Global Sport

The Oregon-based Commonwealth 800 metres champion better own 1996 indoor record of two minutes 31.23 by almost half a second, set at the same Stockholm track, by clocking an official time of 2:30.94.

The time was first given as an unofficial 2:30.96, later confirmed to be 2:30.94.

This was sweet revenge for the three-times World Indoor Champion Mutola after she just missed the 800 mark in Lievin, France, last Sunday.

Muralitharan signing for Lancashire confirmed

LONDON: Controversial Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will join English county side Lancashire as their overseas player next season, a club spokesman has confirmed.

Doubts had arisen over his signing, originally announced last September, after Sri Lankan cricket authorities were reported to be opposed to the move.

They were said to be concerned he would be over-used in the demanding English County scene.

But Lancashire spokesman Dave Edmundson said yesterday Muralitharan would join the club after the World Cup ended in June. “We are pleased and looking forward to seeing him perform for us,” Edmundson said.

Muralitharan, who took 16 wickets in Sri Lanka’s win in a one-off Test against England at the Oval last season, was called for throwing during the Tri-nations series in Australia last month.

He had been no-balled for the same reason three years earlier in Australia.

Australian IOC member leaves to face Olympic probe

SYDNEY: Australian IOC member Phil Coles Wason his way to Switzerland today to face a inquiry into the Salt Lake City Olympic bid scandal as new evidence emerged contradicting an explanation he has given.

Documents released by the salt lake city organising committee included details of a visit it organised for Coles, his partner and family to an exclusive ski resort six months after it won the bid to host the 2002 Winter Games.

Coles has insisted it was a private trip at Christmas, 1995, and that he was guest of US IOC delegate Jim Easton at his deer valley condominium.

But The Australian newspaper today quoted Easton as denying he hosted the visit by Coles, adding: “I do not know why he is saying that, but he did not. I’d hate to get him into trouble, but the only time Phil stayed at my condo was in February or March of last year.”

The itinerary of Coles’ trip, which the bid committee said cost more than $9,000, detailed skiing excursions, three dinners with senior bid officials and a new year’s eve party with Atlanta Games Chief Billy Payne and disgraced bid leader Tom Welch.