Sports round-up

Cycling: Jeannie Longo, a 59-time France champion, will not face any disciplinary proceedings after missing three random drugs tests. The French cycling federation ruled that the 53-year-old was no longer on the list of top-ranked cyclists who have to make their whereabouts constantly available, saying her three missed tests had not violated anti-doping rules.

Athletics: Kenya won the marathon-distance Chiba international mixed road-relay race yesterday. Kenya finished the race in two hours, four minutes and 40 seconds, followed by Japan in 2:04:59 and the Japanese student selection in 2:07:26. The road-relay race is divided into six sections of the men’s 5km, women’s 5km, men’s 10km, women’s 5km, men’s 10km and women’s 7.195km, making up a full marathon race distance.

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Rallying: French rally driver Sebastien Ogier (picture) signed a three-year contract with Volkswagen, for whom he will drive the new Polo R next season. The 27-year-old Ogier, who finished third in this year’s championship, signed up after being released from his Citroen deal this month. His place at Citroen will be taken by Finland’s Mikko Hirvonen.

Boxing: Antonio Margarito was given a boxing licence by the New York State Athletic Commission, allowing the Mexican’s scheduled showdown with Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto to take place as planned. Cotto, 36-2 with 29 knockouts, defends his WBA super welterweight title against Margarito, 38-7 with 27 knockouts, on December 3 at Madison Square Garden in a re-match of Margarito’s controversial 2008 victory.

Doping: The UCI said it has temporarily banned Australian rider Deon Locke from the sport after he failed a doping test in October. “The UCI advised Australian rider Deon Michael Locke that he is provisionally suspended,” said the International Cycling Union, adding that the ban would last until the Australian Cycling Federation rules if the rider had indeed flouted anti-doping rules. Locke failed a test during the Tour of Hainan.