FOOTBALL

Zhang sidelined six months for doping

The player in China's first soccer doping case has been suspended for six months, having avoided a harsher penalty on evidence he didn't know a banned drug was in his flu medicine.

Zhang Shuai, 22, who tested positive for the banned drug ephedrine in random testing, had already been suspended by his team Beijing Hyundai for three months and fined the equivalent of US$6,000.

He now must also serve out a six-month suspension by the China Football Association dating back to November 22, when he was tested.

The defender could have been suspended for up to four years for his offense, but he received a lesser punishment after the football association confirmed he had taken the banned drug unwittingly and the dose was small.

"I should have asked the doctor before taking the pills," Zhang was quoted as saying in a statement. He also told reporters he felt "extremely repentant."

No disciplinary action for Arsenal duo

LONDON: Arsenal duo Ashley Cole and Edu have escaped disciplinary action over their involvement in the fracas that erupted at the end of Arsenal's win over Manchester City on Sunday resulting in City striker Nicolas Anelka being sent off.

Anelka was appealing the red card issued after he scored a late goal, then tried to wrestle the ball out of the hands of Cole.

Brazilian midfielder Edu then waded into the fray. But referee Alan Wiley has confirmed to the Football Association that he saw the entire incident and no further action will be taken.

City boss Kevin Keegan insisted after his side's 2-1 defeat that he would not be launching an appeal as it was a "waste of time" but there appears to have been a rethink given how lightly Cole and Edu got off.

The FA's video advisory panel will now look at Anelka's appeal.

Wales foiled in effort to disqualify Russia

LONDON: Wales failed in a bid to have Russia removed from the finals of Euro 2004 because of Yegor Titov's positive drug test, European soccer's governing body UEFA said on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Spartak Moscow captain tested positive for the banned substance Bromantan after Russia drew 0-0 with Wales in the first leg of their Euro 2004 playoff in Moscow in November.

Russia won the second leg 1-0 a week later in Cardiff to qualify for the tournament in Portugal, but the Football Association of Wales (FAW) complained they should have been awarded a 3-0 win because Titov, who was an unused substitute in the first leg, should not have been eligible to play.

Titov has since been banned by UEFA for one year, although his club has appealed on behalf of the midfielder.

"In reviewing the case the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body made reference to the Welsh FA's failure to provide evidence that the player was under the influence of a prohibited substance in the second leg," UEFA said in a statement.

Punch earns Materazzi lengthy suspension

ROME: Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi has been banned from playing until March 29 for punching Siena defender Bruno Cirillo, the disciplinary panel of the Italian Football League (Lega-Calcio) said on Tuesday.

Inter have also been fined 5,000 euros (US$6,300).

The panel said the former Everton player's actions were an "unprovoked act of violence."

The incident occurred in the tunnel after Inter's 4-0 Serie A victory at the San Siro on Sunday.

Materazzi, who was not even on the Inter squad for the match because of an injury, clashed with Cirillo as the players were walking towards the dressing rooms and left him with a split lip.

Cirillo said Materazzi had been taunting him throughout the game, for which the Inter centre-back apologized.

Beckham calls Zidane the greatest

MADRID: David Beckham has described Zinedine Zidane as the greatest player in the world and nominated the French playmaker as the Real Madrid team-mate with whom he links best.

Beckham told Cope radio station on Tuesday that he loves playing alongside Zidane, who in December was voted World Footballer of the Year for the third time.

"Zidane is the greatest player in the world," said Beckham. "I get on well with him and he is the one who understands me best.

"He is the sort of player who makes special things happen on the field.

"Ronaldo is also special because every time he has the ball you know that he could score."

The England captain also fuelled the rumours that Real will re-enter the transfer market at the end of the season to add one of the world's top strikers - his former Manchester United team-mate Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Thierry Henry, Michael Owen or Francesco Totti - to their formidable squad.

"For me, van Nistelrooy is one of the best strikers in the world," Beckham said. "I'd say Henry comes narrowly behind Ruud and Ronaldo. "I've played with Owen for England and he is an extraordinary player and Totti is also very good. But it's not me who does the recruiting."

ATHLETICS

Comebacking Jones adds Athens to list

RALEIGH, North Carolina: Triple Olympic champion Marion Jones said on Tuesday she had added a long jump competition in Athens to her comeback indoor season.

The event, on February 22, will be the third scheduled indoor meeting for Jones, who took 2003 off for the birth of her son Monty with boyfriend and 100-metre world record holder Tim Montgomery.

Her last competition was outdoors in September 2002.

Previously Jones had announced she would run the 60 metres at New York's Millrose Games on Friday, then long jump and compete in the 60 metres at Birmingham, England, on February 20.

The long jump competitions will be her first ever indoors, the 28-year-old Jones said in a teleconference on Tuesday. She has not run the 60 metres indoors since 1998.

Jones won gold in the 100, 200 and 4x400 metres relay at the Sydney Olympics and took bronze in the long jump and 4x100 relay.

She said on Tuesday she would attempt to make the US Olympic team for the summer games in Athens in the 100, 200 and long jump and would then decide whether to run any or both relays.

(China Daily 02/05/2004 page16)