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Tokyo 2020: GB's Oliver Dustin "stronger" after difficult experience

Tokyo 2020: GB's Oliver Dustin
© Reuters
Dustin missed out on reaching the 800m semi-finals in Tokyo.

Team GB's Oliver Dustin refused to blame his nightmare build-up for failing to reach the 800 metres semi-finals at the Olympics.

The 20-year-old missed out in the heats in Tokyo on Saturday morning.

Dustin endured a torturous countdown after traces of cocaine were initially found in a drug test sample, putting his Games in jeopardy.

Anti-doping authorities accepted there had been cross-contamination of the sample and he was free to compete, but he came sixth in his heat.

He said: "It was hard to process something that was so wrong and I can't say too much but it was a massive injustice against me and as an athlete that's the last thing you expect to happen.

"It's difficult, it was difficult to be at such an emotional low point and then think I'm going to the Olympic Games now. But I am much stronger for it and its taught me a lot about the sport and I'm going to be here for a long time."

The session started under a cloud after the news Nigeria sprinter Blessing Okagbare had failed a drugs test.

She was due to run the 100m semi-finals against Dina Asher-Smith on Saturday evening in Tokyo but has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after a sample collected from the sprinter tested positive for human growth hormone.

On the track, British indoor record holder Giles, who ran the second fastest indoor 800m in history in February, reached the semi-finals in Tokyo.

The 27-year-old clocked one minutes 44.49 seconds to finish third in his heat while Daniel Rowden also qualified.

Giles said: "They kicked at 400 and I wasn't interested, I'm not up for it in the heats as we have to run tomorrow. I thought the boys would come back to me, but they managed to hold it in the heat which was absolutely phenomenal – really good.

"I was watching the screen and I knew where I was and that there was nobody close to me. But then if I am being honest, I am not sure that I would have caught them at the front because they were going that quick.

Elliot Giles progressed through his heat
Elliot Giles progressed through his heat (Martin Rickett/PA)

"It took me by surprise a little bit how fast they moved, but I was running to qualify, that was always the main aim. I see tomorrow's race being exactly the same."

Jessica Turner reached the 400m hurdles semi-finals after coming fourth in her heat in 56.83secs.

Jessie Knight fell on the first bend of her heat while Meghan Beesley came seventh in 55.91secs and did not progress to the semi-finals.

American world record holder Sydney McLaughlin won her heat in 54.65s.

Turner said: "Honestly it was such a bad race, it was very, very rusty. I've had a tough run-up leading to this race so I've not been able to train properly due to injury.

"I'm just happy to get around in one piece and to get that automatic spot, so I'm very happy but also I need to get back to my coach and see what we can iron out. The semi is a new day, a new race, so let's hope it's a good one."

Tiffany Porter and Cindy Sember reached the 100m hurdles semi-finals.

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Dina Asher-Smith pictured at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on July 30, 2021
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Tokyo 2020: Key events to look forward to on day eight of the Olympics
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Olympic medal table header
CountryGold medalSilver MedalBronze MedalT
ChinaChina34241674
United StatesUnited States29352791
JapanJapan22101446
AustraliaAustralia1751941
Olympics flagRussian Olympic Committee16222058
Great BritainGreat Britain16181852
Today's Olympic highlights header

Friday's key events


HOCKEY
· Great Britain's women aim to secure their place on the podium as they face India in the bronze medal match (2.30am)
· Netherlands - silver medallists five years ago - and Argentina battle for the gold medal in the women's final (11am)

BEACH VOLLEYBALL
· The women's gold medal will be decided as Australia and USA go head to head (3.30am)

BOXING
· Lauren Price will be looking to add to Team GB's success in the ring when she takes on Nouchka Fontijn of Netherlands in the women's middleweight semi-final (6am)

DIVING
· Tom Daley already has one Olympic gold to his name in Tokyo, and he begins his bid for second in the men's 10m platform. Teammate Noah Williams is also involved in the preliminary round (7am)

CYCLING
· Jason Kenny's reign as sprint king may be over, but Jack Carlin looked strong in his bid to succeed his compatriot. He takes on Harrie Lavreysen in his sprint semi-final (8.10am), with the final taking place later in the day (10.35am)
· The women's madison makes its Olympic debut at the velodrome as Team GB duo Katie Archibald and Laura Kenny look to add another medal to their collections (9.15am)

FOOTBALL
· Hosts Japan will look to get themselves on the podium as they face Mexico in the men's bronze medal match (10am)
· The women's champions will be crowned as both Sweden and Canada aim to win Olympic gold for the very first time (1pm)

ATHLETICS
· The men's 5000m final includes Great Britain's Andrew Butchart, but most eyes will be on Ugandan world record holder Joshua Cheptegei (1pm)
· Team GB's Jodie Williams will hope to get on the podium in the women's 400m final, but defending champ Shaunae Miller-Uibo is favourite for gold while Stephenie Ann McPherson should challenge and Allyson Felix is bidding to become the most decorated female track and field athlete of all time (1.35pm)
· Netherlands' Sifan Hassan takes on leg two of her ambitious attempt at a Tokyo treble in a women's 1500m final which also includes Great Britain's Laura Muir and Faith Kipyegon of Kenya (1.50pm)
· A star-studded women's 4x100m relay final will see a Team GB quartet including Dina Asher-Smith look to upset defending champions USA and favourites Jamaica, who boast Elaine Thompson-Herah as she goes for her third gold of the Games (2.30pm)
· Great Britain and Jamaica will also be going for gold in the men's 4x100m relay final, and their medal hopes have been boosted by USA's failure to qualify (2.50pm)

> Today's schedule in full
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