Byrne in the clear

Soccer: Shelbourne midfielder Davy Byrne could be back playing next week after he was relieved to find out yesterday morning that he had not broken his right leg, writes Paul Buttner.

Byrne was stretchered off at Trondheim's Lerkendal Stadium after 64 minutes of Wednesday night's rousing 1-1 draw with Rosenborg in the Champions League.

Such was the swelling and numbness on Byrne's leg, initial medical opinion was that his right shin was indeed broke. Thankfully, an x-ray revealed no fracture and Byrne travelled home with his teammates as scheduled. "He suffered severe bruising to his tibia," said Shelbourne doctor, Ronan O'Callaghan. "He's on a course of pain killers and was treated with icepacks and compression. In all probability he could well be fit to play in the President's Cup tonight."

Richie Foran, Shelbourne's goalscorer still has difficulty in believing his controversial goal on Wednesday night was allowed.

"The ball was crossed in and their keeper caught it," Foran explained. "I was steaming in and I just couldn't help myself as I thought I'd give him a little shoulder to help me stop.

"We collided and the ball flew from his hands into the back of the net. I turned away expecting a free out and maybe even a yellow card, but the referee pointed to the centre-circle and allowed the goal. "

Meanwhile, Shelbourne have all but agreed to their link-up with Rosenborg, with an exchange of letters next week to confirm everything.

"It's a friendly, informal arrangement," said Shelbourne chairman Gary Brown. "Basically Rosenborg have agreed to allow us learn as much as we can from them.

"Dermot (Keely) is especially keen to spend time with them over a week as they prepare for a league game and then a Champions League match. "

There is no financial commitment from either side, but Brown has not ruled out a possible player excahnge exchange programme in the future.

Olympic Games: Top Nigerian athletes have opted out of the country's training programme in Australia ahead of the Sydney Olympics, saying Australia is "too chilly" at this time of year.

Over 120 Nigerian athletes left this week for a six-week intensive training trip to Adelaide in readiness for the Olympics beginning on September 13.

However sprinter Francis Obikwelu, 100 metre hurdler Glory Alozie and other athletes including Seun Ogunkoya and Deji Aliu did not make the trip, arguing that Australia at this time of the year is too cold for athletes used to the warmer climes of west Africa.

Racing: Alex Greaves escaped punishment yesterday for returning a positive test to a banned diuretic.

At a hearing at the Jockey Club headquarters in London the leading lady rider persuaded the disciplinary committee that it was as a result of a prescription drug she had taken. Greaves tested positive in March after riding at Newcastle - only the second jockey to do so since the Jockey Club banned the use of diuretics (which are taken to achieve weight loss) in June of last year.

But Rule 66 (viii) (A) absolves a rider if the result is due to the "consumption of medical compounds or proprietary medicines in normal or recommended quantities, entirely for recognised medical purposes".

After Greaves gave evidence to prove that she had taken a prescription drug she was cleared.

Athletics: Former Olympic 5,000 metres champion Dieter Baumann, who tested positive for nandrolone last November, was included yesterday in the German team for next month's Sydney Games.

The 35-year old's nomination had been expected ever since he was cleared to run by the German Athletics Federation (DLV) on June 23.

On Wednesday, his case was referred to arbitration by the International Athletic Amateur Federation (IAAF) whose spokesman said Baumann was free to compete in the meantime.

An outspoken anti-drugs campaigner, Baumann has maintained his innocence, saying his toothpaste had been spiked.

The German Olympic Committee (NOK) yesterday issued a list of a further 155 German competitors for Sydney, among them Baumann, to add to 254 who had previously been named.

Motor Sport: French driver Jean Alesi, who was involved in a high-speed collision in Germany last weekend, could miss next week's Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix.

Alesi's Prost team confirmed yesterday that he had complained of feeling unwell after Sunday's race at Hockenheim when his car spun fiercely after being hit by the Sauber of Brazilian Pedro Diniz.

Alesi was unhurt but was sick after the crash and said it was one of the biggest accidents of his 10-year Formula One career.

"Jean is suffering a bit. It seems to be repercussions from the accident," a team spokeswoman said. "He needs time to rest and we will wait for his decision."