Chiefs defend rules that let cocaine users off with fine April 13, 2010 RUGBY chiefs insist their liberal new policy on testing for recreational drugs such as cocaine is not a soft touch. Players could escape with only a £5,000 fine and their anonymity protected if they return a positive sample from a non-matchday test. That is compared to the automatic two-year ban, prescribed, by world anti-doping chiefs [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF April 13, 2010 Ford to make Saints switch RUGBY UNION: Highly-rated fly-half Joe Ford has agreed a deal to join Northampton Saints from Leeds at the end of the season. The 19-year-old, whose dad Mike is the England defence coach, has enjoyed a fine season with Carnegie and is seen as one of England’s brightest young talents. He [...]
DANNY GETS BAABAAS CALL April 13, 2010 ENGLAND outcast Danny Cipriani could get the chance to show coach Martin Johnson just what he’s missing after being named in the Barbarians squad. Cipriani is joined in the star-studded squad by Wasps team-mate and fellow international exile, Paul Sackey, for the games against England on 30 May and Ireland on 4 June.
CITY VIEWS: DOES ANDY MURRAY OWE IT TO BRITAIN TO PLAY IN THE DAVIS CUP? April 13, 2010 ANGUS NANAN | KERRY LONDON “Tennis is a very individual sport and you’re driven by your ambition as an individual rather than your ambition to play Davis Cup, so I can very much see where he is coming from. If we had a better team he might possibly be more up for it but I [...]
Murray stands firm over his Davis Cup plans April 13, 2010 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray has poured cold water on hopes that new Davis Cup captain Leon Smith might be able to tempt him back to the fold. Murray missed last month’s loss to Lithuania but British chiefs hope Smith, the Scot’s former coach, will be able to pull strings. But Murray said: “Leon’s my friend [...]
Coyle lashes out in penalty row April 13, 2010 BOLTON boss Owen Coyle hit out at referee Lee Probert after claiming his side were denied two “stonewall” first-half penalties. Coyle was furious after Probert waved away Bolton protests after Didier Drogba and John Terry appeared to have handled. Terry insisted the ball for his came off his shoulder, but Coyle blasted: “John Terry must [...]
Ancelotti in no mood for mind games April 12, 2010 CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti has laughed off Sir Alex Ferguson’s suggestion that his team view tonight’s visit of Bolton as a routine win on an inevitable procession to the Premier League title. The leaders could put one hand on the trophy with a victory tonight that would propel them four points clear of flagging Manchester [...]
Portsmouth to appeal for Euro licence reprieve April 12, 2010 PORTSMOUTH are to make a desperate plea to the Football Association to allow them play in Europe next season. The relegated south-coast club secured a place in next season’s Europa League after winning through to the FA Cup final against Chelsea on 15 May with victory over Tottenham on Sunday. But with the club in [...]
Westwood’s time will come April 12, 2010 WELL, he’s getting closer but Lee Westwood is certainly being made to work in his quest for a first major title. Westwood played beautifully all week but just didn’t quite do enough on the final day to hold off the resurgent Phil Mickelson, who, in the end, was a worthy winner of the best Masters [...]
Taylor slams Wembley pitch April 12, 2010 PLAYERS’ chief Gordon Taylor has added to the wave of discontent surrounding the state of the Wembley pitch, branding it an “embarrassment”. The surface was slammed by both Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp and Portsmouth boss Avram Grant after Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final where players complained that excessive watering had made it too skiddy. The national [...]