A round-up of today's sports news in brief
Guilty Beltran told to pay up:CYCLING: Spanish cyclist Manuel Beltran has been ordered to pay €100,000 in compensation plus legal costs to his former Lipuigas team after testing positive for EPO at the Tour de France two years ago.
Liquigas were awarded the sum by an Italian Cycling Federation tribunal to become the first cycling team to win damages from a rider for doping.
“We are really pleased with this decision,” said Liquigas president Paolo Dal Lago.
Pengfei through to face O'Sullivan
SNOOKER:China's Tian Pengfei set up a clash with Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first round of the Sanyuan Foods China Open by knocking out Mark Davis in the wild-card stage.
Davis, 37, has qualified for next month’s Betfred.com World Championship and won December’s non-ranking Six-Red World Championship event.
He produced a career-best break of 143 against Tian but lost the match 5-4 to his 22-year-old opponent, who goes on to take on O’Sullivan tomorrow.
Chinese teenager Liu Chuang hammered England’s Rory McLeod 5-0 to set up a clash with 2008 Crucible finalist Ali Carter.
Sheffield-based Liu (19), who qualified for the World Championship last year, made a break of 104 in the opening frame and restricted McLeod to just 42 points in the entire match.
Katich helps Australia take control
CRICKET:Simon Katich ground out a century as Australia ended day three of the second Test against New Zealand in a dominant position.
Katich (106) combined in a stand of 155 with Michael Hussey (67) as the tourists, who lead the two-match series 1-0, reached 333 for four at stumps in Hamilton for a lead of exactly 300.
New Zealand twice threatened to exert some control with Tim Southee in the morning and Brent Arnel in the evening each claiming two quick wickets, but they could not build on their breakthroughs.
With Australia resuming their second innings on 35 without loss, Katich eliminated almost all scoring shots in the morning session, leaving opening partner Shane Watson to keep the runs ticking over.
Their partnership reached 50 on the stroke of lunch, with Katich on just 48 from 175 balls. Katich later took a liking to Chris Martin’s bowling and four boundaries in three overs took him past 100.
Owner disqualified and fined for assaulting Fallon
HORSE RACING:An angry owner who attacked former champion jockey Kieren Fallon after a race at Lingfield Park was fined £10,000 pounds and disqualified for three months by the British Horseracing Authority yesterday.
David Reynolds, co-owner of beaten favourite The Scorching Wind, assaulted the Irishman in the unsaddling enclosure following the race on March 20th.
Fallon had finished last of 10 runners on Elna Bright for trainer Brett Johnson and owner Peter Crate in the race. The Scorching Wind was second last.
Following the incident Reynolds appeared in front of the raceday stewards who reported he admitted assaulting Fallon, as well as being involved in a fracas with Johnson and Crate. Fallon went on to complete his remaining rides at Lingfield following the altercation.
The BHA statement said Reynolds had admitted “violent conduct and acting in a manner prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of British horse racing”.
Hopes high for Irish medal haul
BOXING:Irish coach Jim Moore has expressed confidence that Ireland's young boxers can win at least three medals at the AIBA World Youth Championships which begin in Baku, Azerbaijan on April 23rd.
Moore yesterday named a seven- strong squad for the tournament which will act as the only qualifier for August’s inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
World junior champ Joe Ward, who says he can’t wait to get in the ring in Baku, Ryan Burnett, Chris Phelan, Glen Holmes, Michael O’Reilly, Chris Blaney and Christy Joyce make up the squad.
Ireland won one gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the 2008 World Youth Championships in Mexico, courtesy of podium finishes for Ray Moylette, Jamie Kavanagh, Tommy McCarthy and David Joyce.
Moore has every confidence in the class of 2010, who go into a training camp in Baku on April 10. In order the qualify for the Youth Olympic Games, boxers have to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.
