Club change is affecting form, admits McIlroy February 27, 2013 WORLD No1 golfer Rory McIlroy admits he is still struggling to find his rhythm since signing a reported £150m, 10-year deal with Nike last month to use new clubs. The Northern Irishman has endured an uncharacteristically poor start to the season. He lost in the first round of last week’s WGC Match Play tournament to [...]
Tragedy demands update of testing policy February 27, 2013 CRICKET COMMENT WHILE I’m sure we’d all like to think that Tom Maynard’s apparent drug use is an isolated case in cricket, the reality is that it probably isn’t. In cold terms, there are 18 counties, each with 25 players, so that’s around 400 professional players in this country. Many of them are paid very [...]
Bell supports hair testing to prevent Maynard repeat February 27, 2013 ENGLAND batsman Ian Bell has backed plans for cricket’s governing body to begin testing players’ hair samples to crack down on drug use and avoid a repeat of the circumstances surrounding the death of Tom Maynard last June. An inquest into the former Surrey cricketer’s death, held earlier this week, heard that tests of hair [...]
Why I believe Bale will stay put February 27, 2013 FOOTBALL COMMENT I VIVIDLY remember a chat I had around six years ago with Brian Flynn, who was then in charge of the Wales Under-21 team. He was raving about a player who was only 16 or 17 but already in his set-up and had, he said, two gears more speed than anybody else. That [...]
Khan announces home fight in bid to get career back on track February 27, 2013 BOXER Amir Khan will fight on home soil for the first time in two years when he steps into the ring with Julio Diaz of Mexico in April. The light-welterweight, who has lost two of his last three fights, takes on a 33-year-old opponent with a career record of 40 wins from 48 fights, including [...]
Healy free to play after stamp ban gets reduced February 27, 2013 PROP Cian Healy will be available to play in Ireland’s next RBS Six Nations match against France, after successfully having his three-week ban for stamping on England’s Dan Cole last month reduced. Healy argued at a committee hearing held yesterday that his three-week ban, initially down-graded from five weeks because of mitigating factors, was in [...]
Drogba case dropped by Uefa February 27, 2013 FOOTBALL: Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is eligible to play for Turkish team Galatasaray in the Champions League, according to European football governing body Uefa, following a protest from German side Schalke into his registration for the competition.
Toulon want Wilkinson to stay February 27, 2013 RUGBY UNION: England World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson has been urged to sign a new contract with French club Toulon by owner Mourad Boudjellal. The 33-year-old’s current deal expires in the summer, but Boudjellal has confirmed the offer of an extension has been made.
De Luca banned for the season February 27, 2013 RUGBY UNION: Scotland centre Nick De Luca is set to miss the rest of the season through suspension, after being handed a 13-week ban for a tip tackle during Edinburgh’s defeat to Ospreys last week.
Mutiny? Blues players right behind me, says Benitez February 26, 2013 CHELSEA manager Rafael Benitez has played down suggestions of a training ground bust-up with captain John Terry and admits he will have failed if the Blues miss out on a top three Premier League finish. The Blues lost 2-0 to champions Manchester City on Sunday and a frank discussion between Benitez and his squad took [...]