Motor Sport: Schumacher yesterday described his horrific crash at the British Grand Prix for the first time, saying he felt completely helpless as his Ferrari speared off the circuit into a tyre wall.

The former world champion, who broke two bones in his right leg in the first-lap smash on July 11th, said that just before the accident his brakes had not been responding properly.

"The distance the brake pedal had to move was getting bigger and bigger," Schumacher told Germany's Motorsport magazine. Eventually, he stepped on the brakes so hard that his front wheels locked just before he sped off the track at Stowe Corner.

"You think feverishly about what you can do to slow the car down. But everything goes so fast that there is little else you can do than fatalistically accept what happens to you next."

Athletics: British athletics officials have confirmed that international 400 metres hurdler Gary Cadogan failed an out-of-competition drugs test on November 28th last year. A urine sample given by Cadogan included traces of banned substance nandrolone and he was suspended on March 31st, pending a disciplinary committee hearing, UK Athletics said.

Basketball: Irish basketball has received a major boost with the announcement that TnaG is to show live coverage of the ESB men's Superleague this season. The 90-minute programme will be broadcast on Fridays at 9.0 p.m.

Meanwhile, The Irish junior men's team left for the European Promotions Cup in Luxembourg yesterday.