Heras suspended over failed EPO test

Sport Digest CYCLING: Four-time Tour of Spain winner Roberto Heras has tested positive for EPO and been suspended by his team Liberty Seguros.

The 31-year-old Spaniard, a former team-mate of Lance Armstrong, took the test on the penultimate stage of his fourth Tour of Spain victory in September after coming second in a time-trial.

Liberty Seguros, who were informed of the failed A sample on October 27th, had hoped to wait until they got the results from the B sample later this month before acting.

However, following leaks in the Spanish media, they have suspended Heras while confirming their belief that the rider will prove his innocence.

Heras insists he has not cheated and speculated that the failed test is the result of a "laboratory error".

A huge star in his country, Heras recently auctioned the bike he used on the final stage of the Tour of Spain for charity, raising just over €20,000 for the Hurricane Katrina relief fund.

BOXING: Kevin McBride's camp insist he will not be fighting Matt Skelton on December 10th at London's ExCel Arena.

The Clones fighter was due to fight British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Skelton on the supporting bill to Audley Harrison's clash with Danny Williams.

But McBride's adviser Pascal Collins revealed: "Kevin is not fighting Skelton. We couldn't agree terms and Kevin will look to have a fight in Boston before Christmas and then he will be hoping to get a world title fight."

Promoter Frank Warren is now set to match Skelton, who also holds the WBU title, in a British title defence.

Warren dismissed the suggestion that a deal was not agreed. "A deal was agreed and that's why I sent them a contract," he said, "but then I got a letter from McBride's solicitor saying that he was still tied to the promoter of his fight with Tyson until December 11th so that was that."

Collins is confident McBride, who forced Tyson to retire on his stool in June, can strike a deal with top promoter Don King.

"Kevin is in great shape after four weeks sparring with Hasim Rahman, who was getting ready to fight Vitali Klitschko for the world title before Klitschko got injured. He should box in Boston and we should be doing a deal with King very soon, because we know that he can get us a world title shot.

"John Ruiz defends his WBA heavyweight title against Nicolay Valuev in Germany before Christmas and Kevin would hopefully get a shot at the winner," Collins said.

HOCKEY: Mauritius Cup holders University of Ulster came through unscathed in their opening games in the intervarsity tournament in Dublin yesterday, taking maximum points from their fixtures against UCD (3-2) and RCSI (6-0), writes Mary Hannigan.

UCD's women, though, in search of their third Chilean Cup in a row, were held to a scoreless draw by Queen's before trouncing the hapless DCU 13-0.