Sports round-up

Athletics: Police said yesterday they had cleared South Korea’s head marathon coach and his athletes of doping allegations, two months before the country hosts the world athletics championships. The Gangwon provincial police agency said it had examined records at a rehabilitation hospital where 19 athletes were treated and found no evidence they had been injected with banned performance-enhancing substances.

Racing: A powerful storm damaged barns and chased horses out of their stalls at Churchill Downs race track, the site of the Kentucky Derby. Weather forecasters said tornadoes had been reported in the area of the race track but no one could confirm whether it was a tornado that struck Wednesday. Officials said there were no reports of injuries to either the racetrack workers or the animals. At least nine barns suffered damage, but the track’s twin spires were unscathed.

Rugby union: Michael Cheika, the coach of Stade Francais, is to face a disciplinary hearing for remarks he allegedy made following last month’s European Cup final defeat by Harlequins. The first complaint against the former Leinster boss centres on comments he is alleged to have made during the half-time break to officials, with the second focusing on remarks said to have been made to a staff member of tournament organisers European Rugby Cup (ERC) after the final whistle.

Golf: World number one Luke Donald was confirmed for the Australian Masters but former champion Tiger Woods has decided to give it a miss. The tournament will be held from December 15-18 at Victoria Golf Club, later than last year after losing its traditional November time-slot. Along with Donald, Ian Poulter, the world number 14, has committed to the event, as has Stuart Appleby, the defending champion.