CYCLING:Alejandro Valverde last night won the right to appear at world championships, just as local organisers cranked up legal pressure on the sport's governing body over doping.
The opening day of the road championships saw the two rainbow jerseys on offer taken by two cyclo-cross specialists, Dutchman Lars Boom in the men's Under-23 time trial and Germany's Hanka Kupfernagel in the women's time trial.
The cycling was overshadowed by other events, however, as the city of Stuttgart threatened to take legal action against the International Cycling Union (UCI).
The UCI suffered its first blow when the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Valverde, who denies involvement in doping, could take part in Sunday's road race.
The UCI had tried to ban the Spanish rider over an alleged link to the Spanish Operation Puerto drugs scandal.
"It's not good news," UCI president Pat McQuaid said at a news conference. "It's disappointing, but I wouldn't say it was such a big blow."
There was potentially more damaging news when the city of Stuttgart threatened to seek a €1 million in damages if Italian riders, Danilo Di Luca and Paolo Bettini were allowed to compete.
Di Luca, winner of the Giro d'Italia, is the subject of a doping investigation in Italy. Bettini, the world champion, has yet to put his name to the anti-doping pledge the UCI is eager for all riders to sign.
Hamilton feels heat
FORMULA ONE:Lewis Hamilton says he has to stay "relaxed and calm" otherwise he can forget about becoming world champion this year.
McLaren rival Fernando Alonso has slowly reeled in Hamilton over the past few races, closing the gap to a slender two points with just three grands prix remaining.
The first of those is Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix at the redesigned Fuji Speedway.
"It is my first year in Formula One, and I'm still 22," said Hamilton. "It's been quite a strange experience to realise I can win in Formula One and for the championship to become a reality. It's been phenomenal.
"Everything is so close in the championship now, so it would be great to win."
Result of Kürten B sample due soon
SHOW JUMPING:Results from the B sample taken from Jessica Kürten's mount Castle Forbes Maike at La Baule in May this year should be known in the next few days following testing in Paris on Tuesday, writes Margie McLoone.
News of a positive result to the A sample broke during the European show jumping championships in Mannheim last month, prompting a strong outburst from the rider in front of RTÉ cameras following her disappointing performance in the individual competition.
On Tuesday, controversy arose when Kürten's witnessing analyst at the testing, Dr Laurent Bigler from the University of Zurich, was apparently refused the right to survey the analysis of the B sample.
Dr Ulf Walz, the German-based rider's lawyer, immediately made a protest to the FEI, the international governing body of equestrian sports, in Lausanne.
At La Baule, the 13-year-old Dutch-bred mare Castle Forbes Maike won the Grand Prix with its €100,000 first prize, which could be forfeited should B result also prove positive.
Attempts to contact Cullybackey-born Kürten yesterday evening failed with all inquiries being directed on to Walz in Basel.
