Golf

Donald out of HSBC Champs

World No 1 Luke Donald has pulled out of next week's HSBC World Golf Championships in Shanghai to be at his wife's side for the birth of their second child.

The Englishman, bidding to become the first player in history to top the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic, had been hoping the daughter they are expecting would arrive this week.

Donald, who had his bags packed and was ready to go, finally conceded on Friday that family had to take precedence over the $7 million event in China and his quest to get into the record books.

"It's important for my wife and it's important for me to make sure that I'm around to support her. It's no coincidence that the birth of our first daughter inspired me to some really great golf," he said.

Badminton

BWF: Zhou ban out of its hands

The Badminton World Federation said any changes to doping rules would have to go through the World Anti-Doping Agency as banned former women's world No 1 Zhou Mi fights to clear her name.

Hong Kong's Zhou, whose two-year suspension began in August of last year, gave a press conference on Thursday to reiterate she was innocent of doping and unaware of consuming any prohibited substances.

The South China Morning Post reported Zhou is calling for a review of how cases involving the drug clenbuterol, for which she tested positive, are handled.

Soccer

Warnock could be boss

Outspoken QPR manager Neil Warnock has the ability to be England coach when Fabio Capello stands down next season, Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said on Friday.

Warnock steered QPR to promotion to the Premier League last season and his team is 10th in the top flight after its 1-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday.

Redknapp is the bookmakers' favorite to take over from Capello after Euro 2012, but the Tottenham coach thinks former Sheffield United manager Warnock should not be ruled out.

Rooney victim calls for leniency

Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic has written to UEFA calling for leniency for Wayne Rooney as the England striker awaits his 2012 European Championships fate, reports said on Saturday.

Rooney's chances of starring at Euro 2012 could be scuppered by a three-match ban handed down by UEFA after the Manchester United star's sending-off for kicking Dzudovic in their final qualifier earlier this month.

As it stands, Rooney will miss all three of England's group matches and that will cost him the opportunity to play in the finals, hosted by Poland and Ukraine, if Fabio Capello's team fails to qualify for the knock-out stages.

American Football

Lawmakers prod union on HGH

Two American lawmakers pushed their case to start human growth hormone (HGH) testing of National Football League players, saying in a letter on Friday that the union appears to be stalling to delay the tests.

Darrell Issa, the Republican chairman of the US House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the panel, wrote the letter to the NFL and its players' union.

The note came nine days after the NFL Players Association said it was not prepared to have blood samples taken by the NFL to begin the HGH test process, expressing concern over testing method safety and the fairness of findings.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 10/30/2011 page7)