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■ ROWING

Two Russian rowers banned

Two Russian rowers received two-year bans yesterday for using prohibited intravenous injections at last year's World Rowing Championships. Anastassia Fatina and Anastasia Karabelshchikova, both members of the 2007 Russian women's eight, were banned by the International Rowing Federation following an investigation that has already resulted in six other Russian rowers receiving bans. "The athletes were identified through DNA analysis as having intravenously infused substances for a non-legitimate acute medical reason," Switzerland-based FISA said in a statement. FISA did not indicate that the substances injected were themselves illegal. The latest ban, like the others, is backdated to Aug. 27 last year.



■ BASKETBALL

O'Neal expects trade

Shaquille O'Neal is prepared for the Miami Heat to trade him, a confidant of the 14-time NBA All-Star center said on Tuesday. O'Neal's associate, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to reveal anything publicly, indicated a move could be imminent. "Shaq thinks something will happen," the associate said. The Miami Herald reported earlier on Tuesday that the Heat are in "serious and ongoing" trade negotiations with the Phoenix Suns. The Herald report said the Suns would send Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to Miami in exchange for O'Neal, who is averaging a career-low 14.2 points and has been sidelined for the past two weeks by a lingering hip injury. When asked last week about another report that a Shaq trade was possible, Heat coach Pat Riley said, "Not true." It isn't known if O'Neal -- who has two full seasons remaining after this one on his US$100 million, five-year contract -- would welcome a trade.



■ FOOTBALL

Andrews pleads not guilty

New England Patriots defensive back Willie Andrews pleaded not guilty to drug possession on Tuesday, hours after authorities said they found him with 200g of marijuana in Lowell, Massachusetts. Andrews was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and driving an unregistered motor vehicle. Prosecutors said he had US$6,800 in cash, three bags of marijuana, and no means to smoke the drugs. According to authorities, Lowell police responded to an anonymous caller who reported possible drug activity in a black motor vehicle. Police later pulled over the car, and when they approached it, detectives smelled a strong odor they believed to be marijuana, District Attorney Gerry Leone said.



■ SOCCER

Seven players charged

Seven players from former Singapore league side Liaoning Guangyuan were yesterday charged with match-fixing, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced. The players were not named but it follows club manager Wang Xin being suspended from all soccer activities after being charged with the same offense last month. "Match-fixing is a serious offense and a threat to the credibility of the game," S-League chief executive Winston Lee said. "If they are guilty, we hope that the punishment meted out will send out a strong message that there is no place for corruption in football here. Anyone that falls foul of the law here will have to bear the severe consequences of their actions. The players have already been suspended.
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