Athletes suffering from asthma face no greater health risk at this summer's Beijing Olympics than other athletes, despite the city's pollution problem, a European anti-asthma organisation said, reports Reuters.
Beijing has been under increasing pressure to improve air quality ahead of the Aug. 8-24 Games after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said there was some risk to athletes competing in endurance events lasting more than an hour.
Beijing is one of the most polluted cities in the world and despite a 120 billion yuan ($17.12 billion) clean-up over the last decade, air quality remains a big concern.
Beijing's pollution has already claimed its first high-profile victim, with twice Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie, who suffers from asthma, withdrawing from the men's marathon fearing pollution could damage his health.
Capello faces full investigation
England coach Fabio Capello will face a full investigation into whether he withheld information to an Italian court, judicial sources said on Wednesday, reports Reuters.
An Italian prosecutor said on March 31 he intended to bring a case against Capello after he gave evidence in a trial of six men accused of fostering unfair competition through the use of threats or violence as part of Italy's Gea World sports agency.
Now after weeks of reviewing transcripts of Capello's evidence, the prosecutor has confirmed he will go ahead with an investigation which could lead to the former AC Milan and Juventus coach being charged and facing trial.
Under Italian law, a person found guilty of withholding information in court can be jailed for up to six years.
Russia climb down on visa restrictions
Russia has waived entry visa requirements for fans with a valid ticket for the May 21 Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea, match organiser Alexei Sorokin said, reports Reuters.
European football's ruling body UEFA confirmed the visa requirements would be dropped. "All ticket holders attending the UEFA Champions League final in Moscow on May 21 will be able to use their match ticket as a visa entry to the Russian Federation for a 72-hour period," UEFA said on its Web site (www.uefa.com).
Tens of thousands of British fans are expected to travel to the match with the Premier League rivals facing each other in the final at Moscow's Soviet-era Luzhniki Stadium. The two English clubs have been allocated 21,000 tickets each.
Boca banned from hosting ties
South American champions Boca Juniors have been banned from staging international matches at their Bombonera stadium after a linesman was hit by an ice cube during a game last week, reports Reuters.
The South American Football Confederation (CSF) said in a statement that the ban would be lifted once the Argentine club had improved protection in front of the VIP boxes, where the incident occurred. The club was fined $30,000.
Argument ends in fan’s murder
A New York Yankees' fan was accused on Monday of murdering a Boston Red Sox supporter and injuring another by running both down with a car after a heated argument over one of America's oldest sporting rivalries, reports Reuters.
Ivonne Hernandez, 43, pleaded not guilty on Monday to reckless second-degree murder, aggravated driving while intoxicated and two counts of reckless conduct after the incident in a Nashua, New Hampshire parking lot last Friday.
Prosecutors say Hernandez was drunk when she drove her car across a dirt parking lot outside the Nashua City Hall into Matthew Beaudoin, 29, and Maria Hughes, 21, after exchanging words with them about the Yankees and Red Sox baseball teams.
