Sporting briefs

Bolt: Usain Bolt is plotting a career as a footballer once he has fulfilled his ambitions in athletics. The 24-year-old Jamaican is hoping to clock 9.4secs in the 100m after setting the world record of 9.58secs in Berlin last year. “I have four more good years in me if I train hard,” he told BBC. “When I finish I’d like to play football for two years. I always watch those guys and I think I could be a professional footballer.”

Fowler: Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler kept Perth Glory on top of Australia’s A-League with the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Wellington Phoenix yesterday. Fowler’s second goal of the season was enough for Perth to remain unbeaten after five games and share top billing on 11 points with Adelaide United.

Scouts Sacked: Juventus director general Beppe Marotta has terminated the employment of the club’s South American scouts for failing to recruit any fresh talent. It has been reported that Angel Moretto in Argentina and Junior Chavari in Brazil have been axed by the club. They were brought in my former general manager Jean Claude Blanc and director of sport Alessio Secco two seasons ago.

Zuculini: Genoa’s summer signing Franco Zuculini has revealed that he turned down the chance to join Napoli. “I wanted very much to play in Italy and it’s true that Napoli were looking for me,” the 19-year-old Argentine said. “The negotiations were at an advanced stage, but then Genoa came along and I am happy to be here.”

Commonwealth Games: Three Indian swimmers, including two who were picked for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, have tested positive for a banned drug. Richa Mishra, Jyotsana Pansare and Amar Muralitharan tested positive for methylhexaneamine, a banned stimulant used widely as a nasal decongestant, Swimming Federation of India secretary Virender Nanavati said. The news came a day after four Indian wrestlers and a shot-putter were suspended for a similar offence, heaping embarrassment on India as it faces a rush to ready venues for the Games.

Motor Racing: Brazil’s Helio Castroneves won the Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway, his fuel-conserving strategy paying off with the 24th IndyCar win of his career. Castroneves completed the final 53 laps of the 1.5-mile oval on one tank of fuel, capitalising when the leaders had to make late stops for fuel. Pole-sitter Ed Carpenter was second, followed by England’s Dan Wheldon, Brazilian Tony Kannan and Scotland’s Dario Franchitti.

Boxing: Slovenian world welterweight champion Jan Zaveck has retained his IBF title, beating Poland’s Rafal Jackiewicz on points. The judges scored the bout 117-111, 117-111, 114-114, Zaveck avenging his sole career loss to Jackiewicz, EBU welterweight champion in 2008, two years ago. “There’s no greater pleasure than to defend the world title in front of a packed arena at home,” Zaveck said of his 30th professional victory.

Rugby Union: Scarlets paid a heavy price for resting internationals Stephen Jones, Sean Lamont and Matthew Rees when they suffered a 34-28 defeat to Benetton Treviso on Saturday as Italian sides made their Celtic League bow. The Scarlets had led 22-9 at the break, but the home side stormed back to register a historic win with winger Tommaso Benvenuti scoring the winning try four minutes from the end. Scrum-half Tobias Botes also scored a try and kicked 19 points.

Tennis: Paul Annacone has stepped down as head coach of men’s tennis at the Lawn Tennis Association with immediate effect. Annacone had been working out the remainder of his contract despite being appointed Roger Federer’s coach on a permanent basis after a successful trial period.