Swimming: Neil Walker of the USA set a world record of 50.75 seconds in the final of the men's 100m backstroke at the world short-course swimming championships in Athens yesterday. It was his fifth world record at the championships.

Roman Sloudnov of Russia set a world record of two minutes 7.59 seconds in winning the final of the men's 200m breaststroke.

The previous mark of two minutes 7.79 seconds in the 200m breaststroke was set by Andrei Korneev of Russia in Paris on March 28th, 1993.

Sloudnov's other world record in the championships came Friday with a 58.51 second time in the 100m breaststroke.

Olympics: Australian Sports Minister Jackie Kelly ordered an inquiry yesterday into claims that up to 80 percent of their elite athletes were taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Sports performance consultant Grant Ellison said that synthetic insulin growth factor, or IGF-1, which is undetectable from that produced naturally by the body, was the new vogue drug.

Ellison said he advised cyclists, weightlifters and rowers on how to use performance-enhancing drugs and pass detection tests.

Boxing: New Commonwealth Super-Bantamweight champion Nadel Hussein has urged Brian Carr to reconsider his decision to retire.

The Australian scored a 116114 points victory over the Moodiesburn fighter at the Kelvin Hall last night.

"Brian is a good strong fighter and I think he should give it one more go and see what he's got left," said Hussein

But Carr insisted that his time in the professional ring is over.

Amateur Boxing: The IABA Standing committee unanimously rejected at the weekend a proposed change in format by the European Amateur Boxing Association (EABA) for the remaining Olympic qualifying tournaments.

The governing European body want wild cards issued to facilitate nations who fail to get a boxer through to Sydney.

The motivation for the IABA's decision to vote against the proposal lies in the fact that, with Michael Roche having already qualified, the proposed new format would not benefit Ireland.

Cycling Philip Cassidy once again threw caution to the wind with a daring early attack in the Jim McQuaid memorial which illustrated his superb form.

At the end of one hour and 40 minutes of racing, Cassidy crossed the line to take what is his second victory of the year.