Sporting briefs

Wilshere: Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has joined Bolton on loan until the end of the season. Wilshere, who in 2008 became Arsenal's youngest league player when he made his debut aged 16 years and 256 days, has had limited first-team opportunities this season.

Ronaldo: Real Madrid's attempt to have Cristiano Ronaldo's two-match ban temporarily lifted while the appeal was studied by the Spanish Sports Disciplinary Committee (CEDD) has been rejected. Ronaldo was given a straight red card last weekend after breaking Malaga defender Patrick Mtiliga's nose with a flailing arm.

Cole: Chelsea's Ashley Cole was banned for four months yesterday for driving at more than 100 miles an hour in a 50 mph zone. Police clocked the 29-year-old defender driving his black Lamborghini Gallardo at 104 mph in November 2008.

Andrade: Centre-back Jorge Andrade, who failed to leave his mark at Juventus, is attempting to win a contract with Toronto FC in the MLS. Reports said the 31-year-old is set to be handed a trial by Mo Johnston's club in the US. Andrade has been a free agent since having his Juve contract rescinded last year.

Duxbury: West Ham have confirmed the resignation of chief executive Scott Duxbury. The move comes as a result of this month's takeover of the club by David Gold and David Sullivan, with Duxbury effectively being squeezed out when the owners brought in their former Birmingham colleague Karen Brady as vice-chairman.

Eto'o: Inter are hoping Samuel Eto'o can shake off an ankle knock in time for tomorrow's visit to Parma after the Cameroon forward returned from the Africa Cup to further boost the leaders' title challenge. Brazil defender Lucio and Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder are suspended.

Deschamps: Marseille coach Didier Deschamps, whose team lie fourth, 11 points behind Bordeaux, believes catching up the champions and leaders will be almost impossible. "The first thing we need to do to keep hoping is to win our matches," Deschamps said. "However, if Bordeaux keep their momentum, there won't be anything to do."

Division Three: Żejtun Corinthians vs Swieqi 5-0; Sta Lucija vs Attard 0-1.

Snooker: Welsh Open QFs - O'Sullivan vs Allen 5-2; Higgins bt Selby 5-2.

Swimming: Alan Thompson has stepped down as head coach of the Australian swimming team, leaving the country without a coach two years ahead of the London Olympics. Thompson resigned from his roles as head coach and General Manager of High Performance because national governing body Swimming Australia had decided to separate the positions as part of a restructure, he said.

Formula One: Finland's Valtteri Bottas, a protege of former world champion Mika Hakkinen, will be test driver for Williams this season. The 20-year-old, who is managed by Hakkinen, will take the role vacated by Nico Hulkenberg after the German graduated to a race seat alongside Rubens Barrichello.

Rugby Union: All Blacks lock Ali Williams hobbled off after just three minutes of his return to rugby and could be out for up to 12 months. Williams missed most of last season with an Achilles injury that required surgery. He also used the layoff to have surgery on a troubling shoulder injury.

Winter Games: Former sprinter Allyn Condon will join an exclusive club of Britons to compete at both summer and winter Olympics after being named on the four-man bobsleigh team for the Vancouver Games. Condon, 35, who competed at Sydney 2000, will emulate the feat of Marcus Adam, who ran the 200m in Barcelona in 1992 and was in Britain's bob 10 years later in Salt Lake City.

Baseball: The New York Yankees will take the World Series trophy to Tokyo, Beijing and Hong Kong on a six-day Asia tour. The Major League Baseball championship trophy will accompany a delegation of Yankees executives who will arrive at Tokyo's Narita Airport tomorrow.

Tennis: A man who invaded Rod Laver Arena's court at the end of the Australian Open semi-final between Briton Andy Murray and Marin Cilic on Thursday night will face police charges, officials said. Cilic, of Croatia, later played down the incident, but the embarrassing security breach has thrown the spotlight on security at the Australian grand slam.