london Wrap: Two dopers suspended

LaShawn out

LaShawn Merritt’s defence of his Olympic 400m crown lasted only a few seconds on Saturday as the American pulled up injured in his qualifying heat. Merritt,the fastest in the world this year with 44.12,appeared on track with a heavily strapped left thigh in a bid to protect a hamstring injury he sustained earlier this year. After rounding the opening bend adrift of the field he stopped running and trudged the remainder of the race looking a dejected figure. Merritt said he had yet to decide whether he would compete in the 4x400m relay.

Danes reach final

Denmark’s Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen defeated South Korea’s Chung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae 17-21 21-18 22-20 to reach the final of the men’s doubles and give themselves the chance to be only the second European Olympic Champions. The Danish pair will meet China’s Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng in the gold medal decider on Sunday. Cai and Fu earlier defeated Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong 21-9 21-19 in the first semi-final.