Cycling: Di Luca banned for life after third doping offence
(Reuters) – Former Giro d’Italia winner Danilo Di Luca has been banned from cycling for life after a third doping offence, an Italian Olympic Committee tribunal ruled on Thursday.
Soccer: World Cup money pot increased to $576m
COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil (Reuters) – The 32 teams at next year’s World Cup finals will share a total fund of $576 million, including a prize-money pot of $358m with the winners taking home $35m, FIFA said on Thursday.
Shot of the day must wait overnight to be recorded
SUN CITY, South Africa (Reuters) – Brendon de Jonge played the shot of the day at a storm-curtailed Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City on Thursday, but will have to wait until Friday for it to be acknowledged by the scorers.
Carlos Alberto warns Brazil over misplaced confidence
COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil (Reuters) – Carlos Alberto Torres, the captain of arguably Brazil’s greatest side, fears the current crop are worse than previous World Cup failures and the soccer-mad nation is overcooking expectations.
Blatter prays to God over April date for Sao Paulo stadium
COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil (Reuters) – The stadium that will host the opening match of the 2014 World Cup will not be ready until April 14 or 15, less than two months before the tournament kicks off, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Thursday.
Injury-hit Barcelona has Alba back for King’s Cup
BARCELONA (Reuters) – Barcelona welcome back Jordi Alba for their King’s Cup clash at Cartagena on Friday but the Spanish champions still have several players unavailable through injury.
Platini calls for sin bins to replace yellow cards
BARCELONA (Reuters) – European soccer chief Michel Platini wants yellow cards to be replaced by a rugby-style system of sin bins.
Donald sets pace at stormy Sun City
SUN CITY, South Africa (Reuters) – Former world number one Luke Donald made a blistering start to the Nedbank Golf Challenge on Thursday but the first round was cut short by thunderstorms.
Toure chasing third African Footballer of the Year title
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – Ivorian Yaya Toure heads a list of 10 nominees for this year’s African Footballer of the Year award, an honor he is chasing for the third successive year.
Sweden extend coach Hamren’s contract until 2016
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden have extended the contract of coach Erik Hamren until 2016, the Swedish Football Association said on Thursday.
