■ ATHLETICS
Pistorius wins his appeal
Double amputee Oscar Pistorius can try to qualify for the Beijing Olympics after winning his appeal against a ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the South African said on Friday. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruled in January that runner Pistorius could not compete with able-bodied athletes because the carbon-fiber blades attached to both legs gave him an advantage. The 21-year-old appealed to CAS, which ruled in his favor on Friday following a hearing with various scientists at the end of last month. “I don’t think ‘really happy’ describes it. I’m ecstatic. The battle has been going on for far too long. It is a victory for sports in general. I think this day will go down in history,” Pistorius told a news conference in Milan, where his lawyers are based.
■ ATHLETICS
Montgomery sent to prison
Disgraced former 100m world record-holder Tim Montgomery was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison on Friday for his role in a check fraud scheme that also led to the downfall of Marion Jones. US District Court Judge Kenneth Karas imposed the sentence upon Montgomery, once considered the world’s fastest man before being banned from athletics as a dope cheat and having his record-setting run stricken from the books. Montgomery, facing a July trial in Virginia on heroine distribution charges, had pleaded guilty 13 months ago to conspiring to commit bank fraud and two counts of bank fraud in a counterfeiting scheme. Jones is serving a six-month prison sentence after pleading guilty last year to making false statements under oath about the fraud scheme and lying when saying she did not take performance enhancing drugs.
■ VOLLEYBALL
South Korea off to a flyer
South Korea and Thailand got off to markedly different starts in their openers yesterday in the final round of Asian qualifying for the Beijing Olympic Games. South Korea fended off a late challenge from Puerto Rico for a 25-22, 25-16, 21-25, 25-21 victory, while Thailand crashed to a 26-24, 25-22, 26-24 defeat by the Dominican Republic in the eight-team round robin. The winners of the tournament, along with the best Asian country and the two best-placed teams from the remaining six competitors, will qualify for the Olympics. Kim Min-ji was the best scorer from the South Korean side, hitting 17 winners, including 14 off her attacks, while coach Lee Jung-chul praised Chun Min-chong, who hit two service winners.
■ ATHLETICS
Chambers to challenge ban
British sprinter Dwain Chambers will challenge his lifetime Olympic doping ban in a bid to compete in this summer’s Beijing Olympic Games. On the day Chambers met with Britain’s national anti-doping organization and handed over a letter detailing the drug regimen that led to a two-year suspension, his lawyer said on Friday the runner would seek to compete in the British trials and rescind his lifetime Olympic ban. “We can confirm that Dwain Chambers will be taking proceedings to secure his eligibility/participation in the Olympic and National trials in Birmingham from July 11 to July 13,” Nick Collins, the athlete’s lawyer, said in a statement. If Chambers runs in the trials and wins the 100m, he will then challenge the British Olympic Association’s rule that bars athletes with doping convictions from competing in any Olympics. The 30-year-old Chambers tested positive in 2003 for the banned steroid THG, and served a two-year suspension.
■ SOCCER
City awarded UEFA Cup slot
Manchester City have been awarded a place in next season’s UEFA Cup after qualifying through Europe’s Fair Play League. City only finished ninth in England’s Premier League after losing their last game of the season 8-1 at Middlesbrough, but their disciplinary record won them a spot in Europe’s second-tier club competition. City finished sixth in England’s fair play table, but the five teams above them were already guaranteed European places. “It’s a step in the right direction because the target for this club in the future is to play in the Champions League,” manager Sven-Goran Eriksson said on Friday.
■ SOCCER
No threat to new stadium
Tom Hicks’ failure to secure finances for a commercial development in the US won’t affect Liverpool’s plans to build a new stadium. The Liverpool co-owner said the global credit crunch had stymied plans to build a mixed-use development, including hotels, shops and entertainment complex in Texas. “The reprogramming at Glorypark is entirely unconnected to the plans for Liverpool,” Hicks said through a spokesman. “The decision at Glorypark was taken due to the developer at Glorypark’s inability to anchor retail clients on the development. The stadium plans for Liverpool remain on track for completion in time for the 2011 season.” A 60,000-seat soccer stadium is to be built in Stanley Park, adjacent to the Anfield ground that has housed the club for 115 years.
■ TENNIS
Final to take place at night
The Australian Open women’s singles final will be a night match next year, and defending champion Maria Sharapova thinks it will be a good move. “The atmosphere at Melbourne Park at night is great and the cooler conditions allow the players to really produce their best,” said Sharapova, who beat Ana Ivanovic in this year’s final. “I think this move will further showcase a great sporting event and is good for both players and fans.”
■ CYCLING
Bossio takes stage seven
Gabriele Bosisio of LPR won the seventh stage of the Tour of Italy on Friday on a day when Giovanni Visconti retained the overall lead and Danilo di Luca and Riccardo Ricco went on the attack. The Italian riders had an impressive day in the saddle during the 176km mountain stage from Vasto to Pescocostanzo though Visconti had a tough time on the hardest climb about 20km from the finish line. Bosisio got away from his breakaway companions to win by 46 seconds from Belarussian Vasili Kiryienka with Italy’s Emanuele Sella third, just over a minute behind and who lost all chances of a stage victory following his puncture in the final section.
■ SOCCER
Cafu to quit AC Milan
Veteran Brazilian defender Cafu said on Friday he was quitting Italian giants AC Milan after six years with the club. “It is time to leave,” the 37-year-old Cafu, who moved to Milan from AS Roma in 2003, told Milan Television. “It’s sad, it’s tough but I knew that one day or another the time would come to go home to Brazil,” he said. “I don’t know whether I will continue to play or if I have stopped indefinitely. “Sunday [when AC Milan conclude their league season against Udinese at the San Siro] will be my last match here. I don’t know if the coach will pick me. But I am ready to play.” Cafu’s fellow Brazilian defender Serginho, 36, also said on Friday that he was leaving. “Due to problems with my back, I can’t get back to my best level,” Serginho said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely