■CYCLING
Ricco’s partner tests positive
Riccardo Ricco’s partner, Vania Rossi, has tested positive for doping. The Italian Olympic Committee said on Friday that the blood-booster CERA was found in Rossi’s system after she finished second in the Italian cyclecross championships on Jan. 10 in Segrate, near Milan. It’s the same substance Ricco was caught using at the 2008 Tour de France after winning two mountain stages. The couple had a son, Alberto, born in July. Ricco’s 20-month ban is set to expire on March 19. “This persistent behavior by certain athletes who attempt to evade the rules is unbelievable, especially considering the continual and constant controls that we perform,” Italian cycling federation president Renato Di Rocco said.
■CRICKET
Aussies win Cup final
Australia’s next generation of cricketers proved they are primed to make it to the top when they won the under-19 World Cup yesterday, beating Pakistan by 25 runs in the final. In a four-over burst they ripped out the Pakistan tail at Lincoln Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand, to become the first country to claim the crown three times. After being sent into bat first, Australia posted 207 for the loss of nine wickets, with Kane Richardson notching up a rapid 44, Tim Armstrong adding 37 and Jason Floros 35. The match appeared evenly poised when Pakistan, two-times winner of the tournament, started the 43rd over of their reply needing 51 runs with four wickets in hand, but the collapse started when offspinner Floros bowled Pakistan captain Azeem Ghumman for 41. It was Floros’ sole wicket in the final, but provided an important breakthrough as the remaining three Pakistan wickets tumbled within four overs for the addition of only 26 more runs.
■RALLYING
Raikkonen crashes into drift
Former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen crashed into a drift of snow on Friday in his debut on the rally circuit and trailed by more than 30 minutes after the first day of racing. Raikkonen was just 5.5 seconds behind leader Dani Sordo after the first stage of the Arctic Lapland Rally, but then went off the road during the second stage and needed help to pull the car out of the snow. The Finnish former Ferrari driver and co-pilot Kai Lindstrom escaped unhurt, but needed repairs to the car before continuing. Raikkonen then finished second to Sordo on three of the four remaining stages on the snowy, icy roads in northern Finland, but remained more than 30 minutes behind in the overall standings. Sordo led by 1 minute, 3.7 seconds ahead of Juha Salo of Finland after six of 12 stages.
■BOXING
Shumenov claims WBA title
Kazakhstan’s Beibut Shumenov set a boxing record on Friday by winning the WBA light heavyweight title in just his 10th professional bout, outpointing Spain’s Gabriel Campillo in a split-decision. Shumenov’s effort outdid Michael Spinks, who held the previous mark by winning a championship in his 17th professional fight. The scorecards revealed a peculiar discrepancy. Judge Levi Martinez scored the fight strongly in favor of Campillo (117-111), while both other judges went for Shumenov — Jerry Roth had it 115-113, while Particia Morse Jarman scored the fight 117-111. Shumenov started strongly, controlling the action in the early rounds, before Campillo rallied in the middle rounds. “I’m not surprised by the decision,” Shumenov said. “I had the better trainer and he told me what to do to win. This win is for my friends and family back in Kazakhstan.”
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