IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Athletics

Pistorius gives up on Beijing but still appealing

JOHANNESBURG: Double amputee Oscar Pistorius has given up on competing at this year's Beijing Olympics but is appealing a ruling banning him from able-bodied competition.

"We have appealed and we are busy setting things up for the testing," Pistorius said yesterday. "But it's a massive commitment and there simply won't be time to get it all done before Beijing, let alone in time for me to run in qualifiers."

Pistorius, who had both legs amputated below the knee as a child, runs with carbon-fiberblade attachments that athletics' governing body IAAF has ruled gave him an advantage over able-bodied athletes.

The decision was based on testing done last year at the German Sport University in Cologne, but Pistorius claims the study was flawed.

Tennis

Russia recalls Safin for Davis Cup tie vs Serbia

MOSCOW: Russia has recalled Marat Safin for next month's Davis Cup first-round tie against World Group newcomers Serbia.

Former world No 1 Safin skipped last year's final against the US in Portland after struggling to find his top form since coming back from a knee injury.

Joining Safin for the Feb. 8-10 clash at Moscow's Luzhniki arena are world No 4 Nikolay Davydenko, Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny, who has moved to a career-high eighth in the rankings after reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals.

Soccer

Guinea through despite being held 1-1 by Namibia

SEKONDI Ghana: Guinea qualified for the African Nations Cup quarterfinals despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Namibia on Monday.

The West Africans finished second in Group A, five points behind host Ghana, which went through with a 2-0 defeat of Morocco in Accra.

Guinea will play its quarterfinal in Sekondi on Sunday against the winners of Group B, probably Cote d'Ivoire who has already secured its place in the last eight before its final group match against Mali in Accra on Tuesday.

The president of the Namibia Football Association said on Saturday his players had been offered money to lose the game.

Middlesbrough defender Woodgate joins Spurs

LONDON: England and Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate has agreed to join Tottenham Hotspur, the London Premier League club said on Monday.

"We are delighted to announce we have reached agreement with Middlesbrough for the transfer of Jonathan Woodgate," the club said in a statement onits website (www.tottenhamhotspur.com).

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but Woodgate was at the club's training ground on Monday to finalize details of the transfer.

Briton Baxter named new Finland head coach

HELSINKI, Finland: Finland appointed Briton Stuart Baxter as head coach on a two-year contract on Monday, the Finnish Football Association said.

Baxter, 54, who will start his new job on February 1, previously coached the South Africa national team as well as several Nordic club sides.

FA chairman Pekka Hamalainen told a news conference Baxter had the credentials to take Finland to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"He has enough international experience and results from tight spots, so we think we have found the right person to take the national team to the World Cup," he said.

(China Daily 01/30/2008 page24)