Tour stage winner denies doping August 4, 2009 CYCLIST: Spaniard Mikel Astarloza has denied doping after testing positive for the banned blood-booster EPO. Astarloza, who won stage 16 of this year’s Tour de France, was provisionally banned last week on the basis of an out-of-competition test in June. “I haven’t taken anything illegal,” he said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to find out [...]
Trott in line as fears grow for Flintoff August 4, 2009 ENGLAND selectors yesterday handed uncapped Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott a shock call-up for the fourth Test amid mounting concerns over the fitness of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff. Nottinghamshire seamer Ryan Sidebottom was also drafted into the 14-man squad, in place of spinner Monty Panesar, for the match at Headingley, which starts on Friday. But it is [...]
We want Freddie to play, insists Australia’s North August 4, 2009 AUSTRALIA batsman Marcus North insists the tourists are rooting for England’s Andrew Flintoff to be fit for the rest of the Ashes – because they want the satisfaction of beating a full-strength side. All-rounder Flintoff is a doubt for the fourth Test, which starts at Headingley on Friday, with the ongoing knee problem that has [...]
Defiance of Clarke and North send England’s victory prospects south August 3, 2009 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss admitted his disappointment after a resolute stand between Michael Clarke and Marcus North denied the home side a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series. Fifth-wicket pair Clarke (103 not out) and North (96) put on 185 as Australia comfortably batted out the final day to secure a draw in the third [...]
Discharged Massa vows to make speedy return to track August 3, 2009 FELIPE MASSA says he is determined to return to racing as soon as possible after being discharged from his Budapest hospital bed following brain surgery. In his first interview since his horror crash in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Massa admitted remembering nothing about the incident, which occurred when he was hit by a [...]
Williams make objection to Schumacher’s testing August 3, 2009 MICHAEL SCHUMACHER has been blocked in his bid to test Ferrari’s car – by a disapproving Williams team. Ferrari last week wrote to governing body the FIA and their nine rival teams, requesting special permission for Schumacher to familiarise himself with the current F60 model ahead of the European Grand Prix, where he is standing [...]
Arsenal told to pay 12m for Chamakh August 3, 2009 BORDEAUX have told Arsenal to double their £6m offer for Marouane Chamakh or forget about signing the Morocco striker. Chamakh, 25, is furious at his club’s hard-line stance and is threatening to leave for nothing next summer when his contract expires. But the French champions’ president Jean-Louis Triaud is determined that their prize asset will [...]
Benitez lines up Aquilani to replace Real-bound Alonso August 3, 2009 LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez has wasted no time in replacing Xabi Alonso by closing in on the signing of Roma’s Alberto Aquilani. Reports in Europe suggest Benitez has already had a £15.2m bid for the midfielder accepted by the Italian club, while his representatives were thrashing out a deal with big-spending Real over the future [...]
RFU ban Bath trio but cut bans to nine months August 3, 2009 FORMER Bath trio Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins were last night banned for nine months after being found guilty of failing to submit to drug tests. But the Rugby Football Union reduced their sentences from 15 months on the basis of good character and concerns over legal advice they were given. And the [...]
Woods savours 69th Tour win August 3, 2009 GOLF: Tiger Woods admitted his Buick Open victory in Michigan was extra special after recovering from a nightmare start. The world No1 shot a disappointing opening 71 before hitting back with rounds of 63, 65 and 69 to finish on 20-under-par and win by three shots. “This one feels good,” Woods said after a 69th [...]