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Detroit goalie Hasek retires

DETROIT: Detroit goalie Dominik Hasek, known as "The Dominator" over a 16-season National Hockey League career that included six awards as top goaltender and two Stanley Cups, announced his retirement on Monday.

Hasek, 43, who also led the Czech Republic to the gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics, said he had no regrets about his decision to retire from the Red Wings and return to Europe to run his clothing business.

"I don't think it was a very difficult decision for me," Hasek told reporters, adding that he had talked about the possibility with his family in the past few months.

"Physically, I was feeling great."

Hasek said he had lost motivation and did not want to disappoint himself or others.

"Right now, I don't feel it is there," he said.

Hasek was ranked among the top goaltenders in the regular season, but was replaced in the first round of the playoffs by Chris Osgood. Detroit beat Pittsburgh last week to win its fourth Stanley Cup in 11 years.

Rower positive for hair restorer

ATHENS: Greek European rowing champion Yiannis Tsamis has tested positive for the banned hair restorer finasteride, the Greek Rowing Federation said on Monday.

Finasteride, which is used to treat hair loss, is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list because it can be used as a masking agent for other drugs.

Tsamis, 22, won the gold medal with Yiannos Christou in the double skulls at last year's European championships.

"The test result is definitive as the athlete has admitted to the use of the substance and has not requested for the second sample to be tested," said a statement on the federation's website (www.kopilasia.gr).

"The athlete informed the federation that he was using the substance in question for therapeutic reasons."

Tsamis tested positive after an out-of-competition test at the end of April.

Greece's Beijing Olympic preparations have been overshadowed by drugs scandals after positive tests from 11 members of the national weightlifting team and swimmer Yiannis Drymonakos.

Goalkeeper arrested in hotel

MEXICO CITY: Mexico goalkeeper and captain Oswaldo Sanchez was arrested in a Chicago hotel when celebrations got out of hand following a 4-0 friendly win over Peru, a Mexican newspaper reported on Monday.

El Universal said on its website (www.eluniversal.com.mx) that Sanchez, who has won 89 caps, was held for two hours after a group of players partied in a room and the noise disturbed other guests.

"The police turned up to stop the trouble-makers and Sanchez resisted, for which he was held for two hours and had to pay bail of $1,000," said the report, adding that Sanchez would have to appear in court on July 11.

Mexico, which recently named former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson as its new coach, had gone into Sunday's match under pressure following a 4-1 defeat by Argentina.

Eriksson will take over from caretaker Jesus Ramirez at the end of the month.

Mexico kicks off its qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup against Belize in Houston on Sunday. The second leg of the second preliminary round tie is in Monterrey on June 21.

Riquelme returns for Argentina

BUENOS AIRES: Playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme and midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron have been recalled by Argentina for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Brazil.

Riquelme has not played for Argentina this year because of club commitments with Boca Juniors and was criticized for his performance last week when Boca was knocked out of the Libertadores Cup semifinals by Brazil's Fluminense.

But coach Alfio Basile told Argentine news agency Telam on Monday that Riquelme was still top choice in midfield and praised his partnership with striker Lionel Messi.

Former Lazio, Inter Milan, Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Veron, 33, last played in the Copa America final against Brazil in July, when Argentina was thumped 3-0.

Veron's recall is a reward for his consistently strong performances for Estudiantes, where he pulls the strings in midfield.

(China Daily 06/11/2008 page22)