A round-up of today's other sport stories in brief
A-Rod admits he took performance enhancers
BASEBALL:New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez has admitted to using performance enhancing drugs, but not since the 2003 confidential testing agreement between the owners and the players association, he has told ESPN.
Rodriguez was responding to a report by Sports Illustratedon Saturday that he was one of 104 players who showed up positive in the survey testing for steroids and other enhancers.
“I’m very sorry,” Rodriguez told ESPN in an interview from his home in Miami.
Rodriguez, baseball’s highest paid player, one year into a 10-year, €200 million contract with the New York Yankees, said he had cheated during his three seasons with the Texas Rangers starting in 2001 but not since.
“Back then it was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young, I was stupid, I was naive,” Rodriguez (33), said.
“I did take a banned substance. For that I’m very sorry and deeply regretful.”
Brazil lose Kaka for Italy friendly
SOCCER:Brazil are cursing Italians after being deprived of two forwards for tonight's friendly against Italy in London (7.45pm, live on RTÉ 2 Sky Sports 1).
Brazil are counting the cost of Kaka’s injury playing for AC Milan and the refusal of Juventus to allow Amauri to go on international duty.
Kaka injured a foot in Milan’s 1-1 home draw with Reggina on Saturday and is out of tonight’s game at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and Sunday’s derby against Inter.
Amauri got his first to the Brazil squad this month, but Juve would not release him because the request came too late. The striker, who is awaiting an Italian passport, could end up playing for Italy in the future.
Schools matches rescheduled
RUGBY:The Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-final between St Mary's College and Wesley College, which was due to be played at Anglesea Road yesterday, was postponed because the pitch was unplayable. The game has been rescheduled for the same venue tomorrow (3pm).
The quarter-final between competition favourites Blackrock College and 2007 winners St Michael’s College has been brought forward to tomorrow afternoon at 3pm.
The Donnybrook surface was unplayable last Sunday and the match was initially re-scheduled for this Sunday at 2.30pm, but that was a direct clash with the Six Nations international between Ireland and Italy in Rome.
Also, both schools break for mid-term this Friday so were keen to play the fixture before the students depart on holidays.
Deignan gets season off to solid start
CYCLING:Philip Deignan fared well in his first racing day of the season, finishing 17th yesterday on the opening stage of the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia, writes Shane Stokes.
Debuting with his Cervélo team, the Letterkenny rider crossed the line in Senawang in the same time as bunch sprint victor Mattia Gavazzi (Serramenti PVC). After the time bonuses were taken into account, he ended in 20th overall, 10 seconds behind the Italian.
Five years ago Deignan moved a step closer towards a pro contract with Ag2r when he finished sixth on two stages and 16th overall in the race; this time round, his motivation is different for the event, as he wants mainly to prepare for the season ahead.
That said, his solid placing suggests he is in decent form heading into what is an important season for him. He will be riding in support of Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre and has a chance of riding his first Tour.
The 2.HC Tour de Langkawi continues today with a 160.9-kilometre stage from Senawang to Melaka.
