A roundup of today's other sports news in brief:
Rematch ordered
BOXING: The British Boxing Board of Control have ordered a rematch of John McDermott's English heavyweight title loss to Tyson Fury on September 11th.
However, Fury will fight as holder of the belt after the board stood by the original result while referee Terry O’Connor has not been demoted despite being roundly criticised for giving Fury the victory.
Renault appoint Bell after scandal
MOTOR SPORT: Bob Bell has been appointed Renault's acting team principal for the remainder of the Formula One season in the wake of the Singapore race-fixing scandal.
Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds resigned from their positions as team boss and executive director of engineering after an internal investigation found them complicit in the conspiracy that led to Nelson Piquet Jr crashing his car in last year’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Names such as Alain Prost and Olivier Quesnel, currently director of both Citroen Sport in the World Rally Championship and Peugeot Sport in endurance racing, had been mentioned as successors to Briatore.
But with Renault needing to take a more considered view on the matter, and recognising the need to have a senior figure in charge for this weekend’s return to Singapore, Bell has stepped up from his position as technical director on a temporary basis.
A Renault statement confirmed: “Following the unfortunate recent events, the Renault F1 Team has reacted swiftly by implementing a new temporary management team structure.”
Nadal and Federer could meet in Davis Cup match
TENNIS: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer could go head-to-head in the first round of next year's Davis Cup after Spain were drawn to face Switzerland in the first round of the World Group yesterday.
The Czech Republic, who will meet Spain in this year’s final of the team event, face Belgium while India, back in the elite 16-strong World Group for the first since 1998, have been handed a tough opener in Russia. Argentina travel to Sweden while the United States have been drawn away to Serbia. Israel, beaten by Spain in the semi-finals last week, tackle Chile.
Federer recovered from his shock defeat against Argentinas Juan Martin del Potro in the US Open final to win both his singles in Switzerlands 3-2 defeat of Italy in a World Group play-off last weekend.
The 15-times grand slam champion has never faced Nadal in Davis Cup action and the prospect of facing the Mallorcan in Spain could persuade Federer to make himself available for the first round in March.
Ireland get tough draw
EQUESTRIAN: Ireland have been drawn badly in the team competition at the senior European eventing championships in Fontainebleau with the four riders entering the dressage arena after competitors from two of the strongest nations, Germany and Britain, writes Margie McCloone.
The championships get under way this morning at 10am local time with Sacha Pemble and I’ve Been Dun due to start at 10.28am. Ciarán Glynn, riding as an individual on the home-bred mare Killossery Kruisita, will perform his test at 11.52am while team member Sam Watson, on another family-bred horse, Horseware Bushman, competes at 2.35pm.
Ireland’s second individual at the championships, Michael Ryan is third into the arena with Old Road at 10.14am on Friday while his wife Patricia, who is on the team with Fernhill Clover Mist, competes at 11.33am. Elizabeth Power, on the thoroughbred Kilpatrick River, will be the fourth last rider to come before the ground jury at 4.07pm.
Tyson fails to dip under 10 seconds
ATHLETICS: Tyson Gay claimed another 100 metres victory but failed to dip under 10 seconds at the Kawasaki Grand Prix meeting in Japan. Gay set a new United States record of 9.69 seconds on Sunday but yesterday could only manage a time of 10.13, despite having the wind at his back.
Gay will compete at the Daegu Grand Prix in South Koreathis weekend.
TWO-TIMEworld champion Jaouad Gharib and Kenya's James Kwambai have been added to the line-up for the 2009 New York City Marathon on November 1st.
The men’s field includes defending champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos, former winners Hendrick Ramaala, Paul Tergat and Martin Lel, world half-marathon runner-up Patrick Makau and Irish Olympian Martin Fagan.
Ireland hammered 6-1 by France
MEN'S HOCKEY: Ireland received a reality check from France in their first warm-up game for November's World Cup qualifiers as they were hammered 6-1 in Paris last night.
Three French goals between the 18th and 21st minute undid a decent Irish start before Eugene Magee got Ireland’s only goal of the game from a 24th minute drag-flick.
France, though, offered little mercy making it 6-1 with a pair of goals inside 60 seconds to complete the rout with half an hour still to play.
It was Ireland’s first game since lifting the EuroHockey Nations Trophy in early August as Paul Revington looks to build his panel for the World Cup qualifiers.
