Cycling: The United States accused cyclist Lance Armstrong (picture) of defrauding the US Postal Service by taking its sponsorship money at the same time he was doping and using performance-enhancing drugs in violation of cycling rules. The government joined a civil suit against Armstrong, stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life from cycling in 2012 after accusations he had cheated for years. In January, he said the accusations were true in an interview with television host Oprah Winfrey. A battle with the US government over civil fraud charges threatens to sap what remains of the once-revered athlete’s reputation... and hurt his wallet.
Superbike: Spain’s Carlos Checa claimed pole position for today’s World Superbike Championship curtain-raiser, registering the fastest-ever lap around the 4.445km Phillip Island circuit in the process. The 40-year-old Ducati rider – a four-time winner at this venue – clocked one minute 30.234 seconds on the 1199 Panigale to secure the 10th pole position of his career. He will be joined on the front row for the two 22-lap races by Aprilia pair Eugene Laverty (1:30.429) and Michel Fabrizio (1:30.581).
Golf: Former champion Luke Donald was the biggest name to fall in the second round of the snow-delayed WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship after being pummelled 7&6 by American Scott Piercy. The British world no.3 was totally outplayed by Piercy, who was effectively seven-under par on his ball after being conceded a four-foot birdie putt at the short 12th to seal the win.
Tennis: Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova claimed her 10th singles title after defeating Sara Errani 6-2 1-6 6-1 in the final of the Dubai Championships yesterday. The Czech, who did not drop a set in the opening four rounds of the tournament, was the favourite after winning her previous three meetings with the Italian and the 22-year-old sought to assert her dominance from the start. “It was very tough, up and down – she can catch a lot of balls and get them back... I tried to stay focused and calm in the last set,” Kvitova said in a courtside interview.
Cricket: Eoin Morgan and Joe Root ensured England completed a comfortable five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third and final one day international match at Eden Park yesterday to wrap up the series. Root (28 not out) and Morgan (39) built on the foundation laid by captain Alastair Cook (46) and Jonathan Trott (38) as England reached 186 for five in 37.3 overs to complete the 2-1 series victory.
Rugby Union: John Kirwan’s reign as Auckland Blues coach got off to a winning start with a deserved 34-20 bonus point victory over the Wellington Hurricanes in their Super Rugby opener in the New Zealand capital yesterday. The former All Black great and Italy coach has been charged with reviving the fortunes of the three-time champions and there was much to please him about his team’s performance in a tough encounter at Wellington Regional Stadium.
Badminton: Denmark’s 1996 Olympic men’s singles gold medallist Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen announced he was running for president of badminton’s world governing body at its May elections. Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, the head of Malaysia’s badminton association, has already said he will also seek the position to be vacated by South Korea’s Kang Young-joong after eight years at the helm. Indonesian Justian Suhandinata is another candidate for the top job at the Kuala Lumpur-based BWF.