Sports Digest

Barbaro has to be put downKentucky Derby-winning racehorse Barbaro was put to death yesterday after failing to recover from a shattered hind leg suffered in the Preakness Stakes last May.

Veterinarians had gone to great lengths to save the horse, which won the most famous contest in US horse racing last year and was attempting to win the second leg of the sport's triple crown at the Preakness Stakes when he pulled up lame.

Dean Richardson, chief of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, said the horse developed a deep abscess in his foot last week and underwent surgery on Saturday.

Davis falls at the first hurdle

Steve Davis crashed out of the Malta Cup at the first hurdle yesterday after a shock defeat to wildcard Andrew Higginson. The veteran, a six-time world champion, slipped to an agonising 5-4 reverse at the Hilton Conference Centre in Portomaso.

But there was happier news for fellow former world champion Peter Ebdon, who, trailing 4-1 to wildcard David Roe, battled his way into the last 16 with a 5-4 victory.

Victory for Higginson has earned a showdown with defending champion Ken Doherty in the next round tonight. Doherty dug deep for a 5-3 victory over another veteran, Derbyshire's Nigel Bond.

Mauger signs for Leicester

All Blacks and Crusaders centre Aaron Mauger will join Leicester after this year's World Cup. The 26-year-old is believed to have signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the Tigers, beginning in December.

"This is probably the only opportunity my family will get to have an overseas experience due to our children's ages," said Mauger. "My immediate focus is the Super 14 and getting selected for the All Blacks. It's good to have this deal done so I can focus on that. I'd also love to finish my career with Canterbury and, if I'm still playing well enough, possibly have a crack at the 2011 World Cup."

Russian crew stripped of gold

A gold-medal winner from last year's World Rowing Championships has been banned for two years after testing positive for a prohibited substance, reports Liam Gorman.

Olga Samulenkova of Russia was one of the women's quadruple crew which beat Britain's crew into second place in Eton. This crew has now been disqualified and the host country will be given the gold, with Australia moving up to silver and fourth-placed Germany taking bronze.

According to Fisa, the world governing body of the sport, Samulenkova tested positive for an exogenous source of metabolites of testosterone in July last year.

Boonen wins second stage

Stephen Gallagher and Mark Cassidy were best of the Irish on yesterday's second stage of the Tour of Qatar, writes Shane Stokes.

Both Murphy & Gunn/Newlyn/M Donnelly Sean Kelly team riders finished as part of the main bunch led home by last year's world champion Tom Boonen and arch-rival Alessandro Petacchi (Milram).

Australian Graeme Brown (Rabobank) was in third place, but was relegated due to a dangerous manoeuvre inside the final 200 metres which brought down the Belgian sprinter Tom Steels (Predictor-Lotto). Gallagher and Cassidy placed 70th and 88th.

Morgan believes Fletcher will stay

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman David Morgan has reiterated his belief coach Duncan Fletcher will remain in charge despite England's disastrous tour of Australia.

Following the Ashes series whitewash, England have been further embarrassed in the ongoing one-day competition, winning only once so far, against New Zealand in Hobart.

"What we decided to do is not have any final decisions about what his (Fletcher's) aspirations are until the end of this tour," said Morgan. "I don't anticipate him going. That is my assessment of the position."