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Sport Briefs

■ FORMULA ONE

Alsonso mourns victims

Fernando Alonso is to wear a black armband as a sign of respect for the dead following Wednesday’s air crash in Madrid at tomorrow’s European Grand Prix in Valencia. “It will definitely change the weekend for me, because it’s a tragedy — what has happened. All the Spanish people are in shock and I am too. It’s probably the saddest approach to a weekend I have had. I will wear a black armband and I will talk with the [other] drivers tomorrow. Maybe we can do something before starting — maybe one minute’s silence in the pit-lane.” The European race was set up as the event that would complete Spain’s sporting celebrations following successes in soccer, cycling and tennis. Instead, the country has begun a three day period of national mourning.

■ SOCCER

Irish legend in hospital

Ireland assistant manager Liam Brady was taken to a hospital in Dublin early on Thursday with back and chest pains. The Irish soccer association said Brady was “in a stable and comfortable condition in the coronary care unit of Beaumont hospital. Liam will remain under observation overnight,” the association said. “We all wish Liam a full and speedy recovery.” The 52-year-old former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder had just returned to Dublin from Oslo following Ireland’s friendly with Norway on Wednesday.

■ CRICKET

Harmison un-retires

England fast bowler Steve Harmison was set to play in the one-day series against South Africa, which started yesterday, reversing a decision of two years ago to retire from one-day internationals. The 29-year-old quit one-day cricket following the 2006-20007 Ashes series to spend more time with his family. But the Northumberland born player has agreed to come out of retirement following an approach by England staff including new skipper Kevin Pietersen. Harmison will replace Ryan Sidebottom, who has failed to recover from a hip injury. England remain hopeful Sidebottom will be fit for the second match in the series at Trent Bridge on Tuesday, but for the time being they are welcoming the return of Harmison.

■ SOCCER

Defender undergoing tests

Valenciennes defender David Sommeil was undergoing hospital tests after collapsing following a training session this week, a news report said on Thursday. A defibrillator was used on the 34-year-old at the team’s training center on Wednesday, but the team insisted his heart never stopped, L’Equipe sports daily said on its Internet site. He was then moved to a cardiac care unit and was under sedation. Marc Chasselat, the team’s doctor, was quoted as saying that tests on Thursday found no problems in Sommeil’s heart and arteries. He added that neurological tests were ongoing, but that “for the moment, there is no sign of any spot in his brain having especially suffered.”

■ BASEBALL

Mariners pitcher suspended

Seattle Mariners minor league player Jorge Sosa was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday after testing positive for an amphetamine. The pitcher violated the minor league drug prevention and treatment program, the baseball commissioner’s office said in a statement. The right-hander was 4-1 with a 7.06 ERA in 20 games for the New York Mets this season before being released in May. He signed with the Mariners on July 25 and was assigned to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League.