A round up of today's other stories in brief...
BOA to defend legal challenge by Chambers
OLYMPICS: The British Olympic Association (BOA) have stressed they intend to "vigorously and unequivocally defend" their lifetime ban on drug cheats after Dwain Chambers officially began his legal challenge to earn the right to run in Beijing.
Chambers is barred from competing in an Olympics under a BOA bylaw which bans athletes convicted of drug offences from the British team unless there are mitigating circumstances.
The sprinter's legal team yesterday filed papers with the High Court against the BOA, arguing the bylaw is unenforceable and an unreasonable restraint of trade.
The BOA said: "In the interests of the British Olympic movement and the athletes who aspire to line up at an Olympic Games . . . the BOA confirms that it will vigorously and unequivocally defend its lifetime ban on drug cheats who have brought themselves and their sports into disrepute."
The BOA's stance was fully supported by UK Athletics.
Coulthard calls time on career
MOTOR SPORT: Former grand prix winner David Coulthard, at 37 the oldest driver in Formula One, yesterday announced his retirement at the end of the season.
"I will remain actively involved in the sport as a consultant to Red Bull Racing, focusing on testing and development of the cars," said Coulthard who won 13 grands prix and is expected to be replaced by Germany's Sebastian Vettel.
Dunne looks ahead to Munroe
BOXING: Former European super-bantamweight champion Bernard Dunne is hopeful a win over Argentina's Damian Marchiano on Saturday week will lure title holder Rendall Munroe into the ring.
Munroe made Dunne's conqueror, Kiko Martinez, look ordinary when the pair met in Nottingham in March, though the fight went the distance. Since then, Munroe has defended his title once, in a seven-round stoppage of French journeyman Salem Bouaita. Dunne believes a 26th career win against Marchiano would force Munroe to face a more worthy challenger.
"I want my old title back," Dunne said yesterday. "I hear Munroe's not all that keen on giving me an opportunity so we might have to just try and force his hand by waiting for the EBU to make me his mandatory challenger."
3,000 Olympic medals delivered
OLYMPICS: Beijing organisers took possession of the 3,000 medals for next month's Olympics in a ceremony near Tiananmen Square yesterday, 36 days before the start of the Games.
The medals were the first for an Olympics to be designed by the winners of a public competition and each has a distinctive inlay of jade, which represents beauty, nobility, perfection, power and immortality to the Chinese.
Former Olympic women's triple jump champion Tereza Marinova yesterday announced her retirement from athletics.
Marinova, who leapt 15.20 metres on her first attempt to win gold in Sydney in 2000, said a heel injury had convinced her to end her career. "It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make," 30-year-old Marinova said.
ICC change result of 2006 game
CRICKET: The International Cricket Council (ICC) have changed the result of the controversial 2006 Oval Test between England and Pakistan to a draw, the governing body confirmed yesterday.
England were declared winners after Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq refused to lead his team back on to the pitch following the tea session on the fourth day after they had been docked five runs for ball-tampering by umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove.
Following vehement protests by Pakistan, the ICC appointed an adjudicator to probe the incident that had resulted in the first forfeited result in Tests.
"The (ICC) board's decision was based on the view that in light of the unique set of circumstances, the original result of the match was felt to be inappropriate," the ICC said.
The ICC adjudicator, Ranjan Madugalle, had banned Inzamam for four games but cleared Pakistan of ball-tampering charges. He also censored Hair for overstepping his authority.
The change leaves England 2-0 winners of that series.
Top batsmen back for Ireland
CRICKET: Ireland coach Phil Simmons had some good news yesterday with confirmation that Ireland's top three batsmen have made themselves available for next month's Twenty20 World Cup Qualifiers in Belfast, reports Emmet Riordan.
Captain William Porterfield, Eoin Morgan and Niall O'Brien have been named in a 14-man squad that also includes World Cup skipper Trent Johnston. The three county stars missed this week's demoralising Tri Nations series in Aberdeen.
Strabane opening bowler Phil Eaglestone has been included pending a visit to a specialist this weekend with shin splints. North County's Reinhardt Strydom will take his place if he is ruled out.
IRELAND SQUAD: W Porterfield (Gloucestershire, capt), A Botha (North County), P Connell (North Down), A Cusack (Clontarf), P Eaglestone (Strabane), T Fourie (Railway Union), T Johnston (Railway Union), G Kidd (Waringstown), K McCallan (Waringstown), E Morgan (Middlesex), K O'Brien (Railway Union), N O'Brien (Northamptonshire), A White (Instonians), G Wilson (Surrey).
