Jamaican sprinter gets 18-month dope ban April 10, 2014 FORMER world’s fastest man Asafa Powell last night vowed to clear his name after being handed an 18-month ban for failing a drug test. The Jamaican sprinter said banned stimulant oxilofrine entered his system via a contaminated supplement, and plans to appeal the “patently unjust” sanction at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
European rugby future resolved April 10, 2014 RUGBY UNION: The European Rugby Champions Cup is to replace the Heineken Cup next season, it has been confirmed. A second competition, the European Rugby Challenge Cup, will offer a route into the top tournament, while Italian and minor sides will take part in a qualifying competition. BT and Sky are set to share rights.
Test match chance for associates April 10, 2014 CRICKET: Scotland and Ireland could play Test matches from 2018 if they win a new competition for non-Test sides, the Intercontinental Cup, and then beat the team bottom of the world rankings.
Pistorius branded a liar in court April 10, 2014 ATHLETICS: Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius was yesterday accused of fabricating his version of events the night he shot dead his girlfriend. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told Pistorius, who says he killed Reeva Steenkamp in a case of mistaken identity, his account was “a lie” and “so improbable, no one would ever think it’s true”.
Mourinho hit with £8,000 fine April 10, 2014 FOOTBALL: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was yesterday fined £8,000 by the Football Association after going onto the pitch to remonstrate with referee Chris Foy during his team’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa last month.
Anfield clash of the titans set to be a close affair April 10, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON AND BILL ESDAILE PREVIEW THE BEST OF THE WEEKEND’S FOOTBALL AND RACING NOT many people gave Liverpool a hope of winning the Premier League this year. Indeed some bookmakers were offering 33/1 before the season kicked off. Yet, you won’t get bigger than 15/8 now on the Reds securing a first title since [...]
Green Flag can spark local celebrations in Scottish Grand National April 10, 2014 THE PRESENCE of 13-year-old Tidal Bay in tomorrow’s Coral Scottish Grand National (3.50pm) has given the contest an unusual shape. Paul Nicholls’ popular old-timer is rated 166 and his inclusion means that 19 of the 30 runner field will race from out of the handicap. Tidal Bay unseated Sam Twiston-Davies at the Canal Turn in [...]
Capital rules push banks to trade through central counterparties April 10, 2014 BANKS will have to set aside less capital against trades through central clearing houses in a bid to encourage them to use the services, the Basel Committee said yesterday. And lenders face putting more capital against trades not cleared centrally. The aim is to make banks use the central counterparties (CCPs), making it easier for regulators [...]
Ashmore hopes for emerging market uptick April 10, 2014 BILLIONAIRE Mark Coombs, the founder of fund manager Ashmore Group, yesterday gave a bullish assessment of emerging market stocks despite his group seeing $6.2bn flow out of funds last quarter. Coombs, chief executive at the FTSE 250 group, tried to soothe concerns that emerging markets were broken in the wake of steep price declines and [...]
Struggling RSA Insurance taps investors for £773m rights issue April 10, 2014 INSURER RSA Group announced yesterday that 95.67 per cent of its share issue has been snapped up by investors, raising £773m for the group. The remaining stock will be offered for sale by JP Morgan and Merrill Lynch, but if it is not sold, under their role as underwriters, they will buy the balance themselves. [...]
