday, as China qualified for the semis in an event seen as a key test ahead of the London Olympics.

Chinese athletics superstar Liu Xiang is playing down expectations for his performance at the London Olympics despite setting a season's best time in the 110m hurdles on Saturday.

China's Liu Xiang put himself in pole position for the Olympic 110m hurdles Saturday as he beat the world outdoor and indoor champions with a season-leading 12.97sec at the Shanghai Diamond League meet.

China's Liu Xiang won the Shanghai Diamond League meet 110m hurdles on Saturday in a season-leading 12.97sec as he strengthened his bid to reclaim the Olympic title.

The sun is setting over the scruffy outdoor stadium as Kilakone Siphonexay, the fastest man in Laos, lies on the home-made, wooden weights bench, raises both arms and grips the scaffolding pole above.

London has pledged to host the greenest Olympic Games ever staged, but it could take years before the promises start to flower.

US Olympic basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said Monday he expects the London Games to be his last Olympics at the helm of the American team of NBA stars.