A round-up of other sports news in brief....
Barnes sent home over protest
BOXING: Paddy Barnes, a bronze medal winner at the Beijing Olympics, has been sent home from the World Championships in Milan following his reaction to his defeat in the last 32 of the tournament on Saturday night.
IABA president Dominic O’Rourke and Irish team manager Des Donnelly confirmed that Barnes, has been sent home for disciplinary reasons. The Belfast man reacted with fury to Saturday night’s last 32 loss to Kenya’s Peter Munkai. Barnes threw his gloves onto the canvas after the shock 15-4 reversal and was clearly upset.
O’Rourke said: “Paddy’s behaviour was totally unacceptable. He has been disciplined and sent home and there will be further disciplinary procedures when we get home.
“It’s all right being annoyed at a decision but the way Paddy reacted was inexcusable and to do it in the ring on the World stage is just terrible.”
“This sport is all about discipline and there is no way that we can allow things like this to happen. Paddy has let himself and his coaches down very badly.
“He could now face discipline from the world body but I just hope that the fact we have acted so swiftly to discipline will help but they are very tough on discipline and particularly with the whole world watching.”
Meantime, Ken Egan cruised into the last 16 after stopping Muhammad Sutani Quadir of Afghanistan in round three. Donegal welterweight Willie McLaughlin recorded an impressive 14-3 over Vedic Velibor of Bosnia.
But EU featherweight champ David Oliver Joyce bowed out of the tournament after he lost 16-11 to Oscar Valdez of Mexicoand Tipperary heavyweight Con Sheehan bowed out of the tournament at the last 32 stage after he was beaten 11-0 by Osmay Duarte Acosta, a Cuban bronze medal winner from Beijing, last night.
Cunego claims first stage win
CYCLING: Italian rider Damiano Cunego soloed to victory on yesterday’s first mountain stage of the Vuelta a España, hitting the line in Aitana 33 seconds ahead of David Moncoutié, and a further three up on Robert Gesink. Race favourites Cadel Evans, Alejandro Valverde and Samuel Sánchez were next in, 44 seconds back, with Evans goint into the overall lead.
Rossi extends advantage after victory in San Marino
MOTOR SPORT: MotoGP leader Valentino Rossi extended his advantage over Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo by winning the San Marino Grand Prix in front of his home crowd on Sunday.
World champion Rossi, now 30 points clear of the Spaniard with four races left, started on pole for the first time at Misano but quickly dropped down to fourth before battling back up to first where he then sped away from the field.
Lorenzo, who triumphed at Indianapolis last month when Rossi crashed, finished second after winning his duel with compatriot Dani Pedrosa.
Weve worked really well. We can consider it a perfect weekend, said Rossi, who wore a helmet with a donkey design after feeling stupid for tumbling in America.
