Greene takes US to relay gold

Greene takes the baton at the top of the home straight

Favourites USA have taken gold in the men's 4x100m relay, with Brazil and Cuba in silver and bronze respectively.

Individual Olympic champion Maurice Greene anchored the team home in a time of 37.61secs.

But there are concerns that the Cubans' final hand-over may have been illegal.

An appeal may follow after Freddy Mayola appeared not to have the baton fully under control in the change-over zone after taking it from Ivan Garcia.

Rapid

The USA's win was never in doubt after a rapid first leg from Jon Drummond.

Bernard Williams and Brian Lewis increased the lead before Greene blasted down the straight to his second gold of the Games.

It was the fifteenth time the USA have won this event at the Olympics.

They have been beaten across the line only once - by Canada four years ago.

The other two defeats came through disqualifications, but there was little chance of any mishaps in this dominant victory.