Sports Digest/Doping in sportThe British government has been urged to strengthen its stance against doping in sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). On the day the British Olympic Association (BOA) announced the formation of a commission into anti-doping, the chairman of the IOC's medical commission, Prof Arne Ljungqvist, said the British government should make doping a criminal offence.
He said stringent measures should be put in place to make sure London 2012 is a clean games. Some European countries, such as Italy, have already criminalised doping.
"Doping is unacceptable, a social crime," Ljungqvist said. "A coming host of an Olympic Games should show a good example here."
Earlier this year a cross-party committee of British MPs accused the government and UK Sport of "complacency" in putting into place rigorous measures to catch drugs cheats. Their report called for automatic four-year bans and recommended that an independent body be put in charge of national doping controls, rather than UK Sport, the government agency that currently deals with it.
Yesterday, UK Sport criticised the formation of the BOA's anti-doping commission which has Ljungqvist on its panel. John Steele, chief executive of UK Sport, said his agency should be left alone to concentrate on the fight against doping.
Formula OneFormula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has agreed to keep the French Grand Prix on the calendar next year at Magny-Cours, a spokesman for French prime minister Francois Fillon said yesterday.
"He (Ecclestone) agreed in principle to maintain the race at Magny-Cours in 2008, and even 2009, if there were no other alternative," the spokesman said.
The Magny-Cours circuit near Nevers in the heart of rural France has suffered from weak attendances due in part to poor access, insufficient accommodation and the dearth of French drivers and sponsors.
Ecclestone said this year he would prefer a venue nearer to Paris, and added: "There is no future for Magny-Cours, 2007 will be the last race at this circuit."
SailingProgress in the Laser 4.7 European Championships continued on Dublin Bay yesterday as the 262-boat fleet enjoyed breezy conditions at the mid-point of the six-day series, writes David Branigan.
Italy's Serena de Luca leads the women's championship while the men's event continues to be dominated by Russians. It is still in the classification stage. By tomorrow, the 202 competitors will be split into gold and silver fleets for the finals.
Yan Chekh has the overall lead as best of the four groups with low score for the six races sailed to date.
Best of the Irish yesterday was Cork's Katie Tingle who scored a third place.
AthleticsIreland have won another medal at the European Youth Olympics, being staged in Belgrade, with Niamh Whelan last night taking the bronze medal in the 100 metres, writes Ian O'Riordan.
Her time of 11.87 was a personal best, and not far off Russia's impressive winner Elza Vildanova, who ran 11.69.
On Monday Noel Collins won the silver medal in the 2,000 metres steeplechase.
The 16-year-old battled against 42 degree heat to take second place in the highly- competitive final. A member of the Omagh Harriers club in Tyrone, Collins finished in a time of 5.52.06, which smashed his PB by 14 seconds.
This is Ireland's third medal of the championships following the success of swimmer Gráinne Murphy, who won bronze in the final of the 400 metre freestyle.
SoccerA 14th-minute goal from Billy Sharp was enough to give Sheffield United victory over Longford Town as Bryan Robson's new-look side made a first visit to a League of Ireland club.
The crowd of 2,000 were not disappointed with the home team - however, Robson will be disappointed that his side failed to have a single shot on target in the second half.
The visitors got off to the perfect start. After soaking up some typical underdog pressure, they hit the front in the 14th minute. Keith Gillespie's cross was directed towards Billy Sharp, and his fine header sailed past goalkeeper Shay Kelly.
LONGFORD TOWN:Kelly (Dempsey 45); Sullivan, Prunty, Brennan, O'Riordan (Kelly 66); Martin (Doherty), Freeman (Lynch 87), Deegan, Duffy (Wexler 79); Baker (Reilly 79), Mooney (James 66).
SHEFFIELD UTD:Bennett; Bromby, Kilgallon, Lucketti, Armstrong; Shelton, Quinn (Ledgertwood 64), Ashmore, Gillespie; Horsfield (Naysmith 67), Sharp.
Referee: R Winter(Wicklow).
