A round-up of other sports news in brief

IOC to rule on Beijing doping cases in December

OLYMPICS GAMES: Five athletes who tested positive for doping after blood sample retests from the 2008 Beijing Olympics will learn their fate in December, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have said.

Bahrain’s Olympic 1,500 metres gold medallist Rashid Ramzi, who could have his medal stripped, and four other athletes tested positive for the blood booster Cera. All first-time doping offenders could face a two-year suspension while second-time offenders are liable to a life-time ban.

The positive results came in April after the IOC retested 948 athletes’ samples, focusing on endurance events.

Italy’s cycling road race silver medallist Davide Rebellin and German Stefan Schumacher, already banned for doping, were also confirmed positive.

Hendry shows return to form

SNOOKER: Stephen Hendry has targeted a return to the world’s top eight and believes he can take his practice table form into snooker’s top arenas.

The 40-year-old Scot came through his first-round test at the Grand Prix in Glasgow last night, firing in a 116 break and runs of 58, 72 and 47 in his 5-2 victory over England’s Matthew Selt.

Hendry looked to be recovering his best form at the World Championship in April, only to lose his focus after a maximum 147 break in his quarter-final against eventual runner-up Shaun Murphy.

Discussing the win over Selt at the Kelvin Hall, Hendry said: “I was pretty comfortable.

“I am playing well in practice, and my goal for this season is to replicate that form where it matters.

“If I do that I can break back into the top eight.”

An unseeded draw for the last-16 matches takes place today.

Watson wins it for Australia

CRICKET: Shane Watson’s second hundred in a week sealed Champions Trophy glory for Australia as they clinched a six-wicket win over New Zealand in Pretoria.

Watson hit an unbeaten 105, getting to his landmark and securing victory and a successful title defence with consecutive sixes off Jeetan Patel, following his man-of-the-match performance against England three days ago.

Australian, who have been in imperious form since losing the Ashes, were rocked by the fall of two early wickets in pursuit of a 201-run target. But they got home thanks largely to Watson’s 128-run stand with Cameron White.

Radcliffe out

ATHLETICS: Three-time champion Paula Radcliffe has withdrawn from next weekend’s world half marathon championships in Birmingham because of illness.

The injury-prone 35-year-old, who also withdrew from the marathon at the recent world championships in Berlin because of problems associated with foot surgery, has tonsillitis.

“I’m devastated not to be able to compete in Birmingham,” said Radcliffe.