Today's other stories in brief
Doping violation by Gibson
MOTOR CYCLING: Irish motocross rider Gary Gibson has been ruled to have violated an anti-doping rule by the Motor Cycling Union of Ireland and the Irish Sports Council.
The panel found that, contrary to Article 2.1 of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules, the presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolite, cannabis, was found in a sample of the rider’s urine collected during testing at the North Dublin Adult MX on the November 2nd, 2008.
Gibson’s results in the race are automatically disqualified, subject to his right to appeal within 14 days, and he is ineligible to ride for 16 weeks and one day (113 days). Gibson was offered a shorter period of ineligibility if he undertakes to co-operate with any reasonable request by the Irish Sports Council or the Motor Cycling Union of Ireland to participate and/or assist in any anti-doping programme for the sport of motor cycling. He has been provisionally suspended since the December 4th, 2008 which is the start of his period of ineligibility. Gibson can therefore compete again on the afternoon of the March 27th.
New destination for Twenty20
CRICKET:England and South Africa's cricket administrators are awaiting the Indian Premier League's next move, to discover which country is most likely to host the Twenty20 spectacular next month.
Both the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket South Africa have been put on alert after IPL chairman Lalit Modi announced the second staging of the high-profile tournament could not be held in India because of security concerns and a clash with elections. Modi will visit both destinations. Manoj Badale, co-owner of inaugural IPL champions Rajasthan Royals, said South Africa is his preferred destination, but is still hopeful India could host the tournament.
Armstrong injured after stage one crash in Spain
CYCLING:Lance Armstrong's return to European racing ended abruptly yesterday when he crashed heavily towards the end of stage one of the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon.
The seven-time Tour de France winner was one of six riders to fall with 20km remaining. His manager, Johan Bruyneel, reported he had suffered “a clean collarbone break without complications”.
With a typical recovery time of four to six weeks, the setback should not prove ruinous to Armstrong’s Tour de France comeback. “I am very disappointed, especially for the Giro,” the 37-year-old said when asked whether his participation in the Italian stage race was in jeopardy.
In comments released in a team statement, Armstrong added: “Now I feel miserable . . . I hope I can tell you more about the Giro in a week.”
Curran scoops event rider award
EQUESTRIAN: Army rider Capt Geoff Curran was yesterday presented with the Irish Field Senior Event Rider of the Year trophy at a lunch held in Tattersalls, the scene of his triumph last May in the FEI World Cup qualifier on the Minister for Defence's Kilkishen, writes Margie McLoone.
Co Waterford native Curran (29), who received the trophy from Siobhán English, editor of the Irish Horse World section of weekly racing and equestrian newspaper, was also a member of the Irish team which competed in the three-day event at the Olympics in Hong Kong.
As she is riding in Italy, Jessica Kürten (39) was unable to collect her trophy for Show Jumper of the Year with James Kernan accepting it on her behalf. Germany-based Kürten enjoyed a successful 2008, winning five major Grand Prix classes including the Longines International at the RDS. She was also crowned champion at the Global Champions Tour final in Sao Paulo last October.
Both Kernan and Kürten were winners in successive years (1973/74 and 1984/85) of the Young Show Jumper of the Year award and another Northern rider to join their ranks is Emily Turkington, victorious in 2007 and 2008.
This season will be the 15-year-old’s last in ponies and she is determined to improve on a campaign which, from April through to the end of the year, saw her excel on the national and international circuits. She won her first international Grand Prix at the Hengelo in the Netherlands in early December.
Judy Reynolds from Kilteel, Co Kildare was the recipient of the Dressage Rider of the Year trophy. The 28-year-old has been based in Germany for the past six years and finished 2008 on a high when becoming only the second Irish competitor to be presented with the prestigious golden rider’s medal.
The trophy for 2008 Young Event Rider of the Year was presented to Ruth Robinson, who also enjoyed a big day at Tattersalls when winning the international junior class on Tamino 202. The 19-year-old from Kilbeggan was also a member of the Irish team which won the silver medal at the European junior championships in Scotland last August.
Murray to play at Queen's
TENNIS: British number one Andy Murray, who lost to Rafael Nadal 6-1, 6-2 in Sunday's Indian Wells, has confirmed he will play in the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club in June. The Scot, 21, will appear at the renamed event for the fourth time in his career, having claimed his first ATP win there in 2005.
Last year, Murray withdrew ahead of his quarter-final clash with Andy Roddick because of a thumb injury. “Grass is a good surface for me and it would mean a lot to me to win a tournament at home,” said Murray.
