Gatlin's maiden title since return

Justin Gatlin won his first title since returning from a four-year doping ban with victory in the 60 metres at the World Indoor championships on Saturday as the red-hot Americans grab­bed four gold medals and a world record in Istanbul.

Heptathlete Ashton Eaton bettered his world mark and further wins for high jumper Chaunte Lowe and 400 metres runner Sanya Ross-Richards took the US's gold medal tally to five.

While not garnering golds like the US, host nation Turkey had something to cheer with their first ever world indoor medals thanks to a second place for Kenyan-born Ilham Tanui Ozbilen in the men's 1,500 behind Morocco's Abdalaati Iguider and third for Asli Cakir Alptekin in the women's race, which was won by Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia.

Gatlin, who tested positive for testosterone in 2006, kept low out of the blocks and had edged clear of the field by the time he looked up to win the 60 metres title in 6.46. "I'm just thankful. I wasn't trying to come back and do anything extraordinary, I just wanted to come back and be myself the way I left and I'm on the road to doing that," the quietly spoken Gatlin told reporters. "I think I can go out there and dominate and win the fans back," added the 2004 Olympic 100 metres champion.

Nesta Carter took silver with a time of 6.54 as once again, Jamaica failed in their bid to win a first men's 60 title at the championships and Britain's Dwain Chambers, champion two years ago in Doha, happily settled for third in 6.60.

"I knew it was going to be tough with those guys. But to get back on the podium again is a great feeling. It show's that the old boy's still got it in the old legs, the 33-year-old said.

Pearson steals the show

Australian Sally Pearson made her trip worthwhile with gold in the 60 hurdles in a world leading time of 7.73.

American-born Tiffany Porter, dubbed a 'Plastic Brit' by some sections of the British media after switching nationalities by virtue of dual citizenship, was second.

Yamile Aldama, another foreign-born Briton, gave the country their first gold of the championships winning the triple jump at the age of 39, 15 years after making her first appearance at the world indoors when she was competing for her native Cuba.

Results: Men: 60M: Justin Gatlin (US) 6.46 seconds, 1; Nesta Carter (Jamaica) 6.54, 2; Dwain Chambers (Britain) 6.60, 3. 400M: Nery Brenes (Costa Rica) 45.11 seconds, 1; Demetrius Pinder (Bahamas) 45.34, 2; Chris Brown (Bahamas) 45.90, 3. 1500M: Abdalaati Iguider (Morocco) 3:45.21, 1; Ilham Tanui Oezbilen (Turkey) 3:45.35, 2; Mekonnen Gebremedhin (Ethiopia) 3:45.90, 3. Long jump: Mauro Vinicius da Silva (Brazil) 8.23 metres, 1; Henry Frayne (Australia) 8.23, 2; Aleksandr Menkov (Russia) 8.22, 3. Pole vault: Renaud Lavillenie (France) 5.95 metres, 1; Bjoern Otto (Germany) 5.80, 2; Brad Walker (US) 5.80, 3.

Women: 60M hurdles: Sally Pearson (Australia) 7.73 seconds, 1; Tiffany Ofili-Porter (Britain) 7.94, 2; Alina Talai (Belarus) 7.97, 3. 400M: Sanya Richards-Ross (US) 50.79 seconds, 1; Aleksandra Fedoriva (Russia) 51.76, 2; Natasha Hastings (US) 51.82, 3. 1500M: Genzebe Dibaba (Ethiopia) 4:05.78, 1; Mariem Alaoui Selsouli (Morocco) 4:07.78, 2; Asli Cakir (Turkey) 4:08.47, 3. High jump: Chaunte Lowe (US) 1.98 metres, 1; Antonietta Di Martino (Italy) 1.95; Anna Chicherova (Russia) 1.95 and Ebba Jungmark (Sweden) 1.95, 2. Shot put: Valerie Adams (New Zealand) 20.54 metres, 1; Nadezhda Ostapchuk (Belarus) 20.42, 2; Michelle Carter (US) 19.58, 3.