Sports digest

Today's other stories in brief

Roux wins 17th stage of Tour of Spain

CYCLING: A 187-km breakaway by Anthony Roux of France concluded with a narrow victory for the Francaise des Jeux rider in the 17th stage of the Tour of Spain yesterday.

Roux, the last survivor of a break of five, squeaked across the finish line metres ahead of the main bunch for his team’s first victory in a major Tour this season.Alejandro Valverde of Spain continues to lead the race with four days remaining.

Irishman Philip Deignan (Cervélo Test Team) crossed the line in the same time as Roux. He retained his 18th place overall. Compatriot Daniel Martin (Garmin Slipstream) sat up at the end and lost 35 seconds, but stays 51st overall.

Jones stays in touch in Wales

GOLF: Strabane's Helen Jones remained in the race for the British Senior Womens title at Pyle and Kenfig on the south Wales coast yesterday.

The former Irish international returned a second round 80 – six over par – to add to her previous 75 for an aggregate of 155 with one round remaining.

It is the former Curtis Cup player Vicki Thomas, third in last week’s Irish seniors open championship who went to the top of the leaderboard after coming home in two under par 35 for a second round of 74 and an aggregate of 150.

Thomas, the Welsh seniors champion goes into the final round today three strokes clear of England’s Rozalyn Adams with Jones in third spot a further two strokes adrift.

Jones could have been much closer to the pace but for carding four bogeys in the last six holes – she had level halves of 40.

Rhona Brennan of Bandon failed to make the cut.

Harlequins doctor suspended

RUGBY: Wendy Chapman, the doctor involved in the Harlequins fake blood scandal, was suspended by the British General Medical Council (GMC) yesterday pending a formal investigation.

The BBC quoted a GMC spokesman as saying that Chapman, who is being investigated by the professional body, had been given an interim suspension.

The GMC has up to 18 months to consider whether to take action.

Chapman cut the mouth of winger Tom Williams after he had used a fake blood capsule to force a blood replacement substitution during the England Premiership clubs Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster last season.

Williams was banned for four months following the incident.