Andy Powell removed from Wales squad

Wales have dropped Andy Powell from the national squad following his drink-drive charge after an alleged golf buggy incident.

The back-row was arrested with another man at 0540 GMT on Sunday at services off junction 33 of the M4 near the team hotel in the Vale of Glamorgan.

That was hours after he played in the dramatic 31-24 win over Scotland.

Wales team manager Alan Phillips said: “This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated.”

Phillips revealed Powell has apologised to Wales’ management and was also asked to apologise to the hotel management before being asked to leave the squad.

A Welsh Rugby Union statement read: “After discussions with the player himself, it has been decided by management that he should be suspended from the squad for behaviour contrary to the squad’s code of conduct.”
… Continue Reading

Togo head home as Africa Cup of Nations gets under way

Venue and dates: Angola, 10-31 January Coverage: Final and semi-finals live on BBC TV, BBC World Service and commentaries on BBC Sport website. Live commentary on opening match on BBC World Service and BBC Sport website

Togo’s footballers flew home from the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday as the tournament got under way in Angola.

The players had been keen to stay but Togo president Faure Gnassingbe urged them to withdraw after Friday’s gun attack which killed three people.

Three days of mourning for the dead and injured have been declared in Togo.

As he boarded the plane in Cabinda, Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor said: “We have to mourn our dead. We go back home to do this.”

The attack on Togo’s convoy as it crossed from the Republic of Congo into the northern enclave of Cabinda killed an assistant coach, press officer and bus driver, and injured several other players.

Togo’s government insisted its players return home from the tournament because of security fears, but reports claimed negotiations were ongoing throughout Sunday.

But as the opening match between Angola and Mali kicked off at 1900 GMT, the Togo team were heading for the airport, and their flight to Lome took off at 2040.
… Continue Reading

Michael Schumacher targets eighth Formula 1 title

Michael Schumacher says he intends to crown his Formula 1 comeback by challenging for the 2010 title.

The seven-time champion announced his return for 2010 on Wednesday with Mercedes, the renamed Brawn GP team.

Despite three years out of the sport, he insists he can threaten the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button – the 2008 and 2009 world champions.

“I have won the title seven times and the team won both titles last year, so what do you expect,” said the German.

Schumacher, who turns 41 on 3 January, added: “Now Mercedes are team owners you cannot expect anything else other than the world title. That is what we aim for but we have to deliver and that is our job.

“Honestly I can’t wait until 1 February when we will officially run the car.”

Schumacher retired in 2006 after competing in 250 grands prix, 180 of them for Ferrari and he won 91 races, 71 for Ferrari, on his way to his multiple world titles.
… Continue Reading

Chile weightlifter has unexpected baby during training

Chilean Olympic weightlifter Elizabeth Poblete has given birth to a baby boy during a training session, without having known she was pregnant.

Ms Poblete, 22, who lives in Brazil, said she had felt unwell but had no idea she was expecting a baby.

The boy was three months premature and was taken to hospital with his mother, where he remains in intensive care.

The hospital in Sao Paulo denied reports it forced Ms Poblete to leave after she was unable to pay for care.

Ms Poblete began to feel unwell during training on 8 December, as she was preparing to take part in a competition.

Shortly after, she gave birth to a baby weighing only 1.15kg (2.54lbs) and measuring about 34cm (14 inches).
… Continue Reading

India beat Sri Lanka by an innings to top Test rankings

Third Test, Mumbai, day five:
India 726-9 declared beat Sri Lanka 393 and 309 by an innings and 24 runs

India have become the world’s top-ranked Test team for the first time after beating Sri Lanka in the third Test by an innings and 24 runs.

Sri Lanka, resuming on 274-6, were bowled out for 309 as Zaheer Khan took three of the final four wickets.

The 2-0 series win moves India above South Africa in the International Cricket Council’s Test rankings.

“I would not hesitate to say this is the best team I have ever played with,” said India star Sachin Tendulkar.

“If you look at the batting line-up, right from the number one batsman to the number seven batsman which is Mahendra Singh Dhoni, it’s a solid line-up.”

Needing 60 runs to make India bat again, Sri Lanka lost Kumar Sangakkara caught behind off Zaheer in the fifth day’s opening over.
… Continue Reading

Tiger Woods admits ‘I have let my family down’

Golf star Tiger Woods has apologised to his family, amid continuing speculation about his private life following a car crash last week.

“I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart,” he said in a statement, without elaborating further.

“I have not been true to my values and the behaviour my family deserves.”

Woods was found bleeding and semi-conscious after his car hit a tree and fire hydrant outside his Florida home.

He was charged with careless driving, which carries a $164 (£98) fine and four points on his driving record.

‘Personal sins’

The 14-time major champion has been married to his Swedish wife Elin for five years and has two young children.

He denied rumours that physical violence played any role in the incident, saying they were “utterly false and malicious”.
… Continue Reading

Roger Federer beats Andy Murray at ATP Tour Finals

Roger Federer ensured he will end the year as world number one after beating Andy Murray 3-6 6-3 6-1 in the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

The Swiss was broken twice as the British number one, who also hit six aces, wrapped up the first set.

But Federer upped his game in the second set and made a decisive break in game six to level the match at 1-1.

Murray’s serve, which had been so dominant early on, faltered as Federer broke three times to wrap up the win.

Murray said: “I served terribly and that was the main difference in the match.

“In the first set, at least when I was behind in games, I was coming up with big serves, being able to dictate the points. But after that I served pants.

“It was probably the most double faults (eight) I served in a match maybe this year.

“You can’t serve at 40% against Roger because you give him so many opportunities to dictate play, but that’s what I did.
… Continue Reading

Rodriguez Has His October Moment

His Homer Ties It, Teixeira’s Blast Wins It for Yanks : Yankees 4, Twins 3

NEW YORK, Oct. 9 — The debate ended. There is no more for and against, because with one swing and one home run on Friday night, every pinstripe-loving fan aligned on the same side of the argument, which basically means the argument is now over. On Saturday, New York will only have radio silence, dead talk show call-in lines, and abundant appreciation for A-Rod, conqueror of the clutch, master of the big moment.

It’s pointless now, dwelling on that stretch when Alex Rodriguez went hitless in 29 consecutive postseason at-bats with runners on, or noting how between 2005 and 2007 Rodriguez had a .159 October batting average. The new Rodriguez, who looks a lot like the regular season Rodriguez, is the central figure on a Yankees team that battles back, savors the drama, and performs best under pressure.
… Continue Reading

Ivanovic, Dokic enter Brisbane International

Serbian tennis player Ana Ivanovic says she will return to the tour at the Brisbane International starting in January.

Ivanovic pulled out of this week’s China Open and has called an early end to her season because of a respiratory illness.

Australia’s Jelena Dokic, American James Blake and Frenchman Gael Monfils have also confirmed they will play in Brisbane.

But organisers say they have not yet confirmed the attendance of former world number one Justine Henin, whose coach has said is likely to use the tournament as her comeback event.

Ivanovic, who took top spot in the rankings after winning the 2008 French Open but has now slipped to 12th, will also join US Open champion Kim Clijsters in the women’s draw at the January 3-10 event.

“I am very excited to go back to Brisbane,” Ivanovic said in a statement. “I really enjoyed playing there and I love competing in Australia.
… Continue Reading

Dutch wary of improving Socceroos

Their minds are set on revenge, but the Dutch have arrived in Australia with a new-found respect for the Socceroos ahead of Saturday’s friendly at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The world’s third-ranked team has been unable to beat the Socceroos in two meetings, with Australia winning 2-1 in Eindhoven in September last year and drawing 1-1 in their only other clash in Rotterdam before the 2006 World Cup.

The Oranje, like Pim Verbeek’s men, have already qualified for next year’s World Cup and done so emphatically, winning all of their eight qualifiers so far.

They plan to keep that run going on Saturday night, but are not expecting an easy game against what should be a near full-strength Australia team.

Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who played in the 1-1 draw in Rotterdam three years ago, said Australian football was earning more and more respect in Europe.
… Continue Reading