In Short

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Croatia favourites

TENNIS: Slovakian number two Karol Beck was saddled with the daunting task of trying to stop Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic when the draw for the Davis Cup final was made yesterday.

Beck, who had been a doubt for the final with a nagging knee injury, will take on Ljubicic, winner of nine out of nine matches in his country's march to the final, in the opening singles in the Sibamac Arena today.

Both unseeded nations are appearing in the final for the first time, although the form of Ljubicic has made Croatia firm favourites despite playing in a venue where Slovakia have beaten holders Spain, the Netherlands and Argentina.

He holds a 3-1 record over world number 57 Beck.

DAVIS CUP WORLD GROUP FINAL DRAW: Today (2pm local time): K Beck (Svk) v I Ljubicic (Cro), D Hrbaty (Svk) v M Ancic (Cro). Tomorrow (3pm local time): Beck/M Mertinak v Ancic/Ljubicic. Sunday (2pm local time): Hrbaty v Ljubicic, Beck v Ancic.

Whelahan may coach

GAELIC GAMES: Brian Whelahan is poised to take up his first major coaching role after being approached by Castlegar in Galway. The 34-year-old has confirmed discussions have taken place but that a few things still needed to be sorted out.

Meanwhile, Whelahan is set to give Offaly hurling manager John McIntyre a major boost by extending his intercounty career into 2006.

McIntyre also said that former midfield star Joachim Kelly is to serve as a selector next year, replacing Paudge Mulhare, while Daithi Regan returns for a second season.

Leigh O'Brien has handed new Wexford manager Paul Bealin a huge boost by returning to the county's senior football squad.

O'Brien, who opted out of the intercounty scene this year when Pat Roe was manager, has responded positively to overtures from Bealin.

Killarney revs up

MOTOR SPORT: Steve Perez in a Lancia Stratos leads off the 153-strong entry in the Killarney Historic Rally, reports Brian Foley.

Derbyshire driver Perez won this event in 2003. The sound of the famous Stratos supercar will thrill the crowds on the stages of this winter classic which is one of the highlights of the inaugural Christmas in Killarney Festival.

John Farrell in a Ford Escort RS, Todd Falvey in a Porsche 911 and Don Moynihan in an Escort Mk.1 are next on the stages, followed in the seedings by John Keatley and the legendary Russell Brookes.

Also entered are Mervyn Johnston in a Mini Cooper and Martin Ward (Opel Manta).

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Tomorrow: MEC Sporting Trial, Russeltown, near Blessington, Co Wicklow, 11.30am; Killarney Historic Rally, starts Killarney, 4.30pm.

Sunday: Killarney Historic Rally, restarts Killarney racecourse, 7.45am; Carlow CC, Rallysprint, Mondello Park, 10am.

Lagat seeks damages

DRUGS: Olympic 1,500 metres silver medallist Bernard Lagat has decided to pursue his claim for damages against the IAAF and Wada over a failed drugs test.

The Kenyan-born American says he was falsely accused by the IAAF and World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) of taking erythropoietin (EPO).

The 30-year-old, who became a US citizen in March, tested positive for the blood-booster EPO at an August, 2003, meeting, but was later cleared after the second sample was negative.

Last month a Cologne court rejected his claim for damages against the world governing body for loss of earnings and did not accept there was any doubt about the validity of the test.

Lagat, who missed the 2003 World Championships after testing positive, was given until yesterday to decide whether to accept the court's verdict.

Japan lose out in F1

FORMULA ONE: Japan's planned Super Aguri Formula One team will not take part in next season's championship, the FIA have said.

An official list of entrants had just 10 teams, the same number as this year.

"We have notified the team that their application has been refused," said a FIA spokesman.

Super Aguri, run by former Formula One racer Aguri Suzuki, had hoped to enter the championship with Honda engines and technical support.

2006 DRIVER LINE-UPS

Renault: 1 - F Alonso (Spa) 2 - G Fisichella (Ita). McLaren: 3 - K Raikkonen (Fin) 4 - JP Montoya (Col). Ferrari: 5 - M Schumacher (Ger) 6 - *F Massa (Bra). Toyota: 7 - R Schumacher (Ger) 8 - J Trulli (Ita). Williams: 9 - M Webber (Aus) 10 - *N Rosberg (Ger). Honda (formerly BAR): 11 - *R Barrichello (Bra) 12 - J Button (Brit). Red Bull: 14 - D Coulthard (Brit) 15 - C Klien (Austria) or V Liuzzi (Italy). BMW (formerly Sauber): 16 - *N Heidfeld (Ger) 17 - J Villeneuve (Can). Midland (formerly Jordan): 18 - T Monteiro (Por) 19 - *C Albers (Neth). Scuderia Toro Rosso (formerly Minardi) 20/21 - *S Speed (US), Liuzzi or Klien. (* denotes change).