■ Australia
Mitchell Chapman called up
Mitchell Chapman has been added to the Australia squad on tour in Europe to cover for injured lock Dan Vickerman, Australian Associated Press reported yesterday. Chapman is a former captain of the Australian Schoolboys who can play either lock, flanker or No. 8. Vickerman was ordered home to undergo a shoulder reconstruction after aggravating an injury in Saturday's 29-29 draw with Wales.
■ Italy
Perugini suspended
Italy and Toulouse prop Salvatore Perugini was suspended for five weeks on Monday for recklessly striking an opponent with his head. Perugini was cited for the incident in Toulouse's loss to Ulster on Oct. 21, and banned by a disciplinary committee of the European Rugby Cup through Dec. 11. The penalty means Perugini, an international since 2000, will miss Italy's Test against Australia this Saturday in Rome, and following matches against Argentina and Canada. He was replaced in the Azzurri squad by Viadana's Matias Aguero.
■ France
Nathan Hines cited
Perpignan's Scottish international lock Nathan Hines was cited for "dangerous play" by Stade Francais on Monday. The Australian-born second row forward is alleged by Stade -- who lost 11-10 and their unbeaten record in the Championship on Saturday -- to have kicked Canadian lock Mike James in the face. "Hines was the instigator of a violent incident, far from where the ball was when he kicked Mike James in the face," the statement from Stade read. The Championship's disciplinary commission may decide not to pursue the case but in any event they have another hearing with Hines, who will be 30 on Nov. 29, over two incidents during the 25-10 defeat by Biarritz earlier this season. Biarritz accused Hines of foul play on French international Imanol Harinordoquy and team-mate David Couzinet.
■ England
Johnston added to squad
Saracens center Ben Johnston was added on Monday to England's squad for this weekend's Test match against Argentina at Twickenham. Johnston, who captained England Saxons against Canada in Toronto this year, was to join training yesterday on the eve of his 28th birthday. Josh Lewsey (Wasps), Mark Cueto (Sale), Perry Freshwater (Perpignan) and Tom Rees (Wasps), who missed the world champions' 41-20 November series-opening defeat against New Zealand at Twickenham on Sunday because of injuries, are back in the squad along with Toby Flood (Newcastle) and Bristol's Dan Ward-Smith. Johnston won the first of his two full England caps against Argentina in 2002 after his career had been interrupted by a knee injury. After Saturday's match against the Pumas, England conclude their November program with back-to-back fixtures against South Africa.
■ Cricket
India VP to open stadium
Guyana's new cricket stadium for next year's World Cup will be officially opened by Indian Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today. India provided a US$6 million grant and US$19 million in loans for the 15,000-seat Providence Stadium, which will host Super 8 matches during the World Cup next March and April. Guyana and India historically have had close ties, and nearly half the 750,000 people in Guyana, a former Dutch and British colony, are descendants of immigrants from the Indian subcontinent. Shekhawat is making a weeklong visit to the South American country and Trinidad and Tobago.
■ Soccer
Ronaldinho takes top prize
Ronaldinho was named FIFPro world player of the year for the second straight time. The Barcelona midfielder won the award after a vote by fellow professionals. FIFPro is the international players' organization. The Brazil international was to be presented the award at a ceremony on Monday in Athens, Greece, but it was canceled after a dispute between the Greek government and an English commercial partner involved in organizing the event. "We are really sorry about this," FIFPro said in a statement." Ronaldinho led Barcelona to the Champions League title last season, beating Arsenal 2-1 in the final.
■ Soccer
Ecuadorean great dies
Hundreds of fans lined up on Monday to bid farewell to soccer great Alberto Spencer, who died last week in the US after undergoing heart surgery. Considered Ecuador's greatest soccer player, Spencer was brought home for a nine-hour stop in the Voltaire Paladines Polo coliseum in the coastal city of Guayaquil for an open-casket ceremony. During 12 years with Uruguay's Penarol, he scored 326 goals, including 48 in the Copa Libertadores. He scored six more goals for Ecuador's Barcelona squad in South America's club championship, setting a tournament record of 54 goals that stands today.
■ Beach Soccer
Portugal, Bahrain advance
Portugal and Bahrain both won on Monday to earn places in the quarter-finals of the Beach Soccer World Cup, while Uruguay also advanced despite a penalty kick loss to Cameroon. Portugal defeated the Solomon Islands 14-2 to top Group C while Bahrain defeated Nigeria on penalties 4-3 following a 5-5 tie. Three more quarter-final berths remain up for grabs in Tuesday's final group games. Defending champion France already has clinched its place but the other berth from Group B along with both places from Group A remain undecided.
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was
RALLY: It was only the second time the Taiwanese has partnered with Kudermetova, and the match seemed tight until they won seven points in a row to take the last set 10-2 Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching and Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova on Sunday won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix women’s doubles final in Stuttgart, Germany. The pair defeated Norway’s Ulrikke Eikeri and Estonia’s Ingrid Neel 4-6, 6-3, 10-2 in a tightly contested match at the WTA 500 tournament. Chan and Kudermetova fell 4-6 in the first set after having their serve broken three times, although they played increasingly well. They fought back in the second set and managed to break their opponents’ serve in the eighth game to triumph 6-3. In the tiebreaker, Chan and Kudermetova took a 3-0 lead before their opponents clawed back two points, but