Other sports news from around the world.
Gasquet believes appeal will succeed
TENNIS: Richard Gasquet is confident the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will accept he took cocaine inadvertently when they rule on an appeal against a decision allowing him to return from a doping ban, his agent said yesterday.
CAS confirmed in a statement the International Tennis Federation (ITF), jointly with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), had appealed against the decision allowing the French player to return to the international circuit.
“Richard Gasquet has noted the appeal by the ITF and is convinced the Court of Arbitration for Sport will confirm he did not deliberately take cocaine, his agent, Nicolas Lamperin, said in a statement.
Gasquet, 23, was provisionally suspended in May after a sample he had provided in March in Miami tested positive for cocaine. In July, an independent tribunal found him guilty but ruled he had been inadvertently contaminated in a nightclub.
Federer, Nadal in Montreal field
TENNIS: World number one Roger Federer has confirmed he will compete at next week’s Rogers Cup in Montreal.
The Swiss had been expected to miss the event after wife Mirka gave birth to twin girls on July 23rd.
But Federer, who won the title in Canada in 2004 and 2006, said he will play in the Masters 1000 event. World number two Rafael Nadal will also play in Montreal, his first event since the French Open in May.
Ireland seeking yet more silverware against Russians
MEN’S HOCKEY: Ireland hope to complete an uplifting international summer with EuroHockey Nation’s Trophy gold when they face Russia this evening in Wrexham.
Paul Revington’s first eight months have already yielded silverware in the form of the Glyndwr Cup and the Celtic Cup as well as coming within 17 seconds of the Champion’s Challenge II.
But with promotion to the A division assured, a gold medal would go down well ahead of November’s World Cup qualifiers as well as earn vital world ranking points.
Russia, however, have been the stand-out side in the tournament to date, with the barrelling Alexey Sergeev driving home seven goals in just four performances.
They overturned a one goal deficit in the latter stages of Tuesday’s pool game against Ireland – souring John Jermyn’s 100th cap.
“We are delighted to be in the final of this tournament,” said Revington, “but we want to make sure though we are winning the majority of finals we are in. Tomorrow is important for us: we want to make it two out of three.”
The nasty head wound sustained by Geoff McCabe in the semi-final against Wales required gluing rather than stitching and so he is available for inclusion.
Elsewhere, Ireland will have another high quality Test series in September as world number ten side Argentina confirmed they will visit Ireland for a second successive year.
TODAY(Wrexham): EuroHockey Nation's Trophy final: (5pm) Ireland vs Russia.
Coach criticises match brawl fine
SOCCER: The coach of the Australian women’s soccer team has criticised the Asian Football Confederation for fining the country’s under-19 team following a post-match brawl against China earlier this week.
The AFC handed Australia a €2,822 fine for “initiating a scuffle” at the end of Monday’s match in the Chinese city of Wuhan, for throwing bottles at spectators and for the coach’s “misbehaviour” during the post-match news conference.
China were fined €1,411, and its soccer administration €2,116 for failing to control spectators.
Tom Sermanni, coach of the Australian womens senior side, said the Chinese had started the brawl and suggested the AFC had taken the easy way out.
“Definitely unfair (the fine), but that’s par for the course, really. It’s an easy way out,” Sermanni told Australian state radio.
Renault expect Alonso ban overturn
MOTOR SPORT: Organisers of the European Grand Prix are confident Fernando Alonso will race in Valencia in a fortnight.
Alonso’s Renault team have appealed a one-race suspension imposed following the Hungarian Grand Prix 12 days ago after compromising safety regulations, resulting in the Spaniard losing a tyre off his car.
Race promoters in Valencia were outraged as they feared losing a considerable amount of revenue without Alonso on track.
However, company operations director Carlos Moreno-Figueroa is convinced the ban will be lifted.
“We are being told from every side that he will be in Valencia,” he said. Ticket sales, though, have been significantly boosted by Michael Schumacher’s return, deputising for Massa.
Parkes sets pace at Brands Hatch
MOTOR CYCLING: Broc Parkes and his Kawasaki World Superbike team-mate Sheridan Morais set the free practice pace ahead of the weekend’s triple-race eighth round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch.
The team are making a one-off appearance in the British series during the long summer break in the WSB championship, with owner Paul Bird eager to capitalise on further development of his machines in a competitive racing environment.
His riders took full advantage, with Parkes setting a scorching pace in the afternoon session, with his best lap of one minute 26.910 seconds coming at an average speed of 95.30mph.
Morais, deputising for the injured Makoto Tamada on the team’s second bike, also impressed – the 24 year old South African, who has raced the circuit previously in European Superstock action, set a best time of 1min 27.023secs.
Scotland’s Stuart Easton was the best of the series regulars, posting 1:27.435 aboard his Hydrex Honda.
