Sports round-up

Doping: Three Kenyan athletes have been suspended after testing positive for banned substances, Athletics Kenya official David Okeyo said. Marathon runners Wilson Erupe Loyanae and Nixon Kiplagat Cherutich will serve two-year bans, while Moses Kiptoo Kurgat was suspended for a year. A fourth athlete, Francis Kibiwott, was cleared after his case was reviewed by the medical commission of world athletics governing body the IAAF.

Superbike: Italian Michel Fabrizio looks the man to beat in the first round of the World Superbike Champ-ionship at Phillip Island in Australia, with the Aprilia rider setting the fastest time in yesterday’s opening qualifying session. Fabrizio recorded an impressive 1:31.317 to finish ahead of works Aprilia rider Eugene Laverty and BMW’s Marco Melandri. There is nothing to choose between a large number of riders, with the top 13 covered by less than a second.

Auto Racing: Kevin Harvick placed himself as one of the favourites for tomorrow’s Daytona 500 by winning the first of two qualifying races on Thursday to claim the inside lane in the second row for the season-opening NASCAR race. Danica Patrick had already clinched pole in qualifying last week to become the first woman to achieve that distinction, with Jeff Gordon alongside her on the first row. Patrick played it safe on Thursday, racing with the pack before easing back to finish 17th out of 23 drivers.