A round-up of today's other sports stories, in brief
Pedroia extends his contract
BASEBALL:The Boston Red Sox signed American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Dustin Pedroia to a $40.5 million, six-year contract extension yesterday.
Pedroias deal includes a $1.5 million signing bonus and an $11 million club option for 2015.
The second baseman slammed 17 homers last season, batted in 83 runs and picked up Gold Glove and Silver Slugger honours to go with his MVP award.
Pedroia also stole 20 bases to help the Red Sox win the American League wildcard.
Decision on women's boxing unlikely
BOXING:The International Olympic Committee (IOC) may not make a decision on whether to include women's boxing in the 2012 Olympics until October 2009, according to World amateur boxing chiefs, AIBA. The IOC are due to meet in Switzerland next week and are expected to announce which new sports will be given the green light for the 30th Olympiad.
However, as explained by an AIBA spokesman, boxing - the male version of which has been an Olympic sport since 1904 - is not a new Olympic sport and what they are looking for is a change in the programme. As a result, this could see women's boxing facilitated within the present Olympic quota of 286 boxers - but would mean the number of spaces for male boxers are reduced. This might be achieved by reducing nine of the 11 male weight divisions to a last 16 format instead of the present situation, where nine weight categories are decided on a last 32 format.
Six top players suspended by NFL
AMERICAN FOOTBALL:Six NFL players have been suspended for four games each after taking banned substances which could act as masking agents for steroids. Charles Grant, Will Smith and Deuce McAllister of New Orleans, Bryan Pittman of Houston, and Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of Minnesota have all been suspended for the remaining four regular season games.
"The players specifically violated a long-standing provision of the policy relating to the use of diuretics and water pills, which serve as masking agents for steroids and are potentially dangerous to the health of players," an NFL statement said.
The NFL statement referred to a weight loss product called Star Caps and the league said they had warned teams in 2006 that the product had been added to the list of prohibited dietary supplement companies.
Eager Naito trying too hard
BOXING:Japan's Daisuke Naito could be banned from the gym before his WBC flyweight title defence later this month - by his own boss.
Naito faces countryman Shingo Yamaguchi in Tokyo on December 23rd and the head of his gymnasium fears the champion's obsession with training could even cost him his belt.
The 34-year-old struggled to beat Tomonobu Shimizu in July after continuing his punishing training regime until three days before the bout.
"The problem's not the fight itself," Hiro Miyata said yesterday. "You worry he's going to train too hard." Miyata added jokingly: "A week before the fight I'm going to lock him out of the gym."
Naito's trainers are ready to deploy round-the-clock surveillance to stop him sneaking into the gym.
"Even when they tell me not to train, I do," said Naito.
"If I don't train (enough) I get worried. But I will be careful about it this time."
Jankovic stalls on her plans
TENNIS:World number one Jelena Jankovic is doubtful for the Sydney International tournament despite earlier confirming her entry, organisers said yesterday.
The 23-year-old Serb is still finalising her schedule for the early part of 2009.
"Players often end up rearranging their schedules a number of times and Jelena has not finalised her plans for 2009 yet," said tournament director Craig Watson.
Lowry and Cutler the top recipients of GUI grants
GOLF:Grants totalling €73,000 have been awarded by the Golfing Union of Ireland to leading amateur golfers.
The grant allocation, which is funded by the Irish Sports Council, is in respect of national and international competition and training costs in 2008.
The grants are awarded based on specific criteria agreed by the Irish Sports Council and the Golfing Union of Ireland.
Shane Lowry (Esker Hills) and Paul Cutler (Portstewart) are the top recipients, both receiving a grant of €6,000, while Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) and Dara Lernihan (Castle) both receive €5,000.
Lowry enjoyed a fine year and won both the West and North of Ireland Championships, Kearney was the winner of the South of Ireland Championship, and along with Cutler was a member of the Ireland team that triumphed in the European Team Championship for the second year in a row, while Lernihan, who finished runner-up in the Irish Close Championship made his debut for Ireland in the Home Internationals.
Grants are provided to assist players with expenses incurred while competing in Championships, where they are not already covered by the GUI as members of selected panels for the various events, and in keeping with the Rules of Amateur Status.
A total of 41 players from the three National Panels - Senior, Youths and Boys — received grants.
