■ Soccer
Players escape charges
Two English Premiership footballers questioned over allegations of rape will not be charged, prosecutors said Thursday. In a statement the Crown Prosecution Service said there was "insufficient evidence" to bring charges against Newcastle's Titus Bramble and Chelsea's Carlton Cole following allegations that the pair had been involved in a "gang rape" of a 17-year-old girl at a central London hotel in September. Officers from London's Metropolitan Police Force launched an investigation into the alleged incident, which was said to have taken place at the exclusive Grosvenor House Hotel.
■ Soccer
Players to pay fans to travel
Players of the struggling Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin have rejected a 25-percent salary cut and have instead offered to pay for their fans' travel to away matches as a way of compensating for their poor play this season, Berlin newspapers reported Thursday. An average of 2,500 Berlin fans travel to away matches and underwriting the cost of the eight road trips in the remainder of the season would amount to about US$1.27 million for the players. Berlin went into the season with high hopes but the team earned only 13 points from the first 17 games and is next-to-last halfway into the schedule.
■ Cricket
Australia pip India
World champions Australia fielded brilliantly to score a tense 18-run victory in their triangular series one-day match yesterday despite a brave innings of 82 from India captain Saurav Ganguly. Michael Clarke took four catches and 1-22 after guiding the hosts to 288 all out in 48.3 overs with a quickfire 63. He shared a century partnership with man-of-the-match Andrew Symonds, who made 88 and took 2-47. Australia had been set for an even bigger score but were kept below 300 after a six-wicket haul from India's Ajit Agarkar. India scored 270 in 49.0 overs in reply after Sachin Tendulkar clipped 63 from 69 balls to give the tourists a flying start.
■ Rallying
Masuoka's chances fade
Double champion Hiroshi Masuoka on Thursday ruled out his dream of a third successive Dakar Rally crown when his Mitsubishi was struck down by gearbox trouble. The Japanese veteran, who had started the day in front, lost over an hour and a half on the 355km eighth stage between Atar and Tidjikja leaving his French teammate Stephane Peterhansel to take full advantage by reclaiming the lead. "It's finished," was Masuoka's devastating verdict as he slipped down to third place on a day which saw Japan's Kenjiro Shinozuka's dreams of winning go up in smoke when his Nissan exploded in flames.
■ Tennis
Navratilova to retire
Tennis great Martina Navratilova said Thursday she plans to stick with a decision to retire for good from the professional tour at the end of the year. Navratilova first quit in 1994, then returned six years later to play doubles. "This time I know it's my last year. I mean it. It's just a good time to do other things," the 47-year-old American told a news conference at a Hong Kong exhibition tournament. Navratilova clinched a record-tying 20th Wimbledon crown last year, winning the mixed doubles contest with Indian Leander Paes.
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