Sport Digest CYCLING: Britain's David Millar was given the green light to compete in the 2006 Tour de France when he succeeded in altering the start date of his two-year ban.
There are efforts under way to bring the opening leg of the tour to London, and Millar has been especially keen to be able to compete.
By succeeding in bringing forward the start date of his ban from August 6th, 2004, to June 24th, the 28-year-old Scot, who has admitted using the banned blood-booster EPO, has partly succeeded in what his appeal set out to achieve.
But he had also been looking to halve his two-year ban and the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed that claim, stating that the two-year ban meted out by the British Cycling Federation "was proportionate to the circumstances of the case".
They saw due reason to change the dates of his ban, however, given that Millar was unable to compete from June 24th, 2004, having been arrested in France on suspicion of committing a doping offence.
Had he remained banned until August of next year, Millar would have missed the Tour de France. However, his involvement will depend on his fitness and whether any team will take him on.
At the time of his offence, Millar did not contest his guilt and went public with a full admission of how he had used EPO on three separate occasions.
CRICKET: Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been fined $500 by the Pakistan Cricket Board for breach of contract during the recent tour of Australia.
"The disciplinary committee told Shoaib they were not satisfied with some of the answers he had given to the four charges of contractual violations by him in Australia," said the Pakistan board.
The 29-year old was charged with visiting nightclubs, issuing press statements without management permission and returning late from Australia despite board instructions.
Shoaib, who has taken 144 Test and 186 one-day wickets, is also doubtful for the tour of India as he is carrying a hamstring strain which he sustained in the third Test in Sydney in early January.
OLYMPIC GAMES: Former Manchester United and England midfielder Bobby Charlton used his influence as one of the world's most famous soccer players to help London's 2012 bid by guiding International Olympic Committee inspectors around the new Wembley Stadium yesterday.
Five-time rowing Olympic champion Steven Redgrave was present at the proposed Olympic Park, the Dome and ExCel, one of the main indoor arenas; Matthew Pinsent, with four rowing golds to his name, was present at Wimbledon and Eton Dorney; meanwhile, showjumper Pippa Funnel was at the equestrian site in Greenwich Park.
Double sailing gold medallist Shirley Robertson was also among the welcoming party at Eton Dorney, while five-time Paralympian Simon Jackson was at ExCel.
Bid leaders will have breathed a sigh of relief that schools in the capital are on half term, because the significant drop in traffic helped smooth the way for the Olympic inspectors' tour of the proposed venues.
TENNIS: Roger Federer was once again in vintage form in his 6-1 6-4 victory over Swiss journeyman Stanislas Wawrinka in the second round of the World Indoor Tournament yesterday.
Former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson continued his resurgence by outgunning his in-form namesake Joachim Johansson 6-4 6-4.
Top seed Federer showed no signs of the jitters evident during his opening match to reach the last eight for the sixth successive time.
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