Inbrief

Ottey, the former 200m World champion, tested positive for Nandrolone on July 5 last year in Lucerne, Switzerland with the case coming to light just days before the World athletics championships in Seville.

The 40-year-old, known as the Lion Queen8217;, had always denied the charge and had been cleared by the Jamaican National Athletics Federation. Ottey had pulled out of the World championships in Spain last August in a blaze of publicity after her second test from the Lucerne meeting had been returned positive.

Johnson, Babakova shine at GP II
ZAGREB: Reigning Olympic champion Allen Johnson of the United States set a season8217;s best time of 13.10 seconds in the men8217;s 110 metre hurdles at the IAAF Grand Prix II meet Monday night.

While Ukrainian high jumper Inga Babakova, 33 also shone at the Zagreb Mladost stadium clearing 2m, a result achieved by only a few women athletes this season.

Two-time world champion Johnson left behind Stanislav Olijars of Latvia in second with 13.39 and Yoel Hernandez of Cuba third with 13.40. The women8217;s 100m dash was a thriller with a photo-finish. American Gail Devers and Chandra Sturupp of the Bahamas seemed even while crossing the finish line in 11.38 secs, but the photo-finish showed Sturupp to be the winner. Two-time Olympic champion Devers also finished second in the 100m hurdles 12.80 behind Delloreen Ennis-London of Jamaica 12.78.

Popov leads Russia to winning ways
HELSINKI: Olympic champion Alexander Popov, who lost all his European titles last year, returned to winning ways when he led Russia to victory in the men8217;s 4215;100 metres freestyle relay at the European Swimming Championships on Tuesday. Russia had trailed through the first three legs of the relay but anchor man Popov, never hurrying his smooth and fluid stroke, picked off German leader Stephan Kunzelmann on the return length of the 50-metre make Lanrinne pool to reclaim the title his team had lost to the all-conquering Dutch in Istanbul in 1999. Russia won in three minutes 18.75 seconds, with Germany taking the silvers in 3:19.16 and France the bronzes in 3:20.37, just 0.02 seconds ahead of Italy. Priyadarshini, Pridhvi make finals

Athlete Anil Kumar cries foul
NEW DELHI: Anil kumar, who won the silver medal in discus throw at the Bangkok Asian Games, has accused a few Sports Authority of India officials of 8220;ganging up8221; against him to deprive him of the Arjuna award.

Stating at a press meet here on Monday that he was the 8220;most deserving candidate8221; for the award, Kumar said he was being victimised for his role in the formation of Sportsmen Union of India. He said that his harrassment by the officials began when he formed the Union with Dhanraj Pillay, Dingko Singh, Jaspal Rana and others at the last National Games in Manipur.

8220;The harrassment became so acute that I was forced to keep the Union8217;s profile low and dissociate myself from it,8221; Kumar, who has been a National champion for the past four years, he said. Kumar added that he had been forwarding his name for the award for the past two years and he was dejected when he found his name missing from the list of this year8217;s awardees.

Parul, Jwala set up title clash
CHENNAI: Top seeded Parul Priyadarshini of Railways set up a title clash with G Jwala of Andhra Pradesh in the girls Under-19 final, while second seeded A Pridhvi of Air-India will meet third seed SDS Krishna, also of Air- India in the boy8217;s Under-19 singles final of the Krishna Khaitan memorial all India junior ranking badminton tournament here on Wednesday. While Parul barely escaped an upset bid to win against N Fathima of Air- India 7-11, 13-10, 11-5, Jwala lowered the colours of second seeded Trupti Murugande of Air-India 3-11, 11-5, 11-2 to enter the final.

In the boy8217;s singles semifinals third seeded Krishna toppled top seed and BPL Academy product Anoop Sridhar in an all Air-India affair 15-12, 15-10. A Pridhvi was involved in a protracted battle before winning against Varun Kanwilkar of Maharashtra 15-11, 4-15, 15-10.

India juniors trounce Lanka by 90 runs
MUMBAI: Indian teenagers continued to annihilate their rivals and trounced Sri Lanka by 90 runs on Tuesday to record their fourth straight league win in the inaugural Under-15 Asian One-Day Cricket Championship at Kuala Lumpur. Sri Lanka rued the decision to put India in, as P Das slammed an unbeaten 107 in India8217;s 40-over score of 237 for five. Das smacked six boundaries and studded it further with equal number of sixes. He and Sushil Kumar who made a quick 54 inclusive of one six and four fours, featured in third wicket stand of 148. Opener A Nayudu sparkled again as opener making 37. Sri Lanka then crumbled for 147 for nine off 40 overs against accurate bowling of M Talukdar and S Dixit. Talukdar grabbed three for 24 while Dixit had two for 15. Das was adjudged Man-of-the-Match.

Agencies