A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Contador welcomes decision to appeal
CYCLING:Alberto Contador yesterday reiterated his innocence over his positive drugs test and believes the International Cycling Union's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport will help clear his name. Three-time Tour de France champion Contador insists his inadvertent ingestion of contaminated meat caused his positive test for clenbuterol on July 21st, the final rest day of the 2010 Tour. The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) proposed giving the 28-year-old a one-year ban before subsequently acquitting him, a decision the UCI has opted to appeal to CAS.
The World Anti-doping Agency has 21 days to determine whether they will join the UCI in also appeal to CAS.
Two wins for Moriarty in Mexico
TENNIS: Ireland's Julia Moriarty yesterday pulled off a winning double in the ITF Women's Circuit event in Poza Rica, Mexico.
Moriarty initially romped to a 6-2 6-0 victory over Mexico’s Ivette Lopez in the opening round of the singles competition. And the Australia-born right-hander later partnered Puerto Rico’s Jessica Roland-Rosario to a 6-1 6-0 success against Mexican pair Zorayma Arreola and Maritza Hernandez.
Meanwhile, Davis Cup player James Cluskey advanced to the second round of the doubles in the ITF Men’s Future event in Vaduz, Liechtensten. The 24-year-old Dubliner and France’s Fabrice Martin, the top seeds, edged Timo Kranz of Liechtenstein and the Czech Republic’s Jiri Lopaj on a 7-6 (9/7) 6-4 scoreline.
Tough competition for places
EQUESTRIAN:This weekend, 's-Hertogenenbosch in the Netherlands hosts the 13th and final qualifying round for the Rolex World Cup show jumping final in May and competition will be fierce to secure points as just 18 riders may compete in Leipzig, writes Margie McLoone.
Cork-born Billy Twomey is the sole Irish rider assured of making the final line-up in Germany as he currently lies in sixth place in the World Cup rankings. Jessica Kürten is in 23rd spot, while Denis Lynch is further adrift in 30th.
Dublin to host Europeans
BOXING:THE Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) will host the 2011 European Youth Championships in Dublin in August.
Tommy Murphy, the president of the IABA, confirmed that the tournament would be held in Ireland’s capital between August 15th and 21st.
“We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting the 2011 European Youth Championships and that the cream of up and coming amateur boxing talent will be coming to Ireland to compete in this prestigious tournament, said the IABA President.
Meanwhile, Ken Egan will be one of two Olympic silver medallist in action tonight when Ireland and China clash for the third and final time inside a week at the National Stadium in Dublin. Ireland take a 18-6 aggregate lead into tonight’s 12-bout international.
Murphy pounces late on
HOCKEY: Aoife Murphy's last gasp winner for Loreto Kilkenny against Alexandra College meant all five sides in the Kate Russell All-Ireland Schoolgirl's Championships could scarcely be separated after day one of the competition in Limerick.
Murphy secured a dramatic 4-3 win to leave each team on three points after two rounds of matches with goal difference also virtually identical. The South East side looked to have blown a 3-0 advantage as treble-chasing Alex stormed back to tie the game up with just a few minutes to go.
Grace Walsh and Murphy had given the Kilkenny side a commanding lead but goals from the Dublin side’s youth international panellists Millie O’Donnell, Emily Beatty and Hannah McDermott tied the game with five minutes remaining. Murphy, though, burst their bubble when she popped up to sneak a winner.
