Buschbaum set to quit for sex-change op

BERLIN: Former European pole-vault medalist Yvonne Buschbaum has announced her retirement from athletics to undergo hormone therapy and has hinted she will have a sex-change operation.

Holmes ends comeback with retirement

CHICAGO: Three-time Pro Bowl running back Priest Holmes of the Kansas City Chiefs ended his remarkable comeback by announcing his retirement from the National Football League on Wednesday.

IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Sports

Holmes still haunted by Marciano remark

WASHINGTON: Larry Holmes has clashed with Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Ken Norton yet admits his own verbal jab at an American icon was ultimately more painful than anything he endured inside the ring.

Italy's door still open for Del Piero

ROME: Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said on Tuesday that he has not permanently closed the door on Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero.

Johnson finds winning is getting tougher

WASHINGTON: Two times champion Jimmie Johnson said Tuesday that life at the top of NASCAR racing was only going to get harder next year as his rivals gain in experience.

Why did fallen hero Vick to go to jail early?

WASHINGTON: Disgraced US football star Michael Vick's decision to go to jail three weeks early was unusual but likely done to show goodwill and get a jump-start on a long prison term, legal experts said on Tuesday.

Hair adamant he did nothing wrong in abandoned Test

SYDNEY: Banished Australian umpire Darrell Hair said yesterday he had correctly handled last year's abandoned cricket Test between England and Pakistan, which became the first in history to be won by forfeit.

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Briton Howell shocked by alarming dip in form

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Russian offers cars to Croatia players if team beats England

MOSCOW: A Russian billionaire has offered incentives to Croatia for beating England in its final Euro 2008 Group E qualifier on Wednesday, a result that would give Russia a chance to reach the finals.