■ Soccer
Borriello tests positive
AC Milan striker Marco Borriello faces a ban after the Italian Olympic Committee disclosed the results of a drugs test on his "B" sample had confirmed the presence of two prohibited substances. Borriello, who joined Milan from Sampdoria at the start of the season, tested positive for the corticosteroids prednisone and prednisolone after a 2-1 defeat to AS Roma on Nov. 11. The 24-year-old has scored three goals in 12 appearances for the club this season. In Italy, first drugs offenses are usually punishable with a six to nine-month ban.
■ Olympics
Doping tests to increase
The number of doping tests at the 2008 Olympics will increase significantly over the number performed three years ago in Athens. Around 4,500 doping tests will be conducted in Beijing, the state-run China Daily newspaper reported yesterday, citing a Beijing organizing committee official. "As part of its zero tolerance approach to fighting doping, the International Olympic Committee has decided to increase the number of tests by a large amount," organizing committee executive vice president Yang Shuan was quoted as saying. About 3,500 tests were carried out at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
■ Soccer
Ecuador sink Sweden
Ecuador scored twice in an eight-minute spell during the first half to beat Sweden 2-1 in an international friendly played in the Andean city of Cuenca on Thursday. Midfielder Eder Vaca opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he beat John Alvbage with a left-foot shot for his first international goal. Carlos Tenorio, one of only two members of last year's World Cup squad in the Ecuador starting line-up, took advantage of slack defending to add the second eight minutes later. Sweden pulled one back when Rade Prica scored with a long-range shot in the last minute.
■ Cricket
Oram added to Kiwi squad
All-rounder Jacob Oram will join the New Zealand cricket team in Australia this weekend, bolstering the side ahead of its next tri-series limited-overs match against Australia on Tuesday. Oram has recovered from a hamstring strain and has already been confirmed as a starter in the match at Adelaide in which New Zealand will attempt to post its first win of the series. Fast bowler Kyle Mills, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, may also join the team in time for Tuesday's match but all-rounder Scott Styris' return has been delayed after he suffered a calf muscle strain in a domestic match this week.
■ Soccer
Montenegro debut arranged
Montenegro make their international debut in a friendly against Hungary on March 24 in what the president of the country's soccer association (FSCG) hopes will be a successful first step on to the world stage. "We are all looking forward to a successful debut in front of a capacity crowd here in Podgorica," Dejan Savicevic said. "This is the first step in building a respectable team that will enter the World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign," he said. Montenegro, whose best known player is Roma striker Mirko Vucinic, have yet to appoint a coach and Savicevic said the FSCG managing board would name one in the first week of February. Montenegro, an Adriatic republic with a population of 650,000, were admitted by UEFA as provisional members in October after parting company with Serbia last May.
■ Soccer
Suzuki heading home
Former Japan striker Takayuki Suzuki has joined Yokohama F-Marinos after a frustrating spell at Red Star Belgrade, the J-League club said on yesterday. Suzuki, who played for co-hosts Japan at the 2002 World Cup, has left Red Star halfway through his two-year deal in favor of a one-year contract with Yokohama. The 30-year-old replaces Tatsuhiko Kubo, who has just completed a move to city rivals Yokohama FC. Suzuki has also played for J-League side Kashima Antlers but failed to make an impact in spells in Belgium and Brazil.
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