Sporting Briefs...

Cole Enquiry: The verdict in the Ashley Cole "tapping up" enquiry will be announced on June 1, the Premier League said yesterday. Arsenal and England defender Cole, champions Chelsea and their manager Jose Mourinho were charged following allegations of an illegal approach to the player in January. A three-man independent commission have interviewed Cole, Mourinho and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon over the last two days.

Lambert: Celtic club captain Paul Lambert will take over as manager of Livingston on June 1. Lambert, who retires as a player at the end of this season, will be joined by former St Mirren team-mate Norrie McWhirter at Livingston. The 35-year-old will take over from Richard Gough, who leaves after the final game of the season against Dundee on Saturday.

Lahm: Germany defender Philipp Lahm is likely to be out for six months after tearing a cruciate ligament in his right knee in training yesterday. Lahm, 21, currently with VfB Stuttgart, is set to join German champions Bayern Munich next season. He was to have played against Bayern in his final match for Stuttgart on Saturday.

Germany: Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann has recalled Bayern Munich's Sebastian Deisler and Dietmar Hamann of Liverpool in a 23-man squad for next month's Confederations Cup. Deisler last played for Germany in the 2-0 victory over Iran in October. Hamann's last international match was Germany's 2-1 defeat to the Czech Republic in Euro 2004 in June, which resulted in Germany's exit from the competition.

Bulgaria: Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov named a 20-man squad on Tuesday, with defender Valentin Iliev the only newcomer, for the World Cup qualifier at home to Group Eight leaders Croatia on June 4. The CSKA Sofia central defender won a place in the squad following some strong performances after the winter break. He scored the only goal away to Litex Lovech last month to help CSKA close in on the domestic league title.

Cycling: Australia's Robbie McEwen won the 10th stage of the Giro d'Italia from Ravenna to Rossano Veneto yesterday. The Davitamon rider beat Italy's Alessandro Petacchi and compatriot Stuart O'Grady in a sprint finish. Italy's Danilo Di Luca finished in the same time as McEwen to retain the race leader's pink jersey. Today's 11th stage takes the Giro into the Dolomite mountains with a 150-km ride from Marostica to the Zoldo Alto ski resort.

Drug Search: Drug squad police officers searched the hotel of a team competing in the Giro looking for a hyperbaric tent. Hyperbaric tents, which can aid the formation of red blood cells in the body, are not illegal under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, although they could contravene stricter Italian laws.

The Championship: Play-off SF second leg - Ipswich vs West Ham 0-2 (West Ham win 4-2 on aggregate).