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■ SWIMMING
Ian Thorpe cleared of doping
Australia's sports doping agency has cleared champion swimmer Ian Thorpe of doping charges fueled in March when urine tests showed elevated levels of two banned substances. "The evidence available does not indicate the use of performance enhancing substances by Mr Thorpe. He has no case to answer," the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority said in a statement. Thorpe became embroiled in the doping investigation when a urine sample taken in May last year showed elevated levels of testosterone and epitestosterone.

■ SOCCER
Sparta Nazi salutes probed
The Czech soccer federation has begun investigating alleged Nazi salutes by Sparta Prague midfielder Pavel Horvath during a league match. Federation spokesman Vit Pavlusek said Horvath's conduct was judged "unsportsmanlike," according to initial findings on Thursday by the federation's disciplinary committee. Horvath allegedly twice saluted Sparta fans with his right arm outstretched seconds before the end of the match against Viktoria Zizkov on Saturday, which Sparta won 4-1. The committee resumes its investigation next Thursday. Pavlusek said the federation also asked for TV footage of the incident. "It is a big misunderstanding," Horvath was quoted as saying by the Lidove Noviny daily newspaper Thursday. "I am really not a fascist." Sparta backed Horvath, saying he was trying to calm fans down.

■ GOLF
US tour finishing dope policy
The US tour's comprehensive anti-doping policy is nearing completion, and testing could start as early as next year, commissioner Tim Finchem said on Thursday. He updated the Player Advisory Council in Norton, Massachusetts, on Monday about the tour's progress. "We believe now that we'll complete work on a policy this year, and the elements of the policy could very well be executed during '08," he said at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Finchem said testing would be only one part of the policy. Still to be determined are exemptions for therapeutic use.

■ SOCCER
Dein sells stake in Arsenal
Former Arsenal chairman David Dein has sold his 14.58 percent stake in Arsenal to a consortium led by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. Red and White Holdings Ltd said in a statement Thursday that it had paid ?75 million (US$151.1 million) for the stake and appointed Dein as the company's chairman. Red and White said it had "committed funds" to enable it to increase its stake in Arsenal. "However, Red and White confirms that it has no current intention to make a takeover offer for Arsenal," the statement said. Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman was not concerned. "David's free to do what he wants to do," Edelman said at the Champions League group stage draw in Monte Carlo, Monaco. "Clearly it's not a change in shareholding structure."

■ SOCCER
Everton signs up Gravesen
Everton signed Thomas Gravesen on loan from Celtic for the rest of the season on Thursday. The move returns the Danish midfielder to the Premier League club where played from 2000 to 2005. "I really look forward to coming back to Everton and to once again play at the top level," he said. The 31-year-old Gravesen had been at Celtic since August last year. He spent the previous season at Real Madrid.

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