Merritt banned for 21 months October 18, 2010 ATHLETICS: American Olympic and world 400m champion LaShawn Merritt has been handed a 21-month ban for doping. Merritt tested positive three times for testosterone and accepted a provisional suspension earlier this year. His ban has been backdated to his first positive test in October 2009, meaning all results since than have been annulled but opening [...]
Graham named England captain October 18, 2010 RUGBY LEAGUE: St Helens prop James Graham has been named Adrian Morley’s replacement as England captain for the Four Nations. Coach Steve McNamara turned to Graham, 25, to lead the side against New Zealand on Saturday after Morley injured his bicep in the weekend warm-up match against New Zealand Maori. “When Steve offered me the [...]
Rooney tipped to quit United over row with boss Ferguson October 17, 2010 MANCHESTER United striker Wayne Rooney looks increasingly likely to leave the club amid suggestions his relationship with manager Sir Alex Ferguson has deteriorated beyond repair. The prospect of one of the most sensational transfers in the history of British football has increased dramatically with Rooney said to have told United he will not resume contract [...]
Reds second bottom after derby defeat October 17, 2010 EVERTON (2) vs LIVERPOOL (0) LIVERPOOL manager Roy Hodgson admits finishing in the top four might already be an unrealistic aim, just eight games into the Premier League season, after defeat in the Merseyside derby soured the feel-good factor created by the club’s takeover. Thumping strikes from midfielders Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta lifted Everton [...]
Four-try win lifts Wasps’ Euro hopes October 17, 2010 WASPS (38) vs GLASGOW (26) WASPS boss Tony Hanks hailed Joe Simpson after the scrum-half’s wonder-try helped kick-start their Heineken Cup campaign with a bonus-point victory over Glasgow. Tom Varndell, Ben Jacobs and Dominic Waldouck also went over as the Londoners climbed to second in Pool Six, two points behind reigning champions Toulouse. But it [...]
Murray caps return to form October 17, 2010 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray completed an emphatic return to form and maintained his superb record against Roger Federer by winning the Shanghai Masters. World No4 Murray clinched his 16th career title and his second of the year with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in which he seized the initiative instantly. The triumph followed the Scot’s win over [...]
Silva the hero as City cut Chelsea’s lead to two points October 17, 2010 BLACKPOOL (2) vs MANCHESTER CITY (3) BLACKPOOL manager Ian Holloway risked landing himself in more hot water after a controversial defeat to Manchester City which saw the big-spending Eastlands outfit close to within two points of Premier League leaders Chelsea. Holloway accused referee Phil Dowd of getting three major decisions wrong: disallowing a Gary Taylor-Fletcher [...]
Leicester fight back to thrash Scarlets October 17, 2010 LEICESTER blew Scarlets away with a second-half salvo in a five-try 46-10 victory that tightened their grip on Heineken Cup Pool Five. A try from Martin Castrogiovanni and eight points from the boot of Toby Flood gave the Tigers a slender 13-10 half-time advantage, with Morgan Stoddart touching down early on for the Welshmen. But [...]
Fears of World Cup vote delay amid bribery claims October 17, 2010 GLOBAL governing body Fifa has launched an investigation into claims of a cash-for-votes scandal surrounding England’s fight to host the 2018 World Cup. A Sunday newspaper alleged that two of the 24 members of Fifa’s executive committee, who will decide in December who is to stage the tournament, offered to sell votes. Nigerian Amos Adamu, [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF October 17, 2010 Irvine tipped to land Lions role RUGBY UNION: British and Irish Lions chiefs are expected to name their latest manager today, with Scotland legend Andy Irvine tipped for the role. The former full-back, 59, toured three times as a Lions player and will be tasked with picking a coach for the 2013 trip to Australia. [...]