Sports Digest

CYCLING: The French bank which sponsors the yellow jersey of the Tour de France has given the event a vote of confidence despite recent speculation it may have been about to end its backing of the event. Credit Lyonnais had been considering its position since the drug scandals of 1998, but recent efforts to clean up the sport have led it to decide to continue sponsoring the race for the foreseeable future.

"We have made the decision in principle to renew our contract with the Tour de France," said Nicolas Chaine, the director of communications at the French company. "There has been true progress as regards the fight against the doping. The problem of drugs is not specific to cycling, it touches all sports which involve a lot of money."

The organisers of the Tour de France have introduced a number of anti-doping steps since the Festina affair of 1998. These measures include medical screening, tests for EPO and corticoids, plus the threat to exclude any team or rider suspected of being involved in doping.

TENNIS: Increased involvement on the international circuits by Ireland's leading women tennis players is causing difficulties for Tennis Ireland's Fed Cup selectors, writes Pat Roche.

High on the selectors' agenda is finding a suitable time to assemble the full squad for special camp preparation ahead of the Fed Cup qualifiers in Pretoria which start on April 8th.

WTA-ranked squad members Yvonne Doyle, Elsa O'Riain and Claire Curran will be searching for points in Hull over the coming fortnight. Kelly Liggan, normally based in Spain, is staying on the Australian circuit after failing last week to qualify for the Australian Open in Melbourne.

The fact that altitude will be a major factor in Pretoria makes camp preparation crucial. Tennis Ireland's chief executive Des Allen is hopeful all the players will be available to assemble in Dublin towards the end of next month. The alternative is for the squad to arrive in South Africa well in advance of the qualifiers.

Meanwhile, the Ireland Davis Cup team, away to Armenia on clay in early May, should take on an interesting look following Scott Barron's retirement and Nick Malone's coming of age as a must for inclusion.

RUGBY: England and Lions prop Phil Vickery is set to miss the opening Six Nations matches against Scotland and Ireland after he broke a bone in his hand.

Vickery discovered the severity of the injury after undergoing scans following Gloucester's European Shield victory on Saturday over French outfit La Rochelle. He has had the break encased in a removable cast but has been told he faces a lay-off of between five and six weeks.

GOLF: Former United States striker Roy Wegerle qualified for the Alfred Dunhill Championship after carding a four-under-par 68 in his new career in South Africa yesterday.

Pretoria-born Wegerle, capped 40 times by the USA, played for Chelsea, Blackburn, Coventry and Queens Park Rangers during his footballing career.