Ohuruogu gold caps dream comeback

OSAKA, Japan -- Christine Ohuruogu completed a fairytale return to competition to lead home a British one-two in the women's 400 meters at the world athletics championships in Osaka on Wednesday.

In a pulsating final, Jamaica's Novlene Williams appeared to have the gold in the bag with a clear lead in the home straight but as she tied up Ohoruogu and her team-mate Nicola Sanders charged through.

Ohoruogu won in a personal best 49.61 seconds with Sanders taking silver in 49.65. Williams had to settle for bronze in 49.66 seconds.

Ohuruogu's victory completed a remarkable comeback for the Commonwealth Games champion, who has just returned from a year's suspension for missing out-of-competition doping tests.

"On the finish line I said 'Was it me?' It is unbelievable," she said.

"Never in my wildest dreams could I have thought of coming back after my ban as a world champion."

Ohurougu, who was running in only her fifth race since her suspension expired, is still waiting to find out if she will be able to challenge for the Olympic title in Beijing next year as the British Olympic Association automatically gives life bans to athletes who have committed doping offences.

But Ohurougu, who admitted committing the offfence but insisted she simply forgot about making herself available for tests, has appealed.

Her chances were boosted when the BOA recently cleared triathlon world champion Tim Don who had commited an almost identical breach of the rules.

American Michelle Perry successfully defended her 100 meters hurdles world crown in a desperately close final.

Perry, a converted heptathlete, endured a nervous wait before the electronic scoreboard flashed up her time of 12.46 seconds to confirm she had won back-to-back titles.

Canada's Perdita Felicien, the 2003 champion, took silver in 12.49 with Delloreen Ennis-London of Jamaica, a silver medal winner at the last worlds two years ago, third in 12.50.

"It was an extremely difficult race, I rate it as one of the top three most difficult ones in my career," said Perry.

"It was a close call. We waited for couple of minutes, I did not know who won. I was thinking am I second or third. Now I want to enjoy it."

Germany's Franka Dietzsch won her third world discus gold medal when she retained her title at her ninth championships. As in her 1999 and 2005 triumphs, the 39-year-old's first attempt was good enough to take the title and none of her rivals was able to get close to the 66.61 meters she opened with.

The bank clerk's victory was assured before her final attempt which she promptly clattered into the netting around the circle before bowing to all four sides of the Nagai Stadium.

Russian Darya Pishchalnikova grabbed silver with a personal best of 65.78m on her penultimate throw, while Cuban Yarelis Barrios' opening throw of 63.90m was also her career best and enough to claim the bronze medal. E-mail to a friend