Sports Digest/ Cricket: The police officer who led Jamaica's investigation into the death of late Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer told an inquest yesterday that in his view Woolmer died because he was ill.
Deputy police commissioner Mark Shields, a former member of Scotland Yard, told coroner Patrick Murphy and an 11-member jury that he was convinced that Woolmer was not strangled.
"After considering all the evidence, having dialogue and consultation with my colleagues and looking around at Mr Woolmer's room, it was clear to me that Mr Woolmer was very sick and died of complications," Shields said.
Beijing 'won't need cash'
Olympics:China would not need "one cent" of foreign financial support to hold the Beijing Olympics, which are expected to turn a profit of about €18 million, according to a senior Games organiser.
Yu Zaiqing, an executive of the Beijing organising committee, said revenues from broadcast rights, sponsors, merchandise and ticket sales would exceed anticipated costs of €1.7 billion to host the Games.
"I can confidently tell you, we do not need one cent of foreign financial support to hold this Olympics," Yu said.
Organisers have previously said the Games would still make a profit despite costs increasing 30 per cent since 2001.
Drut puts name in ring
Olympics: Confusion reigned yesterday over the vote to determine the next president of the World Anti-Doping Agency after Frenchman Guy Drut said he was standing as a second candidate just hours before today's vote.
Australian John Fahey had been the sole candidate to replace Dick Pound after the acrimonious withdrawal of Jean-Francois Lamour.
Pound, due to step down on December 31st, accused the European bloc of trying to impose their own president after their first choice had "melted into the night". "We had a process which called for nominations by September. We already have one candidate."
Ulster's Larkin to retire
Rugby: Ulster's Adam Larkin will retire from the professional game early next month to pursue business interests outside the sport.
The 33-year-old outhalf, who was born in Australia, made his debut for the province in 2001 and has won 68 caps for Ulster in his seven seasons at Ravenhill.
"With the emergence of promising young talent within the province," he said, "combined with the fact I will be turning 34 in a couple of months and now appear to be spending more time on the physio bed as opposed to the playing field, the time is right for me to step down from the professional game on my terms to pursue business interests outside of rugby."
Steyn piles pressure on NZ
Cricket: South African fast bowler Dale Steyn took four wickets to pile the pressure on New Zealand on the first day of the second Test yesterday.
New Zealand, who won the toss and chose to bat, lurched to 187-8 before bad light followed by a thunderstorm ended play three overs after tea. A fiery Steyn, who took match figures of 10-93 in the first Test in Johannesburg which South Africa won by 358 runs, claimed 4-42. New Zealand reached lunch on 84-1 before losing five wickets for 100 in the second session.
Opener Craig Cumming, who retired hurt on 48, was felled by a Steyn bouncer that fractured his cheekbone.
