Gatlin gets backing to run at US trials

A Florida federal judge ruled yesterday that banned sprinter Justin Gatlin should be allowed to compete at the US Olympic track and field trials. US District Judge Lacey A. Collier's temporary restraining order is only in effect for 10 days, and the trials don't begin until Friday in Eugene, Ore. Gatlin's lawyer, Joe Zarzaur, says his client is "guardedly, cautiously optimistic." A hearing in Pensacola, Fla., has been set for Monday to discuss the order. Gatlin's complaint alleged that penalizing him for a 2001 doping violation, which involved medication he was taking for attention deficit disorder, violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. Gatlin, 26, who insists he never knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs, has not competed since winning the 100 meters at the US championships in June 2006, a title that has since been taken away . . . With a string of perfect 10s at the US Diving trials in Indianapolis, Laura Wilkinson and Troy Dumais appear to be Beijing bound. Wilkinson received at least one 10 on three of her five dives and finished with 813.20 points, comfortably ahead of Haley Ishimatsu (757.55). Dumais scored perfect 10s on three of six dives to build a commanding advantage heading into today's finals.

Roger Federer could face No. 3-ranked Novak Djokovic in the semifinals en route to a bid for a sixth straight Wimbledon title. Djokovic, the Australian Open champion, was drawn into Federer's half of the bracket for the grass-court Grand Slam tournament that begins Monday. Second-ranked Rafael Nadal is in the other half of the draw. He could face two-time runner-up Andy Roddick in the semifinals. In the women's draw, top-seeded Ana Ivanovic and two-time champion Serena Williams are in the top half. No. 2 Jelena Jankovic and Venus Williams, the defending champion and four-time winner, are in the other half . . . Nadia Petrova defeated Samantha Stosur, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the final of the Eastbourne International Women's Open in England. Petrova will face Agnieszka Radwanska, who upset Marion Bartoli, 7-5, 6-3 . . . Ivo Karlovic beat Gael Monfils, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4), to reach the Nottingham Open final, where he'll meet third-seeded Fernando Verdasco, who beat Marin Cilic, 6-3, 6-1 . . . Top-seeded David Ferrer defeated Juan Martin Del Potro, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, to set up a final against Marc Gicquel in the Ordina Open in Den Bosch, Netherlands. On the women's side, Dinara Safina upset No. 1 seed Elena Dementieva, 6-3, 6-2, and will play Thai qualifier Tamarine Tanasugarn, who defeated Alona Bondarenko, 6-2, 6-4.

Turkey taught the European Championship another lesson in fortitude to advance to the semifinals with a 3-1 shootout victory over Croatia in Vienna. The Turks needed a tying goal in injury time of the extra period after a 0-0 draw in regulation, just moments after the Croats seemingly had won it. Semih Sunturk, who later scored in the shootout, got the equalizer. The Turks will face Germany in the semifinals Wednesday.

Tim Federowicz's grand slam in the top of the ninth inning sent North Carolina to a 7-3 victory over LSU in a College World Series elimination game in Omaha disrupted twice by rain in two days . . . Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano has a minor strain in his right shoulder but no major structural damage, the team announced after the righthander underwent an MRI. Manager Lou Piniella said Zambrano will miss his scheduled start against Baltimore Tuesday, but that nothing has been decided beyond that . . . In WNBA play, Asjha Jones had 14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocked shots to lead the Connecticut Sun to a 72-56 victory over the Monarchs in Sacramento . . . Deanna Nolan scored a franchise-record 44 points and the Detroit Shock remained unbeaten at home with a 98-93 overtime victory over the Minnesota Lynx . . . Diana Taurasi scored 33 points and Cappie Pondexter added 31 to lead host Phoenix to a 112-105 overtime victory over Chicago . . . Alana Beard scored 18 points to lead host Washington past Atlanta, 72-61, handing the expansion Dream their 12th straight loss to open the season . . . Ann Wauters had 21 points to lead the Silver Stars to a 77-75 triumph over visiting Los Angeles . . . Sue Bird had 17 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals to lead host Seattle past the Indiana Fever, 78-70.