Athletics: Sonia O'Sullivan is expected to confirm today that she will resume her road racing career at the revived Loughrea festival on October 16th, writes Peter Byrne. O'Sullivan, who gave birth to her first child, a daughter, in June, is also planning to compete in the Great North Run at Newcastle in October.
It will mark the start of a gradual return to international competition for O'Sullivan in preparation for the Olympic Games in Sydney. She is expected to run in selected cross country races during the winter as part of her build up to the Games.
Athletics: The IAAF have launched an investigation after steeplechaser Bernard Barmasai admitted he asked a compatriot to throw a race in the Weltklasse meeting in Zurich on Wednesday. The 3,000 metres steeplechase world record holder, confessed he asked his flatmate Christopher Koskei to let him win to keep him in the chase for the £1 million Golden League jackpot awarded to any athlete who remains undefeated throughout the seven-meeting series.
Tennis: If a nagging shoulder problem suddenly worsens, defending champion Pat Rafter would reluctantly skip the US Open, the two-time title holder warned yesterday. Currently tuning up for his second title defence at Flushing Meadow on the summer's North American hardcourt circuit, Rafter said that he was receiving treatment for the injury.
"I've been on medication for it," the second seed said after reaching the third round of the $2.45 million ATP Championships in Cincinatti. "It's been holding up really well, so far so good. If it doesn't hold up, I'll just head back to Australia."
Women's Football: Meath clinched the Leinster women's minor football championship title after extra-time against a spirited Dublin side at O'Toole Park last night. Although Meath led by 1-8 to 2-1 at the interval, an amazing Dublin resurgence in the second half saw them draw level at 2-9 to 1-12 at full time.
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