WINTER OLYMPICS: Shamed cross-country skiers Johann Muehlegg and Larisa Lazutina found support from national sports officials yesterday despite a crescendo of criticism at home and abroad after they failed Winter Olympics drugs tests.
Spanish officials are insisting that Muehlegg's failed test and loss of his third gold medal at the Winter Olympics should not distract from the previous achievements of the German-born cross-country skier.
Russian Larisa Lazutina, who was stripped of gold in the 30 km classical race after testing positive for the same substance, darbepoetin, plans to appeal and is being backed by national Olympic chiefs.
CRICKET: The death occurred in his native Limerick over the weekend of Ronnie Lawlor, who had served with both the Munster Cricket Union (MCU) and the Irish Cricket Union (ICU) for many years. He had been ill since last summer.
FENCING: German-based Siobhan Byrne (17), has moved from 12th to fifth in the World Junior Rankings after finishing second in Junior World Cup event in Women's Sabre at Dourdan, France on Sunday. n HOCKEY: St Andrews set up a semi-final meeting with Mount Anville at Grange Road tomorrow (3 p.m.) after beating Wesley College 4-3 on penalty strokes in the replay of their Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-final yesterday.
HANDBALL: DIT's Dessie Keegan (20) won the men's open singles at the US Collegiate Championships on Sunday night, beating number one seed, Brad Alesi of Texas A&M University at College Station, Texas, where the championships were hosted. The score was 21-6, 21-7.
