ZAGREB, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - World high-jumping champion Blanka Vlasic said Wednesday she was confident of continuing her 34-meet winning streak in all competitions at this month's Olympic Games.

'I know that I'm going to Beijing as the biggest favorite for the gold medal. My results speak for themselves,' Vlasic was quoted as telling the Croatian daily Slobodna Dalmacija.

BEIJING, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Marion Jones will watch the Beijing Olympics from a television in federal prison if she sees the Games at all but the former athletics star's downfall into doping disgrace continues to haunt her sport.

ATHENS, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Controversial Greek sprinter Ekaterina Thanou will not attend an International Olympic Committee (IOC) disciplinary hearing in Beijing on Thursday which will rule on whether she can compete in the upcoming Olympic Games.

BEIJING, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Few athletes at the Beijing Olympics can claim to be as flamboyant as triple jumper Phillips Idowu, Britain's sporting answer to infamous NBA star Denis Rodman.

BEIJJNG, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Outspoken Australian track star Tamsyn Lewis has claimed she will be racing drug cheats when she competes at the Beijing Olympics next week.

The world 800m indoor champion said she was disillusioned with her sport, alleging her rivals were gaining an advantage by using performance-enhancing substances.

BEIJING, August 5, 2008 (AFP) - IOC drugs chief Arne Ljungqvist on Tuesday accused Russia of systematically doping after seven athletes were hit with suspensions which could lead to four-year bans.

The 77-year-old Swede, who is also a vice-president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), expressed his huge disappointment at what had taken place.

MOSCOW, August 5, 2008 (AFP) - Valery Borchin's eligibility for the Olympic race-walk event at the Beijing Games was thrown into confusion Tuesday after Russia's national team coach denied suggestions, confirmed by the athlete's trainer, he had failed a dope test.

BEIJING, August 5, 2008 (AFP) - Athletics legend Michael Johnson has handed back the 4x400 metres relay gold medal he won in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president Thomas Bach confirmed here on Tuesday.

BEIJING, August 5, 2008 (AFP) - Usain Bolt might have his hands full over the coming weeks in his bid for an Olympic sprint double here, but the Jamaican sprinter will also be rooting for the NBA stars of the US basketball team.

'I'm rooting for the USA,' said the 100m world record holder, who stands 1.96m (6ft 4in) tall.

MOSCOW, August 5, 2008 (AFP) - Two Russian walkers, who were named as members of the Olympic squad, failed recent dope tests and are now set to miss the Beijing Games, a Russian athletics federation source told AFP here Tuesday.