After headlines of drugs, injury, protests and upsets, the 31-year-old switched the spotlight firmly back on track by running the greatest 400 metres race in history to shatter the 11-year-old record of Butch Reynolds.

The `Waco Express' clocked 43.18 seconds to knock over a tenth of a second off Reynolds' record.

Johnson now becomes the first man ever to hold both the 200m and 400m world records. It also tied him with Carl Lewis for the most career gold medals at the World Championships. Both men have eight apiece.

And Johnson warned that there was more to come.

``I have always thought I could run 42 seconds, and I still do,'' said the American, who earned a $100,000 (about Rs 43 lakh) bonus for breaking the record to go with the $60,000 for winning the title.

It was a desperately needed filip for a championship still reeling fromthe injury that destroyed Marion Jones' dream of a sprint double.

Not only is Jones championship over but her season has been thrown into doubt after her dramatic collapse during the 200m semi-final here on Wednesday night.

Her agent Charlie Wells said he was not sure if Jones would be able to compete in the remaining three Golden League races, worth over $330,000 to the 23-year-old sprinter if she wins all three 100m races.

The first Golden League meeting is on September 3 in Brussels. Jones would also get an estimated $500,000 bonus from sponsor Nike if she won the Golden League title according to sources.

``We are taking it day by day. It is too soon to say if she will race in the rest of the Golden League programme,'' said Wells.

A gutsy performance by Australian Cathy Freeman saw her successfully defend her women's 400m title.

IAAF tells Barmasai to `ease up'

SEVILLE: Steeplechase world record-holder Bernard Barmasai will be disqualified from the remainder of the milliondollar Golden League circuit after admitting that he had persuaded a teammate to ease up at the Zurich Grand Prix meeting earlier this month, according to official sources.

Christopher Koskei, the new world champion and the runner who ``allowed'' Barmasai to win in Zurich and stay in contention for the jackpot, may also face disciplinary action when the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) council meets on Monday after the World Championships.

In the steeplechase, Koskei eased back after Barmasai signalled to him. The IAAF has been investigating the incident, considering a charge of ``unsporting behaviour''.

According to sources within the IAAF, a BBC Radio tape of an interview given by Barmasai in Zurich provides conclusive proof. On the tape, Barmasai admits that he told Koskei to ``leave it to me''.