Jeremy Wariner set the year's world-best time in the 400 meters and Blanka Vlasic and Pamela Jelimo won at the Gaz de France meet in Saint-Denis, France, to remain in the running for the Golden League jackpot yesterday.

Wariner finished in 43.86 seconds, outclassing his main rival and fellow American LaShawn Merritt, who was second in 44.35.

"I executed the race like I wanted to," said Wariner, the world and Olympic champion. "Everything is flowing. My finish is strong. It is a great time.

"Now I am not going to Stockholm. I am going home to train hard."

Both Americans were neck and neck in the final turn, but Wariner accelerated past Merritt in the homestretch.

Dayron Robles also made a strong statement three weeks before the Olympics, winning the 110-meter hurdles in 12.88, just one hundredth of a second shy of his world record.

"I was here to go under 12.90," Robles said. "The time is pretty perfect. I love to run in Paris. In Beijing, I will take the races one by one until the final."

The Cuban led from the first hurdle to the finish line. Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell was second in 13.19, and Antwon Hicks of the United States third in 13.27.

World champion Vlasic of Croatia cleared 6 feet, 7 inches in the high jump with Ariane Friedrich of Germany second with a 6-5 1/2 leap.

Jelimo of Kenya accelerated in the backstretch of the 800 meters, to ease away from world champion Janeth Jepkosgei in a 2008-leading time of 1:54.97.

In the men's 400 hurdles, world champion Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson were in the lead until the last hurdle where Clement escaped to hit the tape in 48.33 while Jackson slipped to fourth place, beaten by Danny McFarlane of Jamaica, second in 48.71, and Angelo Taylor of the United States, third in 48.91.

British sprinter Dwain Chambers failed yesterday in his bid to overturn a lifetime Olympic ban because of doping and will not be able to compete at the Beijing Games. London's High Court refused to grant an injunction against the British Olympic Association's bylaw which bans doping violators for life from the games. Chambers' legal team will not appeal.

Shayla Worley's trip to the Beijing Olympics ended in rural Texas.

Worley broke her right fibula yesterday just below the knee during warm-ups for the Olympic selection camp in New Waverly, essentially ending her chances of making the U.S. women's Olympic gymnastics team.

The women's team leaves July 31 for Beijing, and competition begins Aug. 10.

Worley, 17, was one of 10 gymnasts invited to compete for the last four spots on the six-woman team at the two-day selection camp. Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin already have secured their spots after a 1-2 finish at last month's Olympic trials. There was an all-around meet yesterday, and the gymnasts will do at least two events today before the team is picked.

Dutch steeplechaser Simon Vroemen could be cut from his country's Olympic team because he failed a doping test he requested after running an especially fast time. The 39-year-old runner made the unusual request in an apparent attempt to preempt suspicion of cheating. He is to appear at a hearing Monday.

• Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points to lead Germany past Brazil, 78-65, and into the semifinals of the Olympic basketball qualifier in Athens, Greece. Greece, Puerto Rico and Croatia also advanced to today's semifinals. Germany will face Croatia and Greece will play Puerto Rico. The semifinals winners will qualify for the 12-team Olympic tournament, while the losers will play tomorrow for the final berth. The Games

• When: Aug. 8-24.

• Where: Beijing.

• TV: NBC will offer about 1,200 hours of coverage across the network and cable stations USA, MSNBC, CNBC and Oxygen. Spanish-language coverage will be provided by Telemundo. You also can watch on nbcolympics.com.