Athletics-Lyles brightens dark day with 200m gold

American Noah Lyles shot to 200 metres world championship gold on Tuesday, providing a bright finish to a day darkened by yet another doping scandal.

The showman Lyles, his hair dyed silver after a heroic animee character, won the first of what many predict will be many world championship medals by storming across the line unthreatened in a time off 19.83 seconds. Canada's Andre De Grasse, the Rio Olympic silver medallist behind Usain Bolt, was second again in 19.95 while Ecuador's Alex Quinonez took the bronze by clocking 19.98.

It was a brilliant finish to a day of competition clouded by a drugs controversy that began with renowned American coach Alberto Salazar being banned for four years for doping violations.