A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Cricket Ireland's Kenya concerns

CRICKET: Cricket Ireland are maintaining a watching brief over the ongoing security situation in Kenya ahead of Ireland's tour to the country next month, writes Emmet Riordan.

Ireland are due to start their competitive season in the African nation, with a number of fixtures in the coastal city of Mombasa, including a four-day Intercontinental Cup clash and two one-day World Cup qualifier fixtures.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) updated their advice yesterday and advise against all travel within 150 miles of the Somali border because of “a high risk of kidnapping or attack”.

“Cricket Kenya got in touch with us over the matter, while I have talked to the ICC and am waiting for the latest update from the DFA,” Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom told The Irish Times last night.

“There’s still a bit of time before we have to make a decision.”

Callanan out of league campaign

GAELIC GAMES: Tipperary forward Séamus Callanan will miss the entire National Hurling League campaign with a serious ankle injury. It is understood the Drom Inch player went under the knife in Dublin yesterday to rectify the problem and will be ruled out of action for up to four months. That will leave a race against time to be fit for the Munster SHC quarter-final against Limerick at Semple Stadium on May 27th.

Djokovic and Wozniacki top billing

TENNIS: The seedings for this month's Australian Open have been released, with Novak Djokovic and Caroline Wozniacki receiving top billing.

Serbian Djokovic, after his superb 2011 season that saw him become world number one, tops the men’s side of the draw from Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, with Britain’s Andy Murray the fourth seed.

Spain’s David Ferrer is seeded fifth, ahead of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Wozniacki, who heads to Melbourne still searching for an elusive grand slam title and in danger of relinquishing her number one ranking to Czech Petra Kvitova, is the top women’s seed, with Kvitova second, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka third and Maria Sharapova fourth.

Britton to face the cream of Kenya

ATHLETICS:Fionnuala Britton now knows exactly who she needs to beat in Sunday's Seville International Cross Country in order to maintain her brilliant winning streak this season, writes Ian O'Riordan.

The starting list was confirmed last night and includes last year’s race-winner Vivian Cheruiyot from Kenya – who went on to win the 2011 World Cross Country, plus a sensational 5,000-10,000 metres double at the World Championships in Daegu. Cheruiyot will provide Britton with every indication of where she currently ranks against the all-conquering Africans, who were absent from the Great Edinburgh Cross Country last Saturday, and where Britton once again proved the runaway winner.

Also down to run on Sunday are the equally capable Kenyans Linet Masai, Priscah Jepleting and Pauline Kworiwang, plus former Moroccan Nadia Ejjafini, who now runs for Italy.

Browne denied by light winds

SAILING:Light winds off Napier, New Zealand, yesterday caused the cancellation of the final day of racing at the Optimist World Championships, ending the hopes of Tralee Bay Sailing Club's Sophie Browne of taking a top-10 finish in the 214-strong fleet, writes David Branigan.

The 14-year old was the only Irish sailor taking part this year and had been placed as high as seventh during the regatta. She placed fourth in Saturday’s first race of the day and followed this with a 14th before slipping to 42nd in what was to be the last race of the series.

She placed 13th overall for the prestigious series while Singapore’s Kimberly Lim won the overall, with her country also lifting the team prize.

Harrison rejects US website allegations

SWIMMING: Derry swimmer Ryan Harrison has rejected allegations made about him on an American swimming website over the weekend and insists he has never tested positive for a banned substance, writes Malachy Clerkin.

Harrison, the Irish record holder in the 100 metres, 200m and 400m freestyle events, has been suspended from competing for the University of Tennessee’s swim team for the rest of the season for a violation of team rules.

“During my time at UT,” said Harrison, “I have never tested positive for any illegal substances and have taken many drug tests for the university, just like any other student athlete.”

Peter Banks, the high performance director for Irish swimming, last night told The Irish Times that he had spoken to Harrison who had assured him the suspension was linked to his academic performance.

Like all US colleges, UT requires that its students on athletic scholarships maintain a certain level of grades if they are to compete for the college. Harrison maintains that this is the reason behind his removal from the team.

“I sat down with Ryan over Christmas when he was at home,” said Banks. “He told me he was having difficulties maintaining the grades and requirements that you need to be eligible to compete.”