Horse Racing: Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom bids to follow in Frankel’s hallowed hoof-prints with the American raider provi-ding the star billing on the opening day of Royal Ascot today. Frankel enjoyed an 11-length triumph in the Queen Anne Stakes last year on his way to becoming the world’s highest-rated racehorse. The memory of that explosive victory will have extra poignancy following the death last week of Frankel’s trainer Henry Cecil. Animal Kingdom will be the first Kentucky Derby winner to race at Royal Ascot since Triple Crown winner Omaha, who raced in the Ascot Gold Cup in 1936.

Swimming: Danish swimmer Mads Glaesner has been stripped of the gold medal he won in the 1,500 metres freestyle at the World Short-Course Cham-pionships in Istanbul last December following a positive drugs test. FINA announced Glaesner tested positive for a stimulant with Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri upgraded to the gold medal position.

Rugby Union: South Africa loose forward Arno Botha has been ruled out for the remainder of 2013 after rupturing ligaments in his left knee during the Springboks’ win over Scotland on Saturday. The highly-rated 21-year-old was forced to leave the field in the fourth minute of just his second test, having made his debut against Italy the previous week, and has been diagnosed with an injury to his medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments that requires surgery.

Motorcycling: Suzuki will return to the MotoGP championship in 2015, the Japanese manufacturer announced yesterday. Suzuki, who won 500cc world titles with the likes of Briton Barry Sheene, and Americans Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts Jr, pulled out in 2011 saying they needed to reduce costs in the face of a global economic downturn. They said at the time that they hoped to return in 2014. Suzuki’s return will give MotoGP at least four major manufacturers in the top category, with Honda, Yamaha and Ducati all present. Kawa-saki pulled out in 2009.