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■ SOCCER

Players in match-fixing probe

Four Livorno players and an Atalanta player will face a disciplinary commission in a Serie A match-fixing probe, the Italian soccer federation said on Friday. The federation said that two games were being probed — a 1-1 draw on Dec. 23 between the clubs and a 3-2 victory by Atalanta over Livorno on May 4. Ordered to face the judgment of the disciplinary commission were David Balleri, Livorno’s captain, and three other Livorno players, brothers Emanuele and Antonio Filippini and Alessandro Grandoni. Atalanta captain Gian Paolo Bellini will also face the disciplinary body, the federation said. Balleri and Bellini were investigated by the federation for alleged match-fixing in both games, while the other three players were probed for allegedly having failed to inform federation authorities about the alleged fixing of the May match.

■ BOXING

Calzaghe eyes Jones Jr bout

Joe Calzaghe has relinquished his WBC super-middleweight title to set up a potential fight against Roy Jones Jr for the light heavyweight belt, the British Boxing Board of Control said on Friday. The 36-year-old Calzaghe, who went to light heavyweight level to defeat Bernard Hopkins in April, hopes to fight Jones Jr in September. If he had kept the super-middleweight title, the Welshman would have been obligated to defend it against British fighter Carl Froch. Froch will now face Jermain Taylor for the super-middleweight title later this year.

■ FORMULA ONE

Silverstone loses Grand Prix

The British Grand Prix is leaving Silverstone and moving to Donington Park in 2010. Having staged the race annually since 1987, Silverstone will hold the event for maybe the last time next year and then hand it over to a circuit some 100km away in central England. FIA president Max Mosley and Formula One Manufacturers president Bernie Ecclestone announced on Friday that major development work at Donington and the lack of funding for improving Silverstone had forced the sport’s world governing body to move the Grand Prix and safeguard the future of the race.

■ SOCCER

Coupet signs for Atletico

Spain’s Atletico Madrid on Friday signed French international goalkeeper Gregory Coupet from Lyon for 1.5 million euros (US$2.35 million), Lyon announced. Coupet, 35, had been set to sign last week following talks, but the move hit a hitch over the fee. Coupet had a clause in his Lyon contract running to 2010 allowing him to leave Lyon, with whom he has won seven straight league titles, for 3 million euros, but the Spanish finally got their man for less. Atletico will pay an extra 500,000 euros if Coupet helps them qualify for the Champions League in the next two seasons. This year they will participate in the final qualifying round of the competition.

■ SOCCER

Peru shortens players’ ban

Peruvian soccer federation officials have shortened a ban on three of the national squads top players — including Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro — paving the way for their return as early as next week. Pizarro, forward Jefferson Farfan — a new signing for Germany’s Schalke 04 — and Santiago Acasiete of Almeria, were slapped with an 18-month suspension in March for allegedly drinking alcohol and having a party in a luxury hotel in Lima, three days before Peru lost to Ecuador 5-1 in 2010 World Cup qualifiers last year.
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