A twist for US: James sprains ankle at scrimmage

Team USA forward LeBron James left practice yesterday with what the team described as a mild right ankle sprain.

James landed on Kevin Durant's foot during a scrimmage between Team USA and a select squad of young NBA players in Las Vegas.

"He thinks it's a mild sprain," coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Our trainers think it's a mild sprain. So we'll find out tomorrow. But I don't think it's anything serious. Obviously, we'll look and see what happens tomorrow."

Until more is known, James's injury raises questions about whether the forward will be full-speed as the Olympics approach.

The US has already dealt with an injury to another starter, center Dwight Howard, who is returning from a stress fracture to his sternum. And Dwyane Wade, one of the top reserves, is coming back from left knee surgery.

The US can replace injured players until a final roster is submitted Aug. 7.

Powell off and running

Asafa Powell capitalized on Usain Bolt's weak start and edged the world record-holder by one-hundredth of a second, leading from start to finish in the 100 meters at the DN Galan meet in Stockholm.

Powell, the former world record-holder, won their highly anticipated rematch in 9.88 seconds. Bolt, who was slow out of the blocks, nearly caught his fellow Jamaican at the finish line. Third went to Norwegian Jaysuma Saidy Ndure in 10.06.

The win was a measure of revenge for Powell, after losing to his close friend Bolt at Jamaica's Olympic Trials last month.

"I was really happy with the race," Powell said. "My goal was to win. My start was quick and fast. And the speed stayed with me through the finish. I'm really looking forward to the Olympics."

Bolt set the world record of 9.72 in New York May 31, breaking Powell's mark of 9.74.

Earlier, Dayron Robles missed his world 110-meter record by just 0.04 seconds, winning in 12.91. The Cuban, who set the world record last month in Ostrava, Czech Republic, beat four Americans in the race. David Oliver (13.04) and Aries Merritt (13.33) also made the podium.

Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner won his third straight 400-meter race, but failed to improve the stadium record he set last year. The American eased up near the finish and crossed in 44.29. It was 0.39 off his meet record last year.

Olsson out of Games

Olympic triple jump champion Christian Olsson pulled out of the Beijing Games because of a hamstring injury he sustained last night. Olsson pulled a muscle in his fourth jump at the DN Galan meet in Stockholm. He finished third with a jump of 17 meters that he recorded in the second round. The 28-year-old Swede has been plagued by injuries since winning the gold in Athens four years ago. Last night's competition was his first after a long break . . . Schalke defender Rafinha and Werder Bremen midfielder Diego have joined Brazil's Olympic team without the permission of their clubs. Schalke said it would seek to suspend Rafinha after he failed to report to a training camp Monday. Diego showed up for a photo opportunity at Werder but skipped practice after meeting with team officials and left the club without permission to fly to Paris to join the Brazil team . . . Doping-tainted sprinter Katerina Thanou has been included on Greece's official team list for Beijing, four years after she was an embarrassment to the host nation at the Athens Games. Thanou, 33, made Greece's provisional team list last week after finishing the 100 meters in 11.39 seconds at a Greek meet. The Hellenic Olympic Committee confirmed that Thanou is on the official list of participants. Thanou won silver in the 100 at the 2000 Sydney Games, but later served a two-year ban for missing a doping test before the 2004 Athens Games. The gold medalist in the 2000 race was Marion Jones, who later was stripped of her medal, but the IOC has not yet decided whether to award the gold to Thanou.