London 2012 cleaners told to help shop drug cheats October 3, 2011 Games support staff to be mined for intelligence in unprecedented Olympics anti-doping crackdown CLEANERS and security staff will be asked to keep tabs on athletes at London 2012 in what organisers are confident will be the biggest crackdown on drug cheats in Olympic history. Games chiefs plan to carry out a record 5,000 tests at [...]
Chelsea would struggle to fill a bigger stadium October 3, 2011 CHELSEA’S decision to buy out the fans’ co-operative that owns the freehold to its Stamford Bridge stadium, the turnstiles and the pitch, must mean only one thing: the club is serious about moving from the home it has occupied for more than 100 years. The club has toyed with the idea of moving for years. [...]
Olympic spotlight won’t daunt me, insists sprint hope Williams October 3, 2011 TEENAGE sprint sensation Jodie Williams insists she’s not in the least bit daunted at being billed as the next golden girl of British track and field. The 17-year-old, privately funded by millionaire Barrie Wells and his Sports Foundation which has also aided the career of former world champion Jessica Ennis, already has a clutch of [...]
Vaughan: Three-Test series for South Africa just isn’t enough October 3, 2011 FORMER England captain Michael Vaughan fears the future of Test cricket has been jeopardised by limiting South Africa to just three five-day matches against Andrew Strauss’s all conquering side next summer. Under the astute leadership of Strauss and head coach Andy Flower, England have risen to No1 in the Test rankings following a prolonged period [...]
Cook rubbishes ball-tampering claims October 3, 2011 ENGLAND one-day skipper Alastair Cook has denied his pacemen James Anderson and Stuart Broad have ever indulged in the dark arts of ball-tampering following accusations from Pakistan’s Umar Gul. Swing specialist Gul, a mainstay of his country’s one-day side, was quoted as saying Anderson altered the ball during Pakistan’s 2010 tour of England and that [...]
Track stays no matter what, says Robertson October 3, 2011 SPORTS Minister Hugh Robertson has confirmed the government has made a “cast-iron guarantee” that the Olympic Stadium’s running track will remain in place regardless of ongoing legal wrangling. The pledge was made to an International Athletics Federation (IAAF) delegation which yesterday completed a short visit to evaluate London’s bid to host the 2017 World Championship. [...]
THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS October 3, 2011 GUSCOTT SLAMS ENGLAND FORMER England centre Jeremy Guscott has accused members of Martin Johnson’s squad of showing a lack of respect following accusations relating to their off-field antics. “Martin Johnson’s got a few kids that aren’t acting as though they’re playing for England, or at a World Cup,” said Guscott, who played alongside Johnson at [...]
Bemused Cueto slams ‘horrendous’ coverage October 3, 2011 ENGLAND wing Mark Cueto has branded coverage of his team’s off-field escapades “horrendous” and has denied their World Cup campaign has been irrevocably tainted by the lurid accusations that have marred their progress to the quarter-finals. Members of the squad, including vice-captain Mike Tindall were heavily criticised for embarking on a night out in Queenstown [...]
Spurs and Arsenal unite to condemn sick chants October 3, 2011 NORTH London rivals Spurs and Arsenal will join forces in attempts to identify those fans who were guilty of abusive chanting during Sunday’s derby at White Hart Lane. A section of Tottenham’s fans taunted Arsene Wenger and stricken full-back Bacary Sagna, who left the field on a stretcher with a fractured right leg. The away fans, [...]
Capello plans to attack in Montenegro qualifier October 3, 2011 ENGLAND manager Fabio Capello has claimed it would be a mistake for England to play for a draw in Montenegro on Friday. The Three Lions only need a point to seal their place at next summer’s European Championships following Montenegro’s defeat in Wales last month. Capello has picked a squad packed with attacking options, Wayne Rooney [...]