Blake claims Bolt's crown

Yohan Blake is the new 100m world champion after Usain Bolt false-started in Daegu.

Blake won the race in 9.92 seconds but the story was all about world-record holder and defending champion Bolt being disqualified at the start.

Bolt clearly went too early and knew it immediately, ripping off his running vest in frustration.

Once the stunned crowd had calmed down, 2003 champion Kim Collins made the fastest start but he was hauled in by Blake once the Jamaican got into his stride.

American Walter Dix took the silver in 10.08, with the 35-year-old Collins, of St Kitts and Nevis, hanging on for the bronze in 10.09.

Blake said the win felt like a dream, and thanked training partner Bolt.

"I can't find words to explain it,'' he told Channel 4. "My training partner has been there for me.

"I feel like I want to cry. I've been praying for this moment. It feels like a dream.''

Surreal

Asked if he was worried by the quick start made by Collins, he added: "I stayed cool. I knew I was going to catch him and I did.''

Silver medallist Dix said of Bolt's disqualification: "I couldn't believe it, it's kind of surreal.

"I didn't think they were going to kick him out. It's pretty hard to kick Usain out of the race.''

Collins suggested the false-start rule is not right in its current form, which sees an athlete disqualified for any early move.

"I don't think it is,'' he said.

"These things happen and you've got to give people a chance."

Previously athletes had been allowed one false start before being disqualified for a second, but new rules were introduced by the IAAF for the start of the 2010 season.

Rule 162.7 states: "An athlete, after assuming a full and final set position, shall not commence his start until after receiving the report of the gun. If, in the judgement of the starter or recallers, he does so any earlier, it shall be deemed a false start. Except in combined events, any athlete responsible for a false start shall be disqualified.''

Positive

The victorious Blake, just 21, did not compete in the last World Championships in Berlin after testing positive for the stimulant methylhexanamine.

A disciplinary panel organised by the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission cleared him of a doping infraction on the grounds that the drug was not on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list.

However, JADCO appealed their own panel's ruling, stating that Blake should be disciplined as the drug was similar in structure to the banned substance tuaminoheptane.

With no decision possible before Berlin, Blake was withdrawn by the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association and an appeals tribunal subsequently ruled he should receive a three-month ban.

Briton Dwain Chambers had earlier suffered the same fate as Bolt, being disqualified in the semi-finals.

Chambers left distraught after twitching in the blocks and subsequently being shown the red card.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet but I've got to keep my thoughts and frustrations to myself at the moment,'' Chambers said as he left the track. "Obviously the gun went and I moved. It's a bit unfortunate. The rules are the rules and I false-started.

"Today I was optimistic about my chances but I was up against guys on paper faster than me so I would have had to run beyond my best to qualify.''

Asked about his future plans with his Olympic ban ruling him out of the London Games next year, Chambers added: "It's too soon to make any decisions on my current situation. I'm still enjoying it and we will see what happens.''

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Marlon Devonish also went out at the semi-final stage.

Aikines-Aryeetey finished third in 10.23 in his race, while Devonish was seventh in his in 10.25.