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

CJ Ujah qualified fourth fastest for the men's 100m semi-finals

Briton CJ Ujah hopes to "fight my way back to the top" after making a winning 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 taking victory in 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 me with 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."

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 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."

Race walk drama as hosts Italy star on opening night

There was a dream start to the first evening session for the host nation, as gold medallist Antonella Palmisano and Valentina Trapletti achieved a one-two for Italy in the women's 20km race walk final.

But, behind, there was heartbreak for Spain's Laura Garcia-Caro, who was pipped to bronze by Ukraine's Lyudmyla Olyanovska as she began to celebrate mere metres before the finish line, but lost out in a dramatic conclusion.

The British team awaits its first medal after the mixed 4x400m relay quartet finished fifth and Lawrence Okoye placed eighth in the men's discus final in Friday's evening session.

Charlie Carvell, Hannah Kelly, Lewis Davey and Emily Newnham clocked three minutes 13.97 seconds in their mixed 4x400m final, won by Ireland in a Championship record 3:09.92.

Okoye, winner of European bronze in 2022, produced a best throw of 63.48m with his final attempt, as Slovenia's Kristjan Ceh took discus gold with 68.08m.

In the women's 5,000m final, won by Italy's Nadia Battocletti in a championship record 14 minutes 35.29 seconds, Izzy Fry was ninth in a personal best 15:05.66, followed by Hannah Nuttall in 10th (15:10.65) and Amy-Eloise Neale in 19th (15:33.45).

Meanwhile, British team-mates Morgan Lake and Scott Lincoln both secured qualification in their respective events.

Lake, fourth at last year's World Championships, clinched her place in the women's high jump final on Sunday with a clearance over 1.89m, and Lincoln's best throw of 20.31m saw him qualify in sixth place overall for Saturday's men's shot put final.

During the morning session, Britain's Jemma Reekie progressed to the women's 1500m final by winning her heat.

The world indoor 800m silver medallist, 26, ran 4:06.68 seconds to qualify fastest for Sunday evening's medal race, where she will be joined by Georgia Bell (4:12.01) and Katie Snowden (4:12.17), who were second and third respectively in their heat.

British team captain Elliot Giles (1:46.44) and Thomas Randolph (1:45.58) qualified for the men’s 800m semi-finals, which take place on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Jacob Fincham-Dukes jumped 8.18m to secure his place in the men's long jump final and Lizzie Bird will contest the women’s 3000m steeplechase final after placing fourth in her heat in 9:32.87.

Hosts Italy lead the early medal table with two golds among a tally of four, with the Netherlands claiming three medals to sit second with five days of competition still to come.

European Athletics Championships medal table