Cycling: International Cycling Federation (UCI) president Pat McQuaid enjoys the support of the International Olympic Committee despite the UCI’s bitter row with the WADA. The UCI’s credibility has been dealt a severe blow since American Lance Armstrong admitted to doping last month after he was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles. “We have confidence in Mr (Pat) McQuaid as president of UCI,” IOC president Jacques Rogge said. “There is an ongoing discussion with WADA and UCI. We call on both parties to reconciliate.”
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Basketball, NBA: LeBron James’ red-hot shooting hit record level on Tuesday as he became the first NBA player ever to score 30 points while shooting 60 per cent in six straight games. James (picture) tallied 30 points, nine assists and six rebounds to lead the Miami Heat to a 117-104 victory over Portland Trail Blazers. Only Adrian Dantley and Moses Malone had previously achieved the 30-point, 60-per cent mark in five consecutive contests. “I’m at a loss for words,” James said. “For me to be in the record books by myself with such a stat – any stat – it’s big time.”
Golf: Tiger Woods will play in three consecutive PGA Tour events, starting with next week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Champ-ionship in Arizona, as part of his build-up to the Masters, the year’s first major. The American world number two will also compete at the February 28-March 3 Honda Classic, which is staged in Florida, and then the March 7-10 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral.
Baseball: Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners have agreed on a new deal for the Venezuelan All-Star that is expected to make ‘King Felix’ Major League Baseball’s highest paid pitcher ever. Hernandez, 26, has two years and $40.5m remaining on his current contract, but it was believed that the old deal would be replaced by a new agreement worth a reported $175 million over seven years.
Horse Racing: Trainer Robert Smerdon has been fined A$10,000 ($10,300) for his involvement in the illegal betting scandal of jockey Damien Oliver. Oliver was banned in November for 10 months after admitting to placing a A$10,000 bet via a third party on a rival horse.