'I can walk with my head held high' - Ujah on return

Britain’s CJ Ujah hopes to "fight my way back to the top" after making his return to major international competition at the European Athletics Championships in Rome following a doping ban.

The 30-year-old qualified fourth fastest for the men's 100m semi-finals after winning his heat in 10.23 seconds on Friday night.

Ujah, who was cleared of intentionally doping, served a 22-month ban after his failed drugs test cost Team GB Olympic silver in the men's 4x100m at Tokyo three years ago.

He told BBC Sport his team-mates had "all received with me open arms" on his return and added: "People are entitled to react how they want to and I had to tell them, 'listen, it was not intentional, I did not mean any harm'.

"Hopefully we can get on the track and win another medal," he said.

Ujah was named in the men's 100m and 4x100m relay on Thursday following Welshman Jeremiah Azu's late withdrawal, having been included but unused in Britain's squad for the World Athletics Relays in May.

Tokyo team-mate Richard Kilty said in 2022 that he would never forgive, external Ujah for his "sloppy and reckless" behaviour that cost them Olympic silver.

On his ban, Ujah said: "This sport is black and white. We all make mistakes in life and obviously I made it at this level, which I didn't want to do. I know I can walk with my head held high, knowing I didn't try to cheat.

"I have learned a lot about myself, the resilience and the mental health, it has taken a lot to get back to this point. I appreciate my support system. My little son is spurring me on and that's what is keeping me going.

"It has been hard. I cannot put it into words, but you know I was always hoping that I would be cleared and I would never purposely do what happened. Hopefully I can fight my way back to the top."