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Swimming
Raunchy Russian charged
A coach with Russia's diving team at the world championships has been charged with indecent assault following an incident involving a female security guard. Vladimir Rulev, 56, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday to face the charges, which included unlawful assault following the incident at a downtown hotel on Saturday. The court was told that Rulev was intoxicated when he left an elevator at the hotel and lunged at a security officer's accreditation badge. He then squeezed her left breast. Outside court after yesterday's hearing, Rulev's lawyer Paul Horvath said Rulev would plead guilty to the unlawful assault charge when he appears in court again on Monday. "But on the charge of indecent assault, he says he's not guilty," Horvath said.

■ Auto racing
Webber to trial in Singapore
Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber will trial Singapore's proposed street circuit -- within speed limits -- this weekend, a news report said yesterday. Red Bull driver Webber will take a Porsche 911 GT3 car around the 5km layout to get "an early start" if Singapore receives the go-ahead to host a Formula One leg, the Straits Times quoted Singapore's Red Bull brand manager Jyn Wee as saying. "We didn't have enough time to get clearance for a high-speed run," Wee said. The car is capable of reaching 300kph. Singapore is attempting to secure a slot on the Formula One calendar. The Straits Times said the city-state, which is attempting to shed its dull, stuffy image, could receive the go-ahead from motor sports governing body FIA to host a race as early as next year.

■ Soccer
Former player busted
Former China goalkeeper Liu Yunfei has spent eight days in jail for "taking part in narcotics-related activities" in a Shanghai hotel room, state media said yesterday. The 28-year-old former international, currently without a club after walking out on Shanghai Shenhua last season, was released on Friday after paying an undisclosed fine, Shanghai police told the Xinhua news agency. Liu played for China when they reached the Asian Cup final on home soil in 2004. His disparaging comments about his team's opponents before the final contributed to an air of hostility towards the Japanese, which manifested itself in riots in Beijing after China's defeat. Liu moved from Tianjin to Shenhua last year but was suspended by the Shanghai club midway through last season before quitting the club.

■ Baseball
Woman to umpire game
Spring training will take on a whole new look this week, when, for the first time in nearly 20 years, a female umpire will work a Major League Baseball exhibition game. Ria Cortesio, set to start the season in Double-A, will be on the bases for tomorrow's game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Arizona. "I'm looking forward to it," she said on Monday. "There will be a lot more people in the stands than I'm used to." Pam Postema was the last woman to work big league exhibitions in 1989. She was in spring training for two years before getting released. Cortesio is the only female umpire in professional baseball. At 30, she is starting her ninth year overall and fifth in Double-A. "It's awesome," Cubs star Derrek Lee said on Monday. "I think it's about time. Female eyes are as good as male eyes."

■ Sumo
Hakuho takes Spring title
Mongolian Hakuho defeated compatriot Asashoryu in a playoff on Sunday to win the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. Hakuho sidestepped a charging Asashoryu at the faceoff and then swatted the grand champion down to win his second Emperor's Cup. Asashoryu lost his first two bouts of the 15-day tourney at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium and then reeled off 13 straight wins to force the playoff with his Mongolian counterpart. Sumo's lone grand champion was bidding for his 21st title and entered the tournament on the heels of accusations that he was involved in fixing matches. The Japan Sumo Association cleared Asashoryu of any wrongdoing but it was clear he was not himself during the first two days of the tournament. Ozeki Kotooshu finished at 8-7, good enough to maintain his ozeki rank for the next tournament.

■ Cricket
Bangladeshis sign giant bat
Over 2 million Bangladeshis have signed a 21m-long cricket bat wishing their team good luck in the World Cup, an official said yesterday. A private firm sent the bat on a country-wide signature tour from March 14, a day after the World Cup began in the Caribbean. Bangladesh defeated India and Bermuda to finish second in Group B behind Sri Lanka, qualifying for the Super Eights for the first time. "We hope more people would be interested to sign the bat after Bangladesh qualified for the Super Eights," said Shafiqul Islam, a brand manager of Akiz Group, the makers of the bat. The bat was dismantled into seven parts and sent around the country being put back together last Friday, he added. "It is the biggest bat in the world and we hope it will have a place in the Guinness Book of World Records." Bangladesh begin their Super Eights campaign on Saturday against defending champions Australia.

■ Rugby Union
Japan to face `All Blacks'
Japan will play two matches against a New Zealand side including the likes of Jonah Lomu and Carlos Spencer in May, Japanese officials said on Tuesday. A "Classic All Blacks" side captained by Andrew Mehrtens will play Japan on May 9 in Kobe and three days later in Tokyo. Japan will use the matches to prepare for this year's Pacific Six Nations tournament and next year's World Cup. "We need games like this to give us confidence," said Japan coach John Kirwan, a former All Blacks great. "It's very important that we compete. It's the same format as in the World Cup with a game on the Wednesday followed by another on the Saturday, so the players can get used to a quick turnaround," he added. The New Zealand team will also include Justin Marshall and Jeff Wilson. Kirwan added that the two games would be significant for Japan's hopes of hosting the 2015 World Cup.

■ Rugby League
Smith replaces Noble
Australian Tony Smith was on Monday named as the new Great Britain rugby league team coach after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal. The 40-year-old Leeds coach takes over from Brian Noble on a part-time basis until his Leeds contract runs out at the end of the season. His first match in charge will be against France in June, and his first big challenge will come in the autumn when Britain take on New Zealand in a three-match Test Series on home soil before taking charge of England for the 2008 World Cup in Australia.

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