Athletics: The Russian athletics federation is considering legal action against Gabriela Szabo and her manager in the row over world 5,000 metres champion Olga Yegorova and the performance-enhancing erythropoietin (EPO).
Yegorova tested positive for EPO at the Paris Golden League meeting in July and was initially suspended from the world championships in Edmonton earlier this month, but was later cleared to compete because the test did not conform to International Olympic Committee (IOC) standards.
Coach Valery Kulichenko told yesterday's Izvetia newspaper the federation had already taken legal advice over accusations made by Szabo and her manager Jos Hermans. Asked if Yegorova had taken EPO, Kulichenko said it was too expensive for her.
Athletics: Former world steeplechase champion Moses Kiptanui has reacted with fury to Hicham El Guerrouj's intimations Richard Chelimo died from performance-enhancing drug abuse. Chelimo, a former world 10,000 metres silver medallist and world record holder, died last week aged 29. And Kiptanui, his cousin, has denied Chelimo was involved in drug-taking.
Kiptanui says El Guerrouj, the world 1,500 metres and mile record holder, suggested thatChelimo died as a result of drug abuse. Moroccan El Guerrouj said he feared there may be a track death through the use of drugs by distance runners and referred directly to Chelimo.
Athletics: Former Olympic high jump gold medallist Javier Sotomayor plans to retire at the end of next year. "It looks like the coming year will be my last," Sotomayor, said after finishing third on Wednesday at the Thessaloniki international athletics meet in Greece. Sotomayor won the high jump title at the 1992 Barcelona Games and was a silver medallist in Atlanta in 1996.
Cricket: Despite a controlled and heroic batting display by Australian Brad Spanner, Merrion failed by just 15 runs against North County in a thrilling finish to their Royal Liver-sponsored Irish Senior Cup semi-final tie at Anglesea Road yesterday. Thus North County go through to their first All-Ireland final where they await the winners of today's second semi-final between Brigade and Cliftonville.
Chasing the North County score of 262 for 6 off their 50 overs Merrion looked dead and buried at one stage of their innings before Spanner almost snatched an unlikely victory for his side. He was eighth out after making a brilliant 109 off 131 balls. For the winners Andre Botha was their top scorer with 88 made off 67 balls.
Cycling: Five Italian cyclists have failed doping tests, Italy's National Olympic Committee (CONI) said yesterday. CONI did not identify the cyclists.
Rugby: Newport may offer refunds to season-ticket holders (4,200) if the transfer of the Springbok scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen is blocked by the South African Rugby Football Union. Van der Westhuizen is due in Newport next month but the SARFU says it is not prepared to sanction the move unless Newport pay a compensation fee as the player has four months to run on his national contract.
