WADA ready to appeal Kenteris ruling: World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chairman Richard Pound says his organisation will appeal the acquittal of Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou on doping charges if the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) does not. "I am convinced that the IAAF will appeal against the decision," Pound said. "But if they accept the Greek federation's ruling, we will go ourselves before the CAS (Court of Arbitration Sport)." Former Olympic 200m champion Kenteris and Thanou were cleared by the Greek athletics federation last Friday of all charges related to missing three doping tests, including one on the eve of last year's Athens Games.
Prso pledge: Rangers' Croatia forward Dado Prso plans to quit international soccer after the 2006 World Cup. Prso, twice Croatian player of the year, was quoted yesterday as saying he hoped to help his country win European Group Eight and reach the World Cup finals in Germany before retiring. "That would complete one part of my career. After that I would say good bye to the national team... for my health it would be the best," Prso told Croatia's Vecernji List daily. Croatia are at home to Iceland on Saturday and Malta four days later in their end-of-March qualifiers hoping to collect all six points. "I am dreaming of these two games and see nothing but those six points. That's what we're coming (home) for," Prso said.
Richards retires: Tottenham Hotspur defender Dean Richards has retired on medical grounds at the age of 30, the Premier League club said yesterday. "Dean has undergone extensive tests over the past few months which have produced strong, conclusive medical evidence that it would be harmful to his long-term health to continue the sport," a statement on the club's website said. Former Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle signed Richards in 2001 from Southampton for £8.1 million.
Violent conduct charge: Tottenham Hotspur defender Thimothee Atouba has been charged with violent conduct over his clash with Manchester City's Joey Barton in their Premier League match at White Hart Lane on Saturday. Television replays appeared to show the Cameroon international elbowing Barton in the face off the ball during Spurs' 2-1 win. The incident was missed by the referee but the English Football Association charged Atouba yesterday after viewing video evidence.
Roque Junior agrees deal extension: Brazil defender Roque Junior has agreed a one-year extension to his contract at Bayer Leverkusen. The 2002 World Cup winner's new deal ties him to the Bundesliga club until June 2007, Leverkusen said in a statement. Roque Junior joined Leverkusen in July 2004 after spending the previous season on loan from Milan at Leeds United and Italy's Siena. The 28-year-old was a first-team regular over the first half of the season but has not played since the start of the year because of a knee injury.
In England: The Championship - Brighton vs Reading 0-1.