Sprint showdown is Chambers-made

COMMENWEALTH GAMES: Dwain Chambers confirmed his position as favourite to win the men's 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games by setting the fastest time in yesterday's first-round heats in Manchester.

The Englishman (24) won his heat in 10.19 seconds on the first full day of action.

Chambers' time was well outside his personal best of 9.97 but it was still enough to give him the fastest time from the seven first-round heats ahead of a showdown with his compatriot Mark Lewis-Francis in this evening's final.

Lewis-Francis posted the second fastest time of 10.25 in the first heat, while Canada's Nick Macrozonaris was third fastest overall with 10.27.

Liverpool-based national record holder Paul McKee ensured Northern Ireland will have a representative in today's 400 metre semi-final with fourth spot behind world indoor champion, Daniel Caines of England.

In boxing, Belfast featherweight Kevin O'Hara was accused of biting his opponent.

Welshman Peter Ashton, who won 24-7 over the Ulster senior champion, said: "He bit me on my shoulder in the third. I tried telling the referee but he took no notice."

But O'Hara countered: "If I had bitten him he would have known about it - I would have taken his shoulder off! I have a bit of stubble, maybe that's what he thought was a bite, I don't know. But it reflects badly on me and that's not fair."

Ulster heavyweight Shane Curran also lost on points to Jamaica's Kerron Speid.

Before the day's action got underway, it was revealed that top Canadian triathlete Kelly Guest had tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone.

Guest said he was taking "at least six food supplements" and had no idea which one had led to traces of nandrolone being found.

Guest's coach Lance Watson said: "It's a trace amount (of nandrolone) in his system rather than a gross performance enhancing amount that some athletes have had in the past."