A Russian sailing team has pulled out of the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race as they do not have enough funds to continue, the team said. Team Russia, led by St Petersburg supermarket owner Oleg Zherebtsov, announced it had suspended its operations after arriving in Singapore at the end of Leg Three this week.

Cycling

Seven-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and his girlfriend Anna Hansen are expecting a child in June. It will be the fourth child for the 37-year-old American, who has three children from his previous marriage. Armstrong came out of retirement in September and intends to contest the 2009 Tour de France.

Swimming

Italy's 200 metres freestyle Olympic champion Federica Pellegrini said she had been diagnosed with a form of asthma, which caused her to hyperventilate during a race at the Italian winter championships last month. "I gave a big sigh of relief as I did a test in Verona and I've finally found out what my problem is," the 20-year-old said. "I have bronchial spasms, basically I suffer from asthma. There's no problem about being unfit for competition."

Golf

The Asian Tour has refuted claims it will join an Asian "super tour" and denounced the Australasian Tour for attempting to "invade" Asia. China, South Korea and Japan in March gave their initial support for the "OneAsia Tour", devised by the Australasian PGA, but the Asian Tour opted out, saying there was no room for two circuits in the region.

Cricket

Captain Kevin Pietersen has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee and his England team-mates docked five per cent for their slow over-rate in the first test against India in Chennai. The ICC said England were one over shy of their target when they lost by six wickets. India took the series 1-0 when the second and final test in Mohali ended in a draw.

Motor racing

India's first F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan said he was never interested in joining Force India and criticised team co-owner Vijay Mallya for saying no Indian was good enough to drive in F1. "I spent a frustrating time with Jordan, where I had a car that just could not perform. I have no desire to be with another pedestrian team that's low on performance and loud on talk," Karthikeyan said.

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