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Henin supports tough action to keep tennis clean

MADRID: World No 1 Justine Henin has backed tough action by tennis authorities to ensure the sport stays clean in the wake of growing concerns about match-fixing and doping.

"My tolerance in doping and match-fixing is zero, but we can't accuse anyone until we have proof," the 25-year-old Belgian told a news conference on the eve of the WTA Championships in Madrid on Monday.

"It is unfortunately a scourge that appears to affect all sports but we have to make sure it doesn't affect tennis."

Men's tennis has been hit by a series of allegations about match-fixing in recent months while the women's game was rocked by Martina Hingis's revelation that she tested positive for cocaine during Wimbledon, although the former No 1 denied she had taken the drug.

"On match-fixing the only thing I can say is that I've never been approached by anyone about anything and I've never heard about anything like it," said Henin.

Inter's Figo fractures right leg

MILAN: Inter Milan's Luis Figo fractured his shin in Sunday's 1-1 Serie A draw at Juventus, tests showed on Monday.

"The midfielder has fractured the fibula in his right leg," the Serie A champion told its website (www.inter.it). "Figo will undergo surgery tomorrow."

The former Real Madrid and Portugal player came off in the second half after a foul by Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved, who was booked.

Inter, who entertains CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday, did not say how long Figo would be out.

The 34-year-old joins the club's long list of injured midfielders.

French captain Patrick Vieira is expected to be sidelined until the end of the year with a calf problem, Serbia's Dejan Stankovic is missing with an ankle sprain and Chilean Luis Jimenez is also out because of a thigh injury.

Yallop leaves Galaxy and Beckham to coach Earthquakes

CARSON, California: David Beckham will play under a new coach in his second Major League Soccer (MLS) campaign next year after the Los Angeles Galaxy released Frank Yallop from his contract on Monday.

Former Canada international Yallop, head coach of the Galaxy when Beckham joined the club in July on a five-year deal, will leave Los Angeles to take charge of the San Jose Earthquakes.

The Galaxy, in compensation, will receive the Earthquakes' third-round pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.

"Frank steered our team through a unique and challenging period in our history," Galaxy president and general manager Alexi Lalas said in a statement.

"He is a friend and a gentleman, and I want to personally thank him for his contributions. We wish him nothing but the best in his return to San Jose."

Yallop became the fifth coach in Galaxy history in June 2006, guiding them to the 2006 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup final and this year's SuperLiga Final.

Wami gets half-million-dollar prize but wanted NYC win

NEW YORK: Gete Wami collected her $500,000 prize as winner of the World Marathon Majors women's title on Monday but the Ethiopian was still dissatisfied with her second place in the New York City Marathon over the weekend.

Wami, competing 35 days after winning in Berlin, lost her race-long duel with Paula Radcliffe over the last few hundred meters on Sunday although she did enough to clinch the big payday with the most points from major marathons over a two-year period.

"It was such a tough race, it was a bit harder than normal," Wami told Reuters through an interpreter. "I would normally have more preparation time and recovery time.

"It was only five weeks after Berlin. If not, the result would have been different," said Wami, who finished 23 seconds behind Briton Radcliffe.

The diminutive Wami foiled two-time New York champion Jelena Prokopcuka's bid to win the majors crown with her gutsy run.

(China Daily 11/07/2007 page23)