A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Driver Reilly banned after dope test
DOPING: Motor Sport Ireland has confirmed the anti-doping violation of recently affiliated driver John Reilly, who was randomly tested after an event in Mondello Park last July. Reilly’s sample revealed traces of the banned steroid boldenone, and following an anti-doping hearing, he was handed a two-year ban from the sport, subject to his right to appeal within 14 days.
Reilly’s results in the race are also automatically disqualified in accordance with the Irish anti-doping rules.
Reilly is a relative newcomer to the sport, and the original hearing was adjourned on November 2nd and resumed on November 23rd. The panel decided the appropriate commencement date for the period of ineligibility is September 2nd, 2010, the date on which Reilly admitted the violation.
O'Donohoe captains Leinster A
RUGBY: Paul O’Donohoe captains Leinster A against a Plymouth Albion team that should contain several Irish players this evening at Skerries RFC, Holmpatrick (6.30 – free admission at the gate).
Tom Sexton’s selection at hooker confirms Jason Harris-Wright’s place on the Leinster bench in Clermont, while Brendan Macken returns to the centre after injury.
The Irish players in the Plymouth squad include former Lansdowne winger Johnny Coleman, St Mary’s lock Robin Copeland, Old Belvedere scrumhalf Ruairí Cushion, Shannon centre Fionn McLoughlin, Leinster Academy hooker Gavin O’Meara and outhalf Kieran Hallett from Ulster, who is also the club captain.
LEINSTER A: N Morris; S Coghlan-Murray, B Macken, N Reid, M Keating; I McKinley, P O’Donohoe (capt); J McGrath, T Sexton, S Maguire; E Sheriff, E O’Donoghue; R Ruddock, J Murphy, S Keogh. Replacements: A Dundon, B Prescott, M Flanagan, B Marshall, J Conney, D Hudson, A Boyle.
Klitschko's pull-out means Lee won't be fighting either
BOXING: Limerick middleweight Andy Lee will not fight this weekend after Wladimir Klitschko’s world heavyweight title defence against Britain’s Dereck Chisora was cancelled. The Ukrainian champion was forced to pull out of the bout with an abdominal problem, meaning the undercard, including Lee’s meeting with Poland’s Daniel Urbanski, is also scratched.
Lee’s (24(18)-1-0) bout with Urbanski (20(5)-5-0) in Mannheim, Germany, would have been his fifth this year after stopping Mamadou Thiam, James Cook, Michael Walker and Troy Lowry.
Klitschko is expected to be able to fight within 60 days but Chisora (26) is concerned the IBF and WBO champion may now set his sights on a lucrative showdown with WBA holder David Haye in the new year.
“He offered the fight and he has to fight me. We want that fight,” Chisora told BBC Radio 5 Live.
