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Henin says she considered surgery after Australian Open

MIAMI: World No 1 Justine Henin said on Wednesday that she had considered surgery earlier this year because her inflamed right knee was so painful.

The Belgian chose a more conservative approach instead, receiving a cortisone injection between the Australian Open and last month's Antwerp tournament.

She also took some time off, missing this month's Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells to rest her knee and train properly.

"It's been a chronic problem and it's doing much better," the seven times Grand Slam champion said at the Sony Ericsson Open. "It's already two months after the injection and my knee is really good.

"That was my main concern the last two months and it's going really well, so I'm really happy."

"In Australia, I didn't really have the time to rest and my knee was bothering me and I was thinking about surgery," she added. "After Dubai, I said it's time for me now to really have good preparation, so the last four weeks I've worked really hard."

Schumacher to help distribute McLaren's spy fine

LONDON: Ferrari's retired world champion Michael Schumacher will help distribute $60 million paid by McLaren as punishment for last year's spying controversy, Formula One's governing body said on Wednesday.

The seven times world champion, who quit in 2006, will form part of a five-man management committee for the worldwide Motor Sport Safety Development Fund.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that the intention was to use the fund over the next five years to concentrate on three safety programmes for drivers, officials and facilities.

Other members of the committee are FIA president Max Mosley, former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt, Mercedes motorsport director Norbert Haug and Nick Craw who represents the national sporting associations.

Olazabal set to miss Rider Cup due to rheumatism

MARBELLA, Spain: Twice former US Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal said on Wednesday he will almost certainly not play in September's Ryder Cup.

The 42-year-old, who is Nick Faldo's vice-captain for the Kentucky event, will make his return to competitive action at the Andalucia Open on Thursday after persistent problems with rheumatism cut short his 2007 season.

"Unless I completely recover right away and my game hits standards I haven't yet reached in my life before, as far as playing is concerned, I am out of the picture," Olazabal said at the Aloha Golf Club.

It has been Olazabal's second long spell out of golf after suffering arthritis in his foot in 1995-96. His most recent problem affects his knee, shoulder, groin and lower-back, hindering him walking and bending.

Liverpool's Mascherano charged with improper conduct

LONDON: Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano was charged with improper conduct by the FA on Wednesday following his refusal to leave the field after being sent off in last Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Manchester United.

The Argentina midfielder, having been booked for a tackle in the Premier League match at Old Trafford, was shown a second yellow card after he ran 20 meters to to question referee Steve Bennett who had cautioned Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

Mascherano then lost his temper and berated the referee, despite several attempts from team mates and Liverpool officials to calm him down, before being dragged from the pitch.

His red card earned him an automatic one-game suspension, which rules him out of Sunday's important derby with Everton as the teams chase a Champions League qualifying place, but if he is found guilty he will face a further ban.

"The charge relates to his reaction towards referee Steve Bennett after being sent off against Manchester United," the FA said in a statement.

Mascherano has until 1800 GMT on Thursday to respond and the case will be heard on April 4.

(China Daily 03/28/2008 page22)