Sun, Apr 22, 2007 page23

• Sports Briefs

  • AGENCIES
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  ■ Baseball
  Pitcher gets long suspension

  Minnesota Twins pitcher Anthony Swarzak was suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a drug of abuse under Major League baseball's minor league testing program on Friday. The 21-year-old right-hander was 0-2 with an 11.12 ERA in one start and one relief appearance over 5 2-3 innings this season for New Britain of the Double-A Eastern League. He is the fourth minor leaguer suspended under the drug program this year, the second for a drug of abuse. There were 37 suspensions under the program last year -- 32 for performance-enhancing drugs and five for drugs of abuse.

  ■ Rugby Union

  All Black to join Saracens

  All Blacks lock Chris Jack will join English club Saracens after this year's Rugby World Cup, the latest in a growing line of top players to quit New Zealand for clubs overseas. Jack, 28, told a news conference yesterday that he was reluctant to leave New Zealand but had to put his wife and family first. He joined other departing All Blacks in saying payments offered by British clubs were irresistible. Jack has played 57 Tests for the All Blacks since 2001 and has been seen as a key figure in New Zealand's recent international successes. His departure follows that last week of All Blacks prop Carl Hayman, who has signed with the Newcastle Falcons in England.

  ■ Soccer

  Moyes sues Rooney

  Wayne Rooney was sued on Friday by Everton manager David Moyes for libel over comments in his autobiography. Moyes is suing the England striker after he said in My Story So Far that the manager was overbearing, controlling and ultimately responsible for the player's move from Everton to Manchester United in 2004. In the book, Rooney claims he told Moyes he wanted to leave Everton after a newspaper alleged he had used prostitutes. Rooney then suggested Moyes leaked details of the conversation to the Liverpool Echo newspaper, which led Rooney to quit the club he had supported from childhood. Moyes has started libel proceedings against the book's author, Hunter Davies, and publishers Harper Collins.

  ■ Soccer

  Ticketless fans warned

  Greece's police chief urged English soccer fans not to travel to Athens for the Champions League final on May 23 unless they have a ticket. About 20,000 officers will be deployed from greater Athens and other cities for the match in security measures similar to those used for the 2004 Olympics. One English team is guaranteed to play the final. In the semi-finals, Liverpool face Chelsea and Manchester United play AC Milan. Security cameras at the Olympic Stadium will be upgraded for the final. Greek officers are working with British and Italian law enforcement agencies for the game.

  ■ Cycling

  Leipheimer wins again

  Levi Leipheimer surged to the top of Brasstown Bald to capture his second straight stage victory in the Tour de Georgia, while Janez Brajkovic remained the overall leader on Friday. Leipheimer, an American riding for the Discovery Channel team, covered the 172km course through mountainous north Georgia in 4 hours, 33 minutes and 33 seconds. Teammate Tom Danielson finished second 38 seconds back. Brajkovic, a Slovenian who also rides for Discovery Channel, led the US' Christian Vandevelde of Team CSC by 12 seconds in the overall standings.
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