A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Top Russian admits to doping offence
Denis Galimzyanov has admitted to doping after testing positive for the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO), the Russian rider said in a letter to his Katusha team yesterday.
Galimzyanov, Russia’s top sprinter, failed an out-of-competition test last month and he could now face a two-year ban from the sport. He was provisionally suspended by the International Cycling Union (UCI) on Monday and now looks set to miss the Olympic Games in London.
“I recognize a fact of banned substance usage,” he said in a letter published by Katusha. “I would like to draw particular attention to the fact that Team Katusha has nothing to do with what happened. No team member knew and could know about what I did. It was my personal decision and my responsibility. I refuse my right to request and attend the analysis of my B sample,” he added. Galimzyanov is now expected to be fired by Katusha.
Routine win eases Murray into third round in Monte Carlo
Third seed Andy Murray made short work of booking his place in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday courtesy of a routine victory over Serbia’s Viktor Troicki.
Murray, who received a first-round bye, got his clay-court season off to a perfect start with a straight-sets 6-0 6-3 win over the world number 30 in just 67 minutes.
The world number four will meet either Julien Benneteau or Jurgen Melzer in the next round.
Also progressing into the third round was 13th-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, who came from a set down to see off Croatia’s Ivan Dodig 3-6 6-3 6-1.
Next up for Verdasco is a meeting with Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who defeated Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2 6-4.
In first round action, Andreas Seppi saw off Victor Hanescu 6-3 6-1 to set up a meeting with world number one, Novak Djokovic.
Kerry prove too strong for Déise
Kerry fashioned a 1-14 to 1-3 victory against Waterford in the Munster minor football championship losers group at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, last night.
Kerry dominated the opening half and led 1-7 to 0-0 at the interval. But Waterford mounted a vigorous second half recovery and a goal from the spot by Ryan Donnelly cut the gap to just six after 40 minutes.
But Kerry upped the ante and landed five unanswered points to seal the win.
KERRY:G Curran; C Ó Luing, G Crowley, S O'Connor; B Crowley, R Murphy, J Barry; E Ó Conchuir, K Murphy (0-3); N Sheehy (0-2, 0-1 free), J Savage (0-6), C Fitzgerald; K McCarthy (0-1), D Daly (0-1), C Keane (1-1). Subs: A Spillane for Fitzgerald (26 mins); G O'Shea for McCarthy (half-time); S Moloney for Barry (half-time); G Horan for Ó Luing (33 mins); A Barry for Sheehy (57 mins).
WATERFORD:A Kirwan; C Burke, J O'Donnell, B Looby; S O'Donovan, T Burke, J Barron; T Devine, M Kiely; A O'Donoghue, M Curry (0-1), P O'Connor; C Gleeson, L Houlihan (0-1), R Donnelly (1-1, 1-0 pen, 0-1 free). Subs: S Halley for C Burke (40 mins); M Casey for O'Donoghue (48 mins); M Troy for Houlihan (54 mins); D Scanlon for Kiely (58 mins).
Referee: K Murphy (Cork).
Hamilton seemingly back in the groove with McLaren
Lewis Hamilton has given his clearest hint yet that he intends to sign a new contract with McLaren – but has reiterated, once again, that he is in no rush to put pen to paper.
Hamilton’s current five-year McLaren deal expires at the end of this year and his future became a frequent topic of last season when his apparent frustration seemingly threatened to boil over into a divorce from the team.
A sortie into the Red Bull hospitality tent at Montreal fuelled speculation that the 2008 World Champion could jump ship. But, speaking in Shanghai on Sunday night after his third successive podium finish, Hamilton sounded like a man who once again feels at home inside the McLaren enclave.
“Everything is better this year,” Hamilton said. “The team is better, the car is better, I am a lot better . . . Things are great and that’s reflected in my performances.”
Cleverly cancels title defence due to viral infection
Nathan Cleverly has been forced to pull out of his WBO light-heavyweight title defence next weekend because of a viral infection.
The Welshman was due to face Robin Krasniqi at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Saturday, April 28, but his management company Frank Warren Promotions confirmed he has been unable to train for this fight, which would have been the fourth defence of his crown.
Billy Joe Saunders’ fight for the vacant English middleweight title against Tony Hill will now move to joint top of the Albert Hall bill alongside the British lightweight title eliminator between Sam Webb and Matthew Hall.
