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■ THUMBS

Pompey dismiss speculation

The English Premier League (EPL) has dismissed suggestions that Portsmouth are effectively controlled by Arkadi Gaydamak, father of the club’s owner Alexandre. Newspaper reports in Israel had claimed that Israel-based Arkadi Gaydamak was effectively in charge at Fratton Park. But the EPL said in a statement that it had no reason to question Alexandre Gaydamak’s ownership of the club. The question of Gaydamak senior being effectively in charge is an issue because the EPL requires that club owners and directors pass a “fit and proper persons” test. Arkadi Gaydamak, the owner of Israeli champions Beitar Jerusalem, has been the subject of an arrest warrant by French authorities keen to question him in connection with allegedly illicit arms trading to Angola in the 1990s.



■ TENNIS

Armed robbers attack star

Argentine player Guillermo Canas was robbed in the early hours of Tuesday as he left his parents’ house in the La Matanza suburb of Buenos Aires. Two armed attackers — who reportedly did not recognize Canas — threatened the player and took one racket he was carrying, along with his identity documents, credit cards, some cash and a chain he wore. They fled in Canas’ convertible. Over the weekend, the tennis player had been part of the Argentine team that beat Russia in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup in Buenos Aires.



■ SOCCER

Lyon won’t sell cheap

Lyon have slapped a 100 million euro (US$147 million) price tag on France international starlet Karim Benzema, according to club president Jean-Michel Aulas on Tuesday. The 20-year-old, voted last year’s player of the year, has got off to a flyer again this season, netting five times to top the French first division’s goalscoring chart. His cool and intelligent 85th minute goal against Fiorentina last week earned Lyon a vital Champions League point, and saved French blushes in the tournament after both Bordeaux and Marseille were defeated. “We have signed a contract with him until 2013, with a get-out clause of 100 million euros,” said Aulas, adding that Benzema was integral to their bid for Champions League glory, a tournament in which they have never progressed past the last 16. Benzema has attracted interest from a host of top European clubs, and has been linked with a move to Manchester United. Since last year he has become a permanent fixture in France coach Raymond Domenech’s plans, featuring in their Euro 2008 championship campaign.



■ ATHLETICS

Kenyan runner banned

Kenyan 400m runner Elizabeth Muthoka has been banned for two years after testing positive for the prohibited drug nandrolone, Athletics Kenya (AK) officials said on Tuesday. Muthoka, who qualified for the Beijing Olympics as the only woman sprinter in the Kenyan team, was dropped after failing the dope test at the national championships in Nairobi in June. AK secretary David Okeyo said six athletes including Muthoka were tested during the championships but only the sample belonging to the 24-year-old, who set a new 400m national record, returned positive. “Muthoka accepted she took the drug to lower the blood hemoglobin,” Okeyo told reporters. The offense is punishable with a minimum two-year ban. The Kenya Prisons athlete clocked 51.53 seconds to break the national 400m record set at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics by Ruth Waithera.



■ ATHLETICS

Russian racewalkers banned

Five Russian racewalkers, including the 20km world record holder Sergei Morozov, were suspended for two years after testing positive for EPO, the Russian athletics federation (RAF) said on Tuesday. Morozov, Vladimir Kanaikin, Viktor Burayev, Alexei Voevodin and Igor Yerokhin tested for the banned blood booster in out of competition controls on April 20 and July 29, RAF secretary-general Valdimir Usachyov told news agency All Sport. In the run-up to the Beijing Games Russian athletics was rocked when racewalkers, Kanaikin and Valery Borchin were thrown off the Olympic team after failing a doping control.



■ BASKETBALL

Shock and Sparks advance

The Detroit Shock advanced to the WNBA Eastern Conference finals for the third straight year with an 80-61 victory over the Indiana Fever in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on Tuesday. Deanna Nolan scored 21 points and Katie Smith added 15 for Detroit, which led by as many as 31 points in the first half to clinch an easy victory in the deciding third game of their series against Indiana. Detroit will face New York in the conference finals, with Game 1 tomorrow in New York. In Seattle, the Los Angeles Sparks advanced to the Western Conference finals with a 71-64 win over the Seattle Storm. Candace Parker scored 20 points, including a key layup with two minutes left, for Los Angeles. Los Angeles will host San Antonio in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals today.



■ BASKETBALL

Donaghy reports to prison

Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy reported to a federal prison camp on Tuesday to begin his 15-month sentence in a gambling scandal. Donaghy’s attorney, John Lauro, said his client was at the Saufley Field minimum-security prison in Florida. A New York judge sentenced Donaghy in July after the 41-year-old referee said he took thousands of dollars from a professional gambler in exchange for inside tips on games — including games he worked. Donaghy said he was a gambling addict who needs treatment, not incarceration. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce in the tips-for-payoffs scheme.



■ BASEBALL

Player gets 50-game ban

Atlanta Braves minor league pitcher Matthew Small was suspended for 50 games on Tuesday after testing positive for a banned amphetamine. The penalty will take effect at the start of next season. The 20-year-old righty was 1-2 with a 2.55 ERA this year in 13 relief appearances with Danville of the Appalachian Rookie League. There have been 66 suspensions this year under the minor league program and two under the major league program.



■ PARACHUTING

German falls to his death

A German skydiver whose parachute failed to open has plunged to his death through the roof of an apartment building in the southwestern German town of Ludwigsburg, police said on Tuesday. Police said the 35-year-old parachutist with 17 years of experience was killed instantly. He left a gaping hole in the roof and crashed into a bedroom below, but missed the occupant of the apartment, who was in another room. The man had jumped out of a light aircraft on Sunday with four others, all planning to land at a nearby air show. “He tried using his emergency parachute, but didn’t have enough time,” the police spokesman said.


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