ATHLETICS:Dwain Chambers does not believe his chances of challenging for the world indoor 60 metres crown in Valencia will have been harmed by not having raced for a month.

Chambers has not had a warm-up race since winning the British trials on February 9th, as European meeting promoters have frozen him out following his return from a drugs ban.

"I've rested and got myself in the right frame of mind," said Chambers.

Chambers's falling-out with UK Athletics has intensified since he revealed his intention to resume his athletics career at the beginning of the year.

UKA's efforts to stop him running in the British trials were overruled by the the International Association of Athletics Federations.

Chambers added to their embarrassment when he won at the trials to lift the British title.

TENNIS:Andy Murray believed his failure to put an early dent in Nikolay Davydenko's confidence was the cause of his straight-sets exit from the Dubai Open yesterday.

The 20-year-old frequently lost his temper and was in the end comprehensively out-hit by the Russian world number five in a 7-5, 6-4 quarter-final defeat.

The result could have been very different, however, had the Briton taken advantage of a break point in the second game of the match.

"I'm a bit disappointed purely because I had a lot of chances," Murray said.

"Early in the first set I had a couple of break points, and against someone like him, once he starts to get comfortable from the baseline, he's really tough to beat."

TENNIS:Andy Roddick has split from coach Jimmy Connors by mutual agreement. "Jimmy resigned, probably about a week ago," Roddick said after reaching the semi-finals of the Dubai Championships.

"I still have the utmost respect for Jimmy and thank him for his time. I think it was tough for him to do it part-time and maybe not getting exactly the results we wanted, but at the same time he was retired before we got together.

"We're amicable, we're friends. I have so much respect for him as a person. I'm sad but I'm thankful for what he was able to give to me and the fact that he was able to take some time out of his retirement and spend it with me." The 25-year-old American, who linked up with the eight-time grand slam champion in July 2006, said he did not have any immediate plans to replace Connors.ATHLETICS: Paula Radcliffe's withdrawal from next month's London Marathon with a foot injury is a blow to her ambitions to win a fourth title in the capital.

But the identification of a toe tendon injury five months before the Olympic marathon is vital as Radcliffe bids to erase the disappointment of dropping out at the last Games in 2004.

UK Athletics (UKA) - although they offered commiserations she will miss her favourite event on April 13th - will welcome the 34-year-old's withdrawal in favour of ensuring she will be fully fit for Beijing.

The governing body, with future world-class performance funding for their athletes based on achievement, regard Radcliffe as one of their few genuine medal shots in the Chinese capital.

UKA's performance director Dave Collins admitted yesterday he was relieved the world record holder was being cautious rather than pursue a big pay day at the London event.

GOLF:In recognition of Padraig Harrington's victories in the Irish and British Opens, businessman JP McManus is donating €2 million to the golf scholarships in NUI Maynooth, named in memory of the golfer's late father, Paddy Harrington.

Established in 2006, the Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarships are a collaboration between NUI Maynooth and the Golfing Union of Ireland's (GUI) National Golf Academy, based at Carton House.

Students on this scholarship have the use of the two championship courses, The Montgomerie and The O'Meara in Carton House Estate, and also benefit from warm winter training on the Oceanico Group courses in the Algarve of Portugal.Seán Kelly, the executive chairman of the Irish Institute of Sport, has welcomed the appointment of Gary Keegan as the director of technical services with the institute.

The Dublin-born 42-year-old was high performance director with the Irish Amateur Boxing Association.

He will continue to work with the Irish boxers who have qualified for Beijing.