■ SOCCER
Rooney ties the knot
England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was married to Coleen McLaughlin yesterday in the small Italian seaside town of Santa Margherita, the ANSA news agency reported. The vice mayor of the Liguria town conducted the ceremony at Villa Durazzo, a 17th-century villa nested in a park dominating the waterfront of the town. Bodyguards and local police held reporters and photographers at the gate of the villa as relatives and friends of the newlyweds arrived on two minibuses.
■ DOPING
WADA warns on gene cheats
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) wants to stay ahead of the game on gene doping. While there’s no hard evidence that athletes are doing it, WADA is concerned about the potential for gene doping — the illegal use of gene therapy, which typically alters a person’s DNA to fight diseases — to enhance performance. The agency used a conference in St Petersburg, Russia, on the issue to call on the worlds of sports and science to work together to raise awareness of the issue — and find ways to catch and punish anyone involved. While most experts do not think gene transfer is being misused by athletes yet, “we know that there is a growing interest in the sports world in the potential for gene doping,” WADA vice president Arne Ljungqvist said on Wednesday after the two-day symposium.
■ CYCLING
Australia unveils new bike
A new bicycle, designed with aerospace expertise, will give Australian cyclists the edge at this year’s Beijing Olympics, team organizers said in Melbourne yesterday. The “BT Blade” will be ridden by Australia’s track endurance cyclists in events including the individual and team pursuit, while sprint cyclists will use the “BT Stealth” variation, Cycling Australia said at the unveiling. Coach Martin Barras said the research and development of the bicycle would ensure Australia’s cyclists line up with the most technologically advanced bikes at the Olympics in August. Sal Sansonetti, a former Olympian and director of the company that developed the bike, said a huge amount of design, testing and experience went into the new bicycle.
■ RUGBY UNION
Carter re-signs on the quiet
Flyhalf Daniel Carter has joined All Blacks captain Richie McCaw in re-signing with the New Zealand Rugby Union through the 2011 World Cup, but may miss next season’s Super 14 while on a playing “sabbatical” in France. News of Carter’s signing emerged with little fanfare from the New Zealand union office in Wellington yesterday, contrasting with McCaw’s loudly trumpeted announcement last week. Carter had indicated his intention to sign a deal which will allow him to spend six months playing in France next year, probably under former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga at Toulon. That short stay in France, which will keep him out of New Zealand rugby from January to June, is expected to earn the 26-year-old Carter around NZ$1.4 million (US$1.04 million). Carter will play his 45th test for New Zealand against England at Auckland tomorrow.
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