Sports Digest

A round-up of today's sports news in brief

Semenya's lawyers say media reports are nonsense

ATHLETICS:Caster Semenya's lawyers have described as "nonsense" media reports they are planning to sue the International Association of Athletics Federations and Athletics South Africa for multi-million-pound sums.

A Swedish newspaper and athletics websites reported prior to Christmas that Greg Nott, her lawyer from Dewey LeBoeuf LLP, intended to sue the IAAF for €83 million and ASA for €12 million as the world 800 metres champion’s gender row continues.

Nott’s company have been representing Semenya since September and are currently negotiating with the IAAF on resolving the teenager’s future participation in athletics.

The case is almost certain to involve financial compensation but Nott categorically denied ever announcing their intentions of seeking the amount of damages detailed by media sources.

“It is absolute nonsense,” Nott said. “We did not release any such statement.”

Captain Yousuf holds the key

CRICKET:Captain Mohammad Yousuf will hold the key as Pakistan chase a record 422 for victory after Shane Watson's impressive maiden Test century gave Australia the upper hand heading into the final day of the first Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday.

Yousuf (45 not out) and exciting youngster Umar Akmal (27 not out) steered the visitors to 170 for three at stumps on day four, still requiring a further 252 runs with seven wickets remaining to pull off what would be the most successful run chase in Test history.

Ricky Ponting earlier declared Australia’s innings closed on 225 for eight midway through the second session with Watson unbeaten on 120.

To win, Pakistan must surpass the highest ever successful chase of 418 made by West Indies in their defeat of Australia at St John’s in 2003.

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Cutler outduels veteran Favre

STRUGGLING CHICAGO Bears quarterback Jay Cutler rose to the occasion to outduel veteran gunslinger Brett Favre in a thrilling 36-30 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday.

Cutler, who has underperformed since being acquired from the Denver Broncos in the off-season, lobbed a 39-yard touchdown pass to Devin Aromashodu with 9:15 left in the extra session to hand the Bears their biggest win of their season.

He produced three other touchdowns and threw for 273 yards as the Bears survived the Vikings’ second-half fightback and dented their hopes of a first-round bye in the play-offs.

“I’ve known Brett a long time. He’s a good competitor and any game against him it’s always going to be fun because he’s going to battle,” Cutler said after flourishing despite his league-leading 26 interceptions this year.

Pacquiao may reconsider blood issue

BOXING:World champion Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum says he will ask the boxer to reconsider his objection to blood testing, raising the prospect that the proposed bout with American Floyd Mayweather could yet go ahead.

Just hours after Arum said that he was going to announce a new opponent for world champion Pacquiao, Mayweather’s camp highlighted footage from a television documentary that appeared to contradict Pacquiao’s objection to blood testing close to the fight.

Pacquiao has balked at Mayweather’s demand for random blood testing within 30 days of the fight, preferring urine testing as he says losing blood weakens him – a stance which has threatened a highly anticipated and lucrative match-up.

Lawless to be buried in Essex

BOXING:Terry Lawless's family are making plans for an Essex funeral for the retired boxing manager, who died following a gall bladder operation in Marbella on Christmas Eve.

Lawless, who steered Frank Bruno to a world title challenge against Mike Tyson and guided John H Stracey, Maurice Hope, Jim Watt and Charlie Magri to versions of world titles, had been due to be cremated in Spain next week.

Battle for champion sires' title hots up

RACING:Neither an enthusiast for championship titles that add in place money nor for that matter for racing on the all weather surface, I still have to concede that events in the final two days of 2009 involving both aspects will decide the most exciting race for the champion sires flat titles in England and Ireland, writes Tony Sweeney.

In the opposite corners of the ring are two great rivals.

Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stud is bidding with Cape Cross for its first title.

Standing in the way is John Magnier’s Coolmore, which is represented by Danehill Dancer as it tries for an incredible 20th successive title – an unheard of achievement in a championship whose records date back to 1721.

At the end of all weather surface racing at Southwell yesterday afternoon both had €4.2 million in the kitty and Danehill Dancer was hanging on to a diminishing lead of some €15,500.