Sports digest

Todays other stories in brief

Cyclist banned for two years

CYCLING: Italian Francesco De Bonis has become the first cyclist to be given a doping ban because of discrepancies in his biological passport.

The Italian Olympic Committee suspended him for two years after a request from the International Cycling Union (UCI).

A biological passport is an electronic record where the results of all doping tests by a rider over a period of time are collated and compared.

Cycling has been rocked by a series of doping scandals in recent years and the UCI has redoubled its efforts to clean up the sport.

Franco Pellizotti, one of the favourites for this year’s Giro d’ Italia, was pulled out before the start of the race this month when the International Cycling Union said there were problems with his biological passport and asked for an investigation.

Barry reaches last four in Belgium

TENNIS: Top Irish Junior Sam Barry has defeated the British number one, Oliver Golding (ranked 41 in the world) 7-6 1-6 7-5 in the quarter-finals of the prestigious Grade 1 Astrid Bowl Charleroi, Belgian International Junior Championships, writes Johnny Watterson.

Barry will now play number 10 seed, Australia’s James Duckworth, who defeated number two seed, Hungary’s Mate Zsiga, in his quarter-final match.

Both Barry, who is 83rd in the world junior rankings, and John Morrissey, who is 37th in the world rankings, will contest the Junior Boys title at the French Open Junior event next week in Paris.

Bolt is just outside Johnson's record

ATHLETICS:Usain Bolt produced yet another brilliant performance, but narrowly failed to break Michael Johnson's 10-year-old world 300-metres record at a rain-drenched Ostrava last night.

After the meeting had been delayed by 20 minutes following a torrential downpour, the Jamaican missed the American’s mark by 0.12 seconds in tricky conditions.

The world 100 and 200m record holder clocked 30.97secs on a wet track, finishing well clear of fellow Jamaican Jermaine Gonzales who clocked 32.49. Until the final 100m it seemed Bolt would take the record having completed 200m in 19.83.

Indeed Bolt was overshadowed by fellow countryman Asafa Powell, his predecessor as 100m world record holder. Despite a delayed start to his 100m final, Powell raced down the home straight to lower his five-year-old meeting record by 0.02 with a superb time of 9.83.

Orlando weave some more magic

BASKETBALL: The Orlando Magic again staved off elimination in the Eastern Conference final with a commanding and occasionally physical 113-92 win against the Boston Celtics in Game Five.

Two days after beating the Celtics 96-92 in an overtime thriller in Boston to stay alive, the Magic delivered a confident display on their home court to trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.

Guard Jameer Nelson top scored for Orlando with 24 points.

Game Six is in Boston tonight when the Celtics need just one more win to advance to the NBA finals.

Mitchell called up for Wales

RUGBY: Ospreys prop Craig Mitchell has been called into the Wales squad for Tests against South Africa and New Zealand next month.

Mitchell, who has won three caps, is promoted after Gethin Jenkins withdrew due to a calf muscle injury that could sideline him for up to six weeks.

Wales play world champions South Africa in Cardiff on Saturday week, then head to New Zealand for appointments with the All Blacks on June 19th and 26th.

“Craig knows all about our international environment and has been training with us all week in any case, so his transition will be pretty seamless,” the Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde said yesterday.

Townend tops leaderboard after dressage round

EQUESTRIAN: Britain's Oliver Townend, who only returned from injury to competitive riding last weekend, heads the leaderboard after dressage in the HSBC FEI World Cup qualifier at the Tattersalls international horse trials, writes Margie McLoone.

Townend, riding the Irish-bred Cruising gelding Ashdale Cruise Master which gave him such a bad fall at the Rolex international in Kentucky last month, was second last to go yesterday afternoon and received a leading mark of 44.8 penalties.

Last to compete, Britain’s Mary King riding Apache Sauce, achieved a score of 47 to lie in second place.

Best of the home squad is Suzanne Jordan from Co Down, who slotted into sixth position when scoring 53 penalties on her own nine-year-old grey gelding by Don Juan de la Bouverie, Carneyhaugh Conquistador.

The dressage phase continues today at the Co Meath venue with cross-country tomorrow and show jumping on Sunday.

At home this weekend there are two rounds of the TRM national Grand Prix league with 53 horses declared for Ravensdale tomorrow and 27 for Claremorris on Sunday.