Swimming: Top Russian coach Gennadi Touretski defended himself and his swimmers yesterday after police in Australia charged him with possessing a small amount of anabolic steroids.
Touretski, who coaches Olympic gold medallists Alexander Popov and Michael Klim, has been suspended from the Australian Institute of Sport pending the outcome of a Canberra court case beginning tomorrow. He denies the allegations.
"I do not have to justify myself and I do not intend to," Touretski told Russian newspaper Sport Express. But he added: "I do not think that any sensible person could doubt my sportsmen are clean. The steadiness of their performance over a very long period speaks for itself."
Equestrian Sport: Show jumping could be back on the national calendar by the end of April, following lengthy discussions between Department of Agriculture representatives and the Show Jumping Association of Ireland, reports Grania Willis.
It is hoped further tightening of the protocols that need to be in place before show jumping can resume will be completed today, with April 28th pencilled in for when shows will be given the all-clear.
Hockey: Mary Logue, the most capped player in Irish hockey, has announced her retirement from the international scene 12 years after making her senior debut for Ireland as a 21-year-old against Wales in the Home Countries tournament.
A native of Cork, Logue played her club hockey with Muckross, Railway Union and Hermes, with whom she won the Leinster Senior A title last Saturday. She first captained her country in 1997.
Logue won her final and 153rd cap against Holland in Edinburgh last June, two months after missing out on a place at the Olympic Games in the Qualifier at Milton Keynes.
Meanwhile, the University of Limerick have withdrawn from the All-Ireland Club Championship preliminary match against NUIG, scheduled for April 21st, due to exam pressures, Bandon will take Limerick's place.
Boys' Golf: Wales emerged with a 14-6 victory over Ireland in the Boys International at Rosslare Golf Club yesterday to claim the Cardigan Cup. Having led 6-2 from the opening day's singles, Ireland shared the morning foursomes after Wales had got off to an impressive start when their 15-year-old star, Rhys Davis, and Andrew Elias, defeated Ireland's David Briden and Eoin Arthurs.
The afternoon's singles were dominated by Wales, with Davis shooting two under par to defeat Clancy Bowe in the opening match. Ireland lost the opening four singles before Aengus McAllister defeated Stuart Clarke 4 and 3. Ireland's remaining winner was in the final singles as Michael McHugh overwhelmed James Evans 8 and 7.
