BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Michael Phelps is just two gold medals short of breaking Mark Spitz's record of seven golds in an Olympics, set in 1972, after winning the men's 200-meter individual medley on Friday, but doping scandals dominated the headlines.

　Michael Phelps of the United States swims during the men's 200m individual medley final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube in Beijing, China, Aug. 15, 2008. Phelps set a new world record and won the gold medal in the event with 1 minute 54.23 seconds. (Xinhua/Fan Jun)

　　Kim Jong-su of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has been stripped of the silver and bronze medals he won in shooting events after testing positive for beta-blocker drugs, which help decrease the heart rate and stay cool, the International Olympic Committee said.

　　Vietnamese female gymnast Do Thi Ngan Thuong also failed a drug test and has been expelled from the Games along with Kim, IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies told a press conference.

　　Three doping cheats were caught so far at the Aug. 8-24 Olympics. Spanish cyclist Maria Isabel Moreno was kicked out of the games on Monday after testing positive for EPO.

　　Kim won silver in the men's 50m pistol and a bronze in the men's 10m air pistol. Tan Zongliang of China now takes silver in the 50m, with Vladimir Isakov of Russia taking the bronze, and Jason Turner of the United States will be awarded Kim's bronze in the 10m air pistol, IOC said.

(L-R) Silver medalist Kim Jong Su of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), gold medalist Jin Jong Oh of South Korea and bronze medalist Tan Zongliang of China stand on the podium during the awarding ceremony of men's 50m pistol final of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games shooting event in Beijing, Aug. 12, 2008. (Xinhua/Li Ga)

　　Unstoppable Phelps made it six gold medals and six world records in as many tries in the Water Cube when he clocked 1:54.23 to beat his own 200m medley mark by 0.57 seconds.

　　Ryan Lochte of the United State had the consolation of winning his first individual gold, beating compatriot Aaron Piersol in the men's 200m backstroke, with whom he shared the previous world record of 1.54.32.

　　Lochte touched home in 1:53.94, and Peirsol finished second in 1:54.33.

　　Fellow American Rebecca Soni also won the women's 200m breaststroke in 2:20.22, a new world record.

　　Britta Steffen of Germany denied a U.S. cleen sweep in the pool when she edged Australia's Libby Trickett and American Natalie Coughlin to win the women's 100m freestyle in an Olympic record time 53.12 seconds.

　　After China won all three of the gymnastics gold medals contested, the Americans finally regained pride when Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson made a 1-2 finish for the United States in the women's individual all-round.

　　Liukin produced flawless exercises on each of the four apparatus to amass 63.325 points, just 0.600 ahead of Johnson. China's Yang Yilin took the bronze in 62.650.

Nastia Liukin (C), Shawn Johnson (L) of the United States and China's Yang Yilin pose for photo after the awarding ceremony of gymnastics artistic women's individual all-round final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, Aug. 15, 2008. Liukin claimed the title of the event with a score of 63.325, Johnson ranked the second with a score of 62.725, and Yang Yilin won the bronze with a score of 62.650. (Xinhua/Ren Long)

　　"I was not disappointed at all. I'm happy to finish on the podium and very proud to be here," said Johnson, the reigning world champion.

　　"I'm really proud of Nastia. She works very hard and deserves it," she added.

　　In shooting, Artur Ayvazian of Ukraine upset American defending champion Mattew Emmons to win the men's 50m rifle prone.

　　Day Seven began under nice weather in the Chinese capital after heavy rains postponed most outdoor events on Thursday, and track and field events got underway in the Bird's Nest.

　　American Tyson Gay, world record-holder Usain Bolt and fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell all made it through the first round of the 100m dash. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Friday evening, and the final is Saturday night.

　　In badminton, China has virtually secured the women's singles gold and silver medals after Xie Xingfang and defending champion Zhang Ning both advanced to the final.

　　A total of 12 gold medals are up for grabs later in the day.