Global Sport

The 30-year-old Jayasuriya hoped Whatmore8217;s return will mark a turnaround in the team8217;s fortunes as the coach was aware of the individual needs of players.

Cocaine transported with F-1 cars8217;

LONDON: Customs officials are looking into allegations of a link between Formula One motor racing and cocaine smuggling amidaccusations that Grand Prix cars may have been used to conceal drugs as they are transported around the world, the Sunday Times reported on the day of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone declined to comment, the newspaper said, but an unidentified aid of Ecclestone was quoted as saying: 8220;He did not have any knowledge or evidence that individuals within F1 were doing anything of the sort. If he had information or evidence he would have taken it to the police.8221;

The newspaper reported that an earlier investigation by Scotland Yard into whether racing cars and their containers were being used as a cover for cocaine smuggling between South America and Europe was inconclusive. It added that an investigation, which ended in 1997, was looking into allegations that drugs were being stashed in car parts and equipment and loaded into containers before being transported from South America to Europe.

Kiprop falls short of record, wins race

GOLD COASTAUSTRALIA: Kenyan Fred Kiprop captured his second consecutive Gold Coast Marathon here Sunday but fell short of Australian Robert de Castella8217;s 17-year-old allcomers record. Kiprop said in the race leadup that given favourable conditions de Castella8217;s time of two hours 9 minutes and 18 seconds could be lowered on the fast course, aided by the 250,000 about Rs 70 lakh bonus prize.

Despite generally good weather the chance of a record time was hampered by a lack of pacemakers and at the 5km mark the lead pack was 10 minutes off de Castella8217;s record. Kiprop, 26, gradually cranked up the pace to break away at the 34km mark and win the marathon with a time of 2:14.02, well off the 2:11 he ran last year.

Hiromi Igarishi of Japan won the women8217;s marathon in 2.35:19 ahead of Russia8217;s Alina Ivanova, who was 41 seconds behind.

2002 World Cup final in Yokohama

TOKYO: Japan8217;s organising committee for the 2002 World Cup soccer finals has chosen the nation8217;s largest stadium in Yokohama, south ofTokyo, for the venue for the final match, reports said on Sunday.

The decision is expected to be formally approved at a July 26 extraordinary executive board meeting.

The 2002 football World Cup, to be co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, will be first finals to be staged in Asia. The 70,336-seat Yokohama International Stadium is about 25 kilometres 15 miles away from central Tokyo.