SPORTS DIGEST

Today's other sports stories in brief

'Dakar' drivers in serious condition

RALLYING: British driver Paul Green and his navigator Matthew Harrison were in a serious condition last night after an accident in the first stage of the Dakar rally, a hospital spokesman said.

Both drivers are in hospital in the provincial city of Santa Rosa after their vehicle overturned during Saturday's stage, which started in Buenos Aires.

"Green is suffering from a blow to the thorax and spine, he has been detained since January 3rd with artificial breathing apparatus," Juan Jose San Emerito, head of the hosital's intensive care unit, said.

"We are trying to remove him from the breathing apparatus. His situation is serious but with a favourable outlook, although with this type of injury can only be judged by what happens over several days as complications can occur.

"(Harrison's condition) is serious and the situation has not changed."

The Dakar rally was cancelled last year because of fears of terrorism in Mauritania. This year it is being held in Argentina and Chile.

Romero suspended for 50 games

BASEBALL:Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher JC Romero has been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance. Romero's ban will be effective from the start of the 2009 season.

The left-hander, who posted two victories in the World Series win over the Tampa Bay Rays last year, said he used a supplement which had previously been approved by MLB and the Players' Association.

"I still cannot see where I did something wrong. There is nothing that should take away from the (World Series) rings of my team-mates. I didn't cheat. I tried to follow the rules," said Romero.

A report on MLB.com said Romero had twice tested positive for the unspecified supplement, on August 26th before a game against the New York Mets and on September 19th before a game against the Florida Marlins.

Boonen to know his fate next month

CYCLING:Belgian authorities will decide next month whether former world cycling champion Tom Boonen will face trial after testing positive for cocaine last year.

"A decision will be announced on February 3rd," a spokeswoman for the Belgian city of Turnhout prosecutor's office said after Boonen's closed-door hearing yesterday.

An out-of-competition doping test conducted between two races last May found traces of the drug in the 28-year-old rider's urine sample, leading to the Belgian rider being barred from the 2008 Tour de France.

The spokeswoman declined to comment on whether the rider, who become a local hero after winning the world championship in 2005, could face a jail sentence, a fine, or both.

Previously, prosecutors have said he could face anything between three months and five years in prison.

PCB give Akhtar another chance

CRICKET: Shoaib Akhtar has been given a chance to revive his international career after being given a central contract by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The controversial fast bowler missed out on a contract last year through injury and lack of fitness. Akhtar (33) was named in the top A category, while Shoaib Malik retains the captaincy. Two uncapped players, Umar Amin and Azhar Ali, are included, but there is no place for Mohammad Asif.

Gloucester's Vainikolo to miss remainder of season

RUGBY:Gloucester winger Lesley Vainikolo will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon. The 29-year-old England international suffered the injury in Saturday's 22-16 Premiership win over Saracens.

Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan said: "Les is a massive part of our squad and it will leave a very significant gap. With the current injuries we have in the squad, at the moment this could not have come at a worse time."

Vainikolo went under the knife at the Cromwell Hospital in London on Monday and will be out of action for at least seven months.

He has made 17 appearances in all competitions this season and has scored eight tries. He won the first of his five England caps against Wales in the 2008 Six Nations.

On January 2nd Vainikolo was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent following an incident in Bath and he will appear at Bristol Crown Court on January 13th.

Round-world sailor is rescued

SAILING: A rescue plane spotted the capsized boat of a French round-the-world sailor who triggered his distress beacon near Cape Horn yesterday.

The Chilean plane flew over the boat yesterday morning and the yachtsman, Jean Le Cam, then triggered a second beacon, which suggested he was inside his capsized boat.

Le Cam was calling his shore team in France to inform them he was experiencing serious problems when the conversation was interrupted. He then triggered a first distress beacon.

Le Cam's boat was located around 200 miles west of Cape Horn and the weather conditions were difficult with gusty winds, organisers said.

A fellow competitior rescued him last night.