Global sport

The American, who has dropped to 28th in the world rankings, was forced out of the German Open in Hamburg two weeks ago with the same injury. He was a finalist at Roland Garros in 1990 and 1991.

Frenchman Jerome Golmard takes Agassi8217;s place in the draw with a wild card going to another Frenchman, Frederic Fontang.

Top billing for Sampras, Hingis

PARIS: Seedings for the French Open tennis championships starting next Monday announced by the French tennis federation today:

Men: 1-Pete Sampras US, 2-Michael Chang US, 3-Yevgeny Kafelnikov Russia, 4-Goran Ivanisevic Croatia, 5-Thomas Muster Austria, 6-Richard Krajicek Netherlands, 7-Marcelo Rios Chile, 8-Alex Corretja Spain 9-Thomas Enqvist Sweden, 10-Carlos Moya Spain, 11-Felix Mantilla Spain 12-Albert Costa Spain, 13-Alberto Berasategui Spain, 14-Wayne Ferreira South Africa 15-Tim Henman Britain, 16-Marc Rosset Switzerland.Women: 1-Martina Hingis Switzerland, 2-Steffi Graf Germany, 3-Monica Seles US, 4-Jana Novotna Czech Republic, 5-Lindsay Davenport US 6-Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario Spain, 7-Conchita Martinez Spain 8-Anke Huber Germany, 9-Iva Majoli Croatia 10-Mary Pierce France, 11-Amanda Coetzer South Africa, 12-Mary Joe Fernandez US, 13-Irina Spirlea Romania 14-Brenda Schultz-McCarthy Netherlands, 15-Karina Habsudova Slovakia 16-Barbara Paulus Austria

Tobacco taboo in England

HARROGATE : Prime Minister Tony Blair8217;s new Labour Government announced Monday it would ban cigarette advertising and bar the sponsorship of sports events by tobacco companies.

We recognise that some sports are heavily dependent on tobacco sponsorship,8221; health secretary Frank Dobson said yesterday, describing the draft legislation.

The Government would give the sports involved time to reduce their dependency on tobacco and find other sponsors, Mr Dobson told the Annual Congress of the Royal College of Nursing in Harrogate, northern England.

Code of conduct for England team

LONDON: Two days before its first One-Day international against Australia, the England cricket squad has been issued a set of guidelines on how to dress and behave on and off the pitch.

The 28-page document presented to each player today by the England management committee chairman Bob Bennett outlines the need to present a smart, uniform image.

Positive relations with the media, neat presentation, punctuality and respect for dressing room rules are all addressed in the new code of conduct, which also states that players are not to bet on matches involving themselves.

Australia-Durham match abandoned

CHESTER-LE-STREET: Australia8217;s one-day cricket match against Durham was abandoned today without a ball being bowled after heavy overnight rain made the pitch unplayable.

Roberto Baggio for United?

MILAN: Brazilian star Ronaldo could be on his way from Barcelona to Inter Milan next season, the Italian press reported today, while Manchester United have their eyes on Roberto Baggio.

Ronaldo, whose goals have guided Barcelona to the European Cup Winners8217; Cup and second place in the Spanish League, is widely expected to leave the Catalan club at the end of the season.

Manchester United have reportedly joined Olympique Marseille as candidates to buy Baggio from AC Milan. Baggio, only now sure of a regular first team place, has so far shown little appetite for English football.

IBF launches Spectacular Seven8217;

GLASGOW: A new multi-million dollar sequence of tournaments on the World Grand Prix circuit, called the Spectacular Seven8217;, was announced by the International Badminton Federation on the opening day of the World Championships. The tournaments are expected to start within two years time.

Likely to include four major Asian events, two European and one American, the concept is designed to raise the profile of the sport and increase its television coverage after a disappointing Olympic Games for badminton.

Bailey shows top form at Vancouver

VANCOUVER: Olympic champion Donovan Bailey served notice that he is primed for his June 1 sprint showdown against Michael Johnson by posting the second-fastest 100 meters in the world this year yesterday.

Bailey, who holds the world record at 9.84 seconds, eased to victory at the Harry Jerome Track Classic at Swangard Stadium in a time of 9.99 seconds, then anchored the Canadian relay team in a relaxed victory.

Muster moves into second round

ST POLTEN: Thomas Muster rebounded from a disappointing loss in the Italian Open by crushing Sebastien Grosjean of France in the first round of the 425,000 Raifeissen Grand Prix.

Muster, No 5 in the world and the top seed at St Polten, was treated for severe dehydration last week after a marathon three-set upset loss to Scott Draper in the Italian Open.

But it took him only 59 minutes to dispatch Grosjean, ranked No 252 by ATP, 6-3, 6-3 on Monday in front of his Austrian countrymen.