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MADRID (AFP) -The World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) has rejected claims by Alberto Contador that contaminated meat was responsible for his positive doping test during the Tour de France, a Spanish newspaper reported Wednesday.

The Tour de France champion was provisionally suspended following a positive test for a tiny amount of clenbuterol, a banned weight loss/muscle-building drug.

The Spanish rider has claimed that the positive result, which followed a doping test during the Tour de France in July, was the result of eating contaminated meat.

But a report by WADA obtained by the newspaper El Pais said its experts visited the butcher's shop in northern Spain where the meat was purchased and the slaughterhouse that supplies it, and found no evidence of clenbuterol in any of its products.

“None of the inspections, none of the tests on samples of meat found traces of clenbuterol, a banned drug used to fatten cattle quickly,” El Pais said.

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Two FIFA executive committee members were banned and fined on Thursday, one for bribery, over allegations they had offered to sell their votes in the contest to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Four other officials were also banned and fined in an unprecedented move by soccer's world governing body, which has been shaken by the case and is under huge pressure to show that the contest will be clean and transparent.

Nigerian Amos Adamu was banned from all-soccer related activities for three years and fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,130) for breaches of five articles of FIFA's ethics code including one on bribery.

His fellow executive committee member Reynald Temarii of Tahiti, president of the Oceania Football Confederation, was banned for one year and fined 5,000 Swiss francs for breaching articles on general conduct and loyalty.

The others officials included Slim Aloulou, chairman of the committee that settles disputes between clubs, players and coaches, and the previously disgraced Ismael Bhamjee.

In 2006, Botswana's Bhamjee was sent home from the World Cup in Germany and subsequently quit the executive committee for selling match tickets at three times their face value.

A further claim by British newspaper The Sunday Times that some bidding countries were guilty of collusion before the Dec. 2 vote in Zurich was dismissed by the ethics committee.

It decided allegations of vote-trading between Spain/Portugal, who are bidding for 2018, and Qatar, who are bidding for 2022, were unfounded.The decision to ban two executive committee members means only 22, instead of the expected 24, will vote when FIFA chooses the hosts for the two tournaments.

“For as long as I am in the ethics committee, we will have a zero tolerance policy for all violations of standards,” said its chairman Claudio Sulser after a three-day hearing.

“We don't want cheaters, we don't want doping, we don't want abuses to be accepted,” added Sulser, a former Switzerland international.

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The Under-21, Under-19 and Under-15 cricket teams of the Western Province South emerged champions to create history in the Inter-Provincial championships recently.

Coached by Hemal Mendis the three teams simply out-smarted their rivals in the finals with former Youth World Cup player Andri Berenger hammering a ton in the Under-21 final.

Results:

Western Province South U-19 beat Central Province U-19 at Kurunegala

Western Province South U-19 South 249 in 50 overs (Ramith Rabukwella 50, Sehan Jayasuriya 49, Charith Fernando 40, Akila Jayasundara 3 for 40)

Central Province U-19 92 in 26 overs (S. Ranaweera 20, Amila Aponsu 4 for 15, Lahiru Jayaratne 3 for 20, Sanitha de Mel 2 for 20)

Western Province South U-21 beat Western North Outer U-21 at Sooriyawewa

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Channaka de Silva reporting from Galle

Mahela Jayawardene scored a half century before heavy rains that lashed Galle wiped off almost two entire sessions on the third day to cut off Sri Lanka’s pursuit of the massive West Indian total in the first Test here yesterday.

Sri Lanka were 165 for three with the former skipper unbeaten on 51, but were still 415 runs short of the West Indian total of 580 for nine in the first innings.

Locals were still needing 215 runs to avoid a follow-on when bad light halted play just four overs after the lunch break while the subsequent downpour terminated any possibility of further play for the day.

At the crease with Jayawardene who completed his 37th Test fifty was Thilan Samaraweera on 11 not out.

Sri Lanka who resumed the day on 54 for one, lost opener Tharanga Paranavitana in the second over of the morning when paceman Kemar Roach produced a magnificent delivery which nipped back off the seam and sneaked through the bat and pad of the left hander to crash into the stumps.

The ball was simply too good for Paranavithana who had made 10 runs off 52 balls.Unruffled by the early blow, skipper Kumar Sangakkara who was in a dashing mood on the previous evening when he smashed seven boundaries in making 33 not out off 32 balls before stumps, did not fully curtail his elegant stroke play despite the overcast sky producing a little bit of life and swing to the ball.

Five overs before lunch Sangakkara fell to another unplayable delivery which was produced by Dwayne Bravo.

The medium pacer who was consistently bowling outside the off stump for a long spell, suddenly produced a stunning yorker which swung in and cut back off the pitch to shatter the stumps after breezing through the bat and pad of the bamboozled left hander.

Shocked Sangakkara had no clue of what happened and was giving curious glances at the replay on the giant screen all the way on his long walk back to the pavilion.

Till then he was right on top of the bowling and looked majestic as he cracked a total of eleven boundaries in making 73 off 102 deliveries.

Jayawardene who shared a 71-run stand for the third wicket with Sangakkara swiftly assumed the lead role after he was joined by Thilan Samaraweera with the total on 132 for 3.

Jayawardene faced 91 balls hitting five fours in making 51 not out before play ended abruptly.

 Scoreboard

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SYDNEY (Reuters) – Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson believes he has banished his demons and promised England's batsmen a torrid time in the upcoming Ashes series after being reduced to tears when Australia relinquished the urn last year.

The 29-year-old is likely to lead a three-strong strike bowling attack when the first test gets underway in Brisbane on Nov. 25 and he said England captain Andrew Strauss and key batsman Kevin Pietersen would be in for particular attention.

"I really have unfinished business with England. I didn't show the real me last time so I'm desperate to make up for that now," he said in an interview in December's Wisden Cricket Monthly.

"I am more confident and more prepared now so I know I can knock over guys like Strauss and Pietersen. I have some plans for them this time.

"Anyway, despite my problems, I did it last year too, and after facing them in five tests I know a lot more about them.

You will see a different bowler, no doubt about it." Johnson took 20 wickets in the 2-1 defeat in England last

year but is still haunted by his poor performance at Lord's, where he gave up 11 boundaries in his first eight overs as England headed towards their first Ashes win at the ground since 1934.

"My body language will be completely different," Johnson said.

"At Lord's it was pretty obvious I was struggling.

England's batsmen could see I was vulnerable.

"Now whatever is happening, if I bowl a bad ball I am going to stick my head up, push my chest out and be more intimidating, hide my emotions and be a more positive force.

"I feel really good, the best I have felt for a while. All the niggles have gone and I am really looking forward to getting back in to it.

"I have rediscovered a bit of hunger for the game. I have never not wanted to play but I just feel re-energised and refreshed.

"I am going to have bad days but I am certain they won't take over me like that again. The bad days need to become okay days but there are going to be plenty more good and great days."

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LONDON (AFP) – South Africa's Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bjorn Basson have failed dope tests and will play no further part in the tour of Britain and Ireland, the world champions announced Monday.

The duo both returned positive test samples for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine following the Springboks' 23-21 win over Ireland in Dublin on November 6.

Six Nations Rugby Ltd — who administer the November internationals — informed the South African Rugby Union of the positive tests late on Sunday.

As a result the pair are provisionally suspended from all rugby, including this Saturday's match against Scotland at Murrayfield and the November 27 encounter against England, and will return to South Africa on Monday.

Basson, 23, injured an ankle playing on the wing while winning his fourth cap in Saturday's 29-25 win over Wales in Cardiff — a match where hooker Ralepelle came off the bench — and was due to return anyway.

The players were randomly drawn for testing by anti-doping officials following the Test at Lansdowne Road. Both Basson and Ralepelle have the right to request that their 'B' sample be tested.

The 24-year-old Ralepelle, capped 18 times by South Africa, was the first black player to captain the national side against a World XV in Leicester two years ago.

Basson started the match against Ireland while Ralepelle was an unused replacement.

A SARU statement said the pair "returned an adverse analytical finding for methylhexaneamine, a 'non-specified stimulant' on the prohibited substances list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It is scheduled to be re-classified as a 'specified stimulant' from January 1, 2011."

'Non-specified' means there are no concessions in the WADA code for unintended use.

Methylhexaneamine was also the substance that led to Nigeria's Osayemi Oludamola being stripped of her 100 metres gold medal at the Delhi Commonwealth Games last month.

Although a stimulant that appears in some nasal decongestants, there are also concerns Methylhexaneamine could boost athletes' heart-rates.

But the fact its status is set to change in a matter of months could yet have a bearing on any disciplinary punishments handed out to either Basson or Ralepelle under the legal principle of 'lex mitior' which seeks to apply the more lenient penalty in cases where there is a relaxation of the law or, in this case, WADA code.

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MANCHESTER (AFP) – Manchester United fan groups expressed concern Tuesday after it emerged the club was set to pay off a 220 million pounds (352 million dollars) debt by the end of the month.

The nature of this debt in payments in kind notes (PIKs) has proved particularly controversial because of the interest they attract, with some supporters worried the club may be restricted in the transfer market as a result of the financial set-up at Old Trafford.

United PIKs are currently subject to an interest rate of 16.25 percent. That debt is levelled against the Glazer family, United's American owners, themselves but there had been worries they would use club funds to help repay the loan.

But a letter issued by co-chairman Joel Glazer has confirmed to the lenders of the PIK notes that the debt will be paid by November 22.

Meanwhile accounts published Tuesday showed a rise in total turnover from 57.7 million pounds (92.4 million dollars) to 63.3 million pounds (101 million dollars) compared to the same three months last year.

The main reason was a rise in commercial revenue to 24.2 million pounds, up over 25 percent.

It was also revealed United's gross debt had fallen from 514.7 million pounds to 509.4 million pounds up to September 30, 2010.

However, some fans remain distrustful of the motives of the Glazers, who took control of United in 2005.

Duncan Drasdo, the chief executive of Manchester United Supporters' Trust (MUST), said Tuesday: "Now is the time for the Glazers to finally come clean and tell the truth about what is going on at Manchester United and what their plans are.

"What have they got to hide? No more secrecy. No more spin. Just tell the fans the truth."

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MARCOUSSIS (Reuters) – Sebastien Chabal was beaming on Tuesday as France coach Marc Lievremont handed him his first start at number eight after years of captivity in the cage of the front five.

"I'm delighted because number eight has always been my favourite position," the Racing Metro forward told reporters after Lievremont announced his starting line-up for Saturday's test against Argentina.

"I always said I would rather play in the centre of the backrow rather than in the second row but I also said that if had to play as a lock I would do it without a fuss," he added.

Chabal has spent most of his club career at number eight but, at international level, France coaches Bernard Laporte and Marc Lievremont have played him at lock because of his lack of running power and stamina.

Chabal, 32, has only won 10 of his 56 caps at number eight, the last two in New Zealand in June 2007.

France were thrashed 42-11 in Auckland and 61-10 in Wellington but the player known as "the caveman" confirmed his fearsome reputation when he knocked out Chris Masoe with a tackle and broke Ali Williams's jaw in a charge.

The bearded giant with the deep gravel-like voice has been voted "France's best loved sportsman" by sports daily L'Equipe for the last two years.

Lievremont said he chose Chabal ahead of Imanol Harinordoquy, his favourite number eight since he became national coach after the 2007 World Cup, just to see how he performed in the position.

"Sebastien has been working very hard and has made a lot of progress in terms of mobility. We wanted to test him at number eight last November but at the time he was more useful as a lock," forwards coach Didier Retiere said.

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Veteran boxing promoter says Pacquiao is the best fighter of all time superceding even the likes of Ali

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GUANGZHOU (AFP) -Bikini-wearing Asian Games beach volleyball cheer squads are proving too hot for some competitors who claim the scantily-clad dancers make it impossible to concentrate.

"They had an effect on how we played," Yemen beach volleyballer Adeeb Mahfoudh told the Tianfu Morning News on Wednesday.

"I think they had something to do with our losing the match."

The Yemeni men's team lost their Tuesday clash to an apparently more focused team from Indonesia, the paper said.

Organisers of the Guangzhou Asiad have hired four cheerleader squads, each made up of eight girls in swimsuits, to entertain fans during breaks in the beach volleyball action, said the newspaper.

Besides cheering on the already capacity crowds, the girls also perform routines that include traditional Chinese elements including martial arts and fan dancing.

"These girls are very beautiful. With them here, more people will pay attention to beach volleyball," smiled Mahfoudh.

"If I can, I hope to watch them perform at the next match.

"During an "inspection" tour on Tuesday, Kenneth Fok, deputy delegation head of Team Hong Kong — and reportedly romantically involved with China's Olympic diving champion Guo Jingjing — said the beach volleyball venue was "orderly" and the rally team "sexy".

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