SACRAMENTO, Calif. - John Capel had one of his biggest races four years ago in Sacramento in the fizzled Michael Johnson-Maurice Greene showdown in the 200 meters.

Capel is back again for the U.S. Olympic track and field trials, the reigning world 200 champion.

The high-stakes event begins Friday, and Capel believes it will divert attention from the steroid scandal to the competition on the Cal State-Sacramento track.

"I think the clouds are kind of getting away from us now," he said. "I think the sun is about to pop through. It's going to take a lot of fast times, and the people have got to know that the people who run fast are clean."

Capel provided just that kind of moment in Paris last year in the world championships. After Americans washed out in the 100, and Jon Drummond threw his temper tantrum after being disqualified for a false start, Capel came back to win the 200. He also was part of the winning U.S. 400 relay team.

The 100 preliminaries begin Friday, and one of those entered, world record holder Tim Montgomery, is facing doping allegations that could lead to a lifetime ban. Three other athletes in the meet also have those charges, even though none of them have a positive drug test.

All were accused by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency based on evidence obtained from the criminal investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.

Capel is ready for the extra attention he believes the meet with receive because of the steroid cases.

"I think it will help ratings," he said. "In America, we love controversy, so they'll watch this. They'll eat this up. And I'll be right there winning, smiling and running, because I know they're watching."

Capel has no problem running against an athlete facing doping allegations.

"I played football, man, there's people on steroids all the time," he said.

Capel counts his semifinal victory over Johnson in the 2000 trials as his greatest moment. The 200 was the biggest event of that meet, with the great Johnson in a showdown with the boastful and fast Greene.

But both of them broke down with injuries in the final, a race Capel won. Capel went on to make the final in the Sydney Olympics, but he faltered out off the blocks and finished eighth.

Capel left the sport in 2001 for an unsuccessful shot at professional football, then returned in 2003.

He came back strong, finishing the world title and the No. 1 ranking in the 200.

"It paid some bills," he said. "Other than that, my focus is really getting a chance to run in the 200 again in Athens. I have to run the 200 meters this Olympics. I just have to have my chance. It got away from me last time."

Capel has his wife and two young daughters with him for what will be a long stay in Sacramento, because he will compete in the 100 and 200. He will use the shorter race as a warmup, physically and emotionally.

"The 100 gets me mad enough to run the 200," he said. "They make you mad in the 100, then you go out there and burn the track up in the 200."

With the top three finishers in each event making the Olympic team, and an anticipated capacity crowd at the cozy track, just as there was four years ago.

"I'm four years older, stronger, a little more mature," he said. "Just the fact I get a chance to compete at this level again, it gives me chills to think of the atmosphere in Sacramento, because you know the fans will be going crazy."