Doping: Italian cyclist Matteo Rabottini will miss this month’s World Championships after he tested positive for the banned blood-booster erythropoietin (EPO) and was suspended provisionally by the International Cycling Union (UCI). Rabottini’s name is the latest on the UCI’s list of riders found guilty of a doping offence. The list shows that Rabottini’s sample was collected on August 7. The Neri-Sottoli rider featured on Italy’s long list for the worlds, which will be held in Ponferrada, Spain, from September 21-28.
Snooker: Mark Allen moved to the final of the Shanghai Masters after an impressive comeback against Mark Selby. The 28-year-old Northern Irishman was 5-2 down in their best-of-11-frame contest but powered back to 5-5. In the last frame Selby took a 63-0 lead but the world champion ran out of position on the next red and had to play safe, with 75 points left on the table. Allen could not clear in one visit when a chance came along but he put together a break of 40 to move back into contention. Selby had another chance to complete victory but missed the pink after potting the final red, and left Allen in to clear up, which he did. Today, Allen plays against Stuart Bingham who beat Ding Junhui 6-4 in the other semi-final.
Tennis: Venus Williams was taken the distance but booked her place in the Coupe Banque Nationale semi-finals in Quebec. The American won the first set of her last-eight encounter against Lucie Hradecka 6-3 before the Czech hit back to win the second 6-4. However, Williams kept her composure when the decider went to a tie-break and wrapped up a 6-3 4-6 7-6 victory in two hours and 10 minutes. Williams will face fellow American Shelby Rogers for a place in the final after the fourth seed ended the challenge of Germany’s Tatjana Maria with a 6-4 6-2 victory.
Basket, NBA: Atlanta Hawks general manager Danny Ferry, under fire for making racially charged remarks, has taken an indefinite leave of absence, the NBA team said. Ferry’s move follows an announcement by majority owner Bruce Levenson that he would sell his controlling interest because he had sent a racially insensitive email. The incidents have raised concerns about racial attitudes in the club’s front office. Ferry’s leave takes effect immediately, Hawks Chief Executive Steve Koonin said. “It is my hope that this time away from the Hawks organisation allows him the privacy he needs to listen to the community, to learn about his mistakes, and to begin the long process of personal healing,” Koonin said in a statement.
Cycling: Alberto Contador was poised to win the Tour of Spain for the third time after taking the penultimate stage with a late surge yesterday. The Spaniard, who prevailed on the Vuelta in 2008 and 2012, controlled his rivals in the final ascent and struck with just over one kilometre left to counter Britain’s Chris Froome. The Team Sky rider had set the pace in the climb to Puerto de Ancares to defend his second place overall and he was almost empty when Contador attacked, finishing about 16 seconds behind. Spain’s Alejandro Valverde retained third place overall by taking third place at the end of the 185.7-km ride from Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil. The top three are unlikely to change after today’s final stage, a 9.7-km individual time trial around Santiago de Compostella.
Horse Racing: Australian champion sprinter Black Caviar, who went 25 races unbeaten before retiring last year, delivered her first foal yesterday, a filly by sire Exceed And Excel. Black Caviar ranks among Australia’s greatest horses alongside 1930 Melbourne Cup winner Phar Lap and triple Melbourne Cup champion Makybe Diva. The birth in the Hunter Valley north of Sydney went smoothly and both Black Caviar and foal were doing well, managing owner Neil Werrett told Sky Sports Radio. Although the filly would be expected to fetch $2.71 million-$4.52 million at auction, the owners will not be selling. “Black Caviar was the people’s horse and we are looking forward to sharing this filly’s journey with the people of Australia,” Werrett said.