COOPER UNDERGOES DRUG TEST

BAD-BOY Wallabies first five Quade Cooper reckons his lack of popularity in New Zealand was the reason he was chosen to undergo a random drugs test following his side’s 32-6 victory over Italy in their Rugby World Cup opener in Albany last night.

“Finally finished my drug test..note to self hold on and don't piss b4 the game! Iv drunk so much water ima be up all night,” he posted on his Twitter account.

“Apparently its random lol not convinced.”

When asked by a fellow tweeter if it was "just a random pick for testing?", Cooper replied: “Because I'm public enemy number 1.”

Cooper last week declared himself ‘Public Enemy No 1’ in New Zealand following his cheap-shot antics on All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw during the final Tri Nations in Brisbane.

ref: http://www.rugbynews.co.nz/newsarticle/?article=5029

Muay Thai Isuzu Championship 2011

The first matcht is at the great arena with Muaythai Isuzu Cup race of the 22 "battle maps Isuzu D-Max's top Muay Thai boxing world," continues its sports marketing strategy, according to Isuzu's focus has always been.

Under the project. "Patriotic ... Raks Thai" win bets, pickup trucks, "Isuzu D-Max, even Super Titanium Spark" and the cash value of more than 2 million before the nominations as Best Boxer of Siam in the battle. "Isuzu Cup super-light post, "Win a country into the arena of world-class" THAI FIGHT 2012 "competition Muaythai Isuzu Cup 22," battle of Isuzu's even good in boxing to all boxing world "is a slap in the ring with a punch of 8 in the 145-147 pound range are hand selected from across the country by the promoter is divided into two lines of four people.

A championship between “Sanchai” and the all time champion

"Kod Muay Sarakram" Sanchai who won over Kongsak Sitboonmee from the Thai boxing association is hoping to win in an upcoming Championship. His competitor, Petchboonchoo F.A group who has won more than 9 championships on 13^th September at Lumpini boxing stadium to fundraising for a Battle.

Saenchai said, "I want to create a great history of boxing, the Thai boxers who have never done before. If you put it in boxing, leading 2-3 before the final day. I believe I have the chance to win greatly. Because I do not think the reputation is second to none, "said Saenchai.

Thai beats Australia in the 2011 youth championship

A 16 years old Thai soccer player won over an Australian player 3-2 in the soccer youth championship at Thep Hassadin field.

The 16-year-old youth soccer championship in Asia . The first qualifying match of Group G at Thep Hatsadin . Was found between UC Thai youngster's Tea Cup in Australia . The event is considered very important to the team of Thai youth because it has the teams ranked 1 and 2 of the group passed into the next round.They tend to get into the world youth soccer championship. Age over 17 years with the team in Group G in Thailand and Australia to Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesian and Myanmar are also included.

Thai national team under the leadership team of Leo kaThomas dos Santos, coaches and Big Han limit comments Tiya Pairat team manager and players at the club, led by the Pamorn good Sithichok between mice and Saran tow children. The Australian Benjamin Worland and Hugh Tanner, a post reserved.

First Pitch: MLB denies Mets tribute to first responders

Baseball honored the victims of Sept. 11 with a number of prearranged events at ballparks throughout Sunday.

The New York Mets' salute to that day's heroes, however, was quashed.

The Mets' request to wear the hats of the city's first responders during the night game at Citi Field against the Chicago Cubs was turned down by MLB, quite vehemently, apparently.

In a night fraught with emotional tributes marking the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed close to 3,000 people, the Mets were seeking to replicate the gesture of the 2001 team, which defied baseball's edict and wore the first responders' hats.

The current Mets were allowed to wear the hats before the game but not during.

"They contacted the club and said it's an absolute 'no chance' at all," Mets player rep Josh Thole told reporters. "I guess the fines would be (prohibitive). I spoke with some of the guys and with (manager) Terry (Collins) and he said the same thing. They came down on the club very hard and there's nothing we can do.

"They sent out a big memo that was very adamant about what they wanted done."

Teams throughout the majors wore their regular caps with a small flag on the side as part of the day's commemoration, but hats with initials like NYFD or NYPD, which other New York-based sports figures wore – including Tom Coughlin, coach of the NFL Giants – were not allowed.

Joe Torre, MLB's vice president of baseball operations, told the Associated Press baseball was seeking uniformity with its ruling.

"Certainly it's not a lack of respect," Torre said. "We just felt all the major league teams are honoring the same way with the American flag on the uniform and the cap. This is a unanimity thing."

Several of the 2001 Mets were on hand Sunday at Citi Field for the remembrance ceremony, and they recalled defying MLB's orders and wearing the first responders' hats on Sept. 21 of that year, the first major league game played in New York after the tragedy.

Former Mets reliever John Franco said the current players should have done the same and paid any fine issued by baseball.

Todd Zeile, the team's player rep in 2001, said the caps held great meaning to the players and MLB "would've had to rip the hats off our heads.''

Added Zeile: "I find it ironic 10 years later and they still can't get it passed for one day of tribute. I guess they feel it's a slippery slope or something.''

ref: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2011/09/first-pitch-mlb-denies-mets-tribute-to-first-responders/1

Muay Thai Boxer Rungchai beats Trainor for the rematch

On 10th of September , Damien Trainor rematched Rungchai for the WMC title. Those two had met previously a few years ago where an aggressive Rungchai stopped Trainor with a nasty elbow causing a cut in the second round. Rungchai has a great name worldwide from England to Australia having also beaten Australian's Aaron Leigh.

This time around the fight was far more even going the distance. A much improved over recent years. Trainor was always dangerous with punches and scored well with some kicks but Rungchai outscored him in the clinch and with body kicks to take the win in this spectacular bout.

Emmanuel Frimpong to play for Ghana, claims country's FA

The president of Ghana's FA has said Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has pledged his future to the country.

The 19-year-old was recently called up by England's Under-21 side but is still eligible to play for the West Africans.

"We met Emmanuel in London last night and after talks, he has signed the document confirming he wants to switch nationality to play for Ghana," Kwesi Nyantakyi told BBC Sport on Tuesday.

"He is a player with enormous potential and will be a great addition to Ghana."

Frimpong met with Ghana FA officials on Monday night after theBlack Stars were beaten 1-0 by Brazil in an international friendly in London.

"This is a huge step in his career as he will join a talented squad with experienced players who are ready to help him improve," continued Nyantakyi.

"We are not relenting on Frimpong as we will continue to seek Ghanaian players both at home and abroad to continue to make the Black Stars among the best teams in the world."

Born in Ghana's capital Accra in 1992, Frimpong arrived in London as a youngster before joining Arsenal's youth academy aged nine.

He broke into the first team this season while also being selected by England's U21 side for last week's European qualifier against Azerbaijan.

However, he did not feature in a match won 6-0 by Stuart Pearce's side.

Earlier this year, a similar situation arose over the international future of Danny Welbeck, with the Manchester United star choosing England over Ghana.

Coincidentally, Welbeck then made his senior England debut in a friendly against the Black Stars at Wembley in March but because it was not a competitive match, it means he is still eligible to play for Ghana.

To complete his nationality transfer, Frimpong must await Fifa clearance - which is dependent on the world governing body receiving paperwork from the Football Associations of both Ghana and England.

Ref: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14809809.stm

England close on Euro 2012 place with win over Wales

England need only a point in Montenegro next month to qualify for Euro 2012 after an unconvincing 1-0 victory against Wales at Wembley.

Ashley Young's first-half goal allowed Fabio Capello's side to build on Friday's win in Bulgaria and move closer to securing a place in Poland and Ukraine next summer - but this was not a performance to cause any concern among Europe's elite.

Wales, without the suspended Craig Bellamy and David Vaughan, deserved a point and should have claimed it, only for substitute Robert Earnshaw to miss an open goal with 13 minutes left.

It would have been deserved reward for Gary Speed's improving Wales against an off-colour England, who at least had the comfort of their first win at Wembley for more than a year.

And it left Capello knowing a draw in Podgorica in England's final qualifier will be enough to ensure he ends his time in charge of the national team at a major tournament, after his side moved six points clear of Montenegro at the top of Group G.

The Italian, however, will surely not be satisfied with this performance. The width, movement and threat on show against an admittedly poor Bulgaria was missing at Wembley and Wales keeper Wayne Hennessey was barely troubled apart from Young's goal.

Frank Lampard made a swift return in place of Scott Parker after his exclusion in Bulgaria, but he was anonymous - although he was not alone in that - and substituted late on.

Capello made two changes from the team that won so impressively in Sofia on Friday, with Lampard returning in place of Scott Parker and James Milner replacing Theo Walcott, who was suffering from a slight hamstring problem.

Speed promised a more resilient and organised display from Wales after a timid slide to defeat in Cardiff in March - and it was duly delivered despite England's interval advantage.

Wales had survived in some comfort, despite John Terry heading wide and Stewart Downing volleying off target, before Young put England ahead 10 minutes before half-time.

Downing, on one of the few occasions when England were able to get in behind Wales, pulled the ball back for Young to beat Hennessey emphatically at the near post.

If England's fans thought this would be the signal for Capello's side to confirm their authority, they were to be proved wrong as Wales grew in confidence as the second half progressed and emerged as the better side for spells.

And how they will regret the missed opportunity to secure a point they deserved with that dreadful miss from Earnshaw after 77 minutes. He only needed to apply the finishing touch to Darcy Blake's knockdown but somehow managed to blaze his finish over the top of an open goal from five yards.

The entire Welsh bench, led by Speed, was up in celebration and then down in despair at the realisation that Earnshaw had contrived to miss the game's best chance.

The striker attempted to make amends with a speculative long-range effort moments later - but to no avail as England closed out the win.

Michael Owen calls on Fallon for Brown Panther in St Leger

Ladbrokes St Leger

• Venue: Doncaster
 
• Date: Saturday, 10 September
 
• Start: 1510 BST
 
• Coverage:Commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, report/results on BBC Sport website. Live on Channel 4

• 
  
  Brown Panther owner Michael Owen and trainer Tom Dascombe have surprisingly replaced Richard Kingscote with Kieren Fallon for the St Leger.
  Kingscote was wearing Owen's blue silks when Brown Panther won the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot in June.
  "I have spoken to Michael at length and it was a tough decision, but on this occasion we've decided to go for a more experienced jockey," said Dascombe.
  Brown Panther is a 10-1 shot for the race at Doncaster on Saturday.
  The colt's victory at Royal Ascot famously reduced the Manchester United star to tears of joy in the winners' enclosure.
  Kingscote partnered Brown Panther in his two races after Royal Ascot, both defeats, in the German Derby and behind fellow big-race hope Census at Newbury.
  Dascombe added: "Richard has always done a good job, but you don't get too many chances to win a Classic and I decided that it was a decision that had to be made."
  Six-time champion jockey Fallon will be taking part in the final Classic of the flat racing season for only the sixth time.
  He has finished second twice, once, in 1989, riding Sapience, ironically a horse on which he had been replaced earlier that year.
  A maximum of 11 runners will line up for the St Leger, with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Sea Moon the red-hot 11-8 favourite.
  
  

• ref: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/horse_racing/14796485.stm

Jamie McDonnell beats Stuart Hall to win British bantamweight title

Doncaster's Jamie McDonnell, the European and Commonwealth bantamweight champion, added the British title to his collection after a unanimous points victory over Darlington's Stuart Hall.

Hall, 31, shaded the early rounds of a brilliant fight in Doncaster but McDonnell, 25, dominated from round seven onwards to take the decision.

The three judges ringside scored the fight 115-113, 116-114 and 116-113.

"I'm over the moon, my experience made the difference," said McDonnell.

Hall was the aggressor in the opening five rounds of the fight, landing the bigger punches of the two British fighters, but McDonnell's relentless body shots soon wore down his opponent.

McDonnell was noticeably lighter on his feet from round six onwards and almost floored his opponent a round later when catching Hall off balance with a right-hand uppercut.

Another uppercut in the eighth followed by a right-cross from McDonnell further disheartened Hall who was slipping behind on the judges' scorecards.

Both traded heavy shots in the 10th as Hall came back into the fight as the pace continued at a blistering pace.

Hall was cut in the 11th but still took the round, however, he went into the 12th knowing he needed a stoppage to win the fight.

But it was McDonnell who finished with a flourish as he showed his class and sealed the victory to take his record to 18 wins (seven stoppages), two defeats and one draw from 21 fights.

For Hall it was the first defeat of his 13-fight career.

"The better man won on the night," admitted Hall afterwards.

ref: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/boxing/14777689.stm

Thomas Bjorn wins European Masters title in Switzerland

Omega European Masters, final leaderboard

• -20: T Bjorn (Den)
 
• -16: M Kaymer (Ger)
 
• -15: J van Zyl (SA), R McIlroy (NI), J Donaldson (Wal)
 
• -14: L Westwood (Eng), D Lynn (Eng), F Andersson Hed (Swe)
• Selected others: -13: JM Jiminez (Spa), -12: E Molinari (Ita), -10: P Lawrie (Ire), -9: S Gallacher (Sco)

• 

  
  

  
  

  Denmark's Thomas Bjorn clinched back-to-back titles with victory at the European Masters in Switzerland.

  The 40-year-old two-time Ryder Cup star, who won last week's event at Gleneagles, shot a final-round 62 to win by four shots at Crans-sur-Sierre.

  Germany's Martin Kaymer was second on 16 under with Rory McIlroy, Jamie Donaldson and Jaco van Zyl tied third one shot further back.

  England's world number two Lee Westwood finished tied for sixth on 14 under.

  Bjorn arrived in Switzerland in good form having triumphed in a five-man play-off at the Johnnie Walker Championship in Scotland.

  Beginning the day three shots behind overnight leader Jamie Donaldson, the Danish veteran started slowly, sinking pars in the first three holes before a bogey on the fourth.

  But he followed that up with four straight birdies and added another at the 11th to race ahead.

  A second bogey came on the 12th, but he sank a 12-foot putt for eagle at the par-five 15th and then nailed two eight-foot putts in the closing par fours to ease to his third victory of the season.

  "The way I finished was special and it's been an amazing two weeks," said Bjorn, who also won in Qatar in February.

  "I started hitting my wedges so well last week and kept it going.

  "At the end you think nothing can go wrong. Golf seems easy sometimes and you have to remember that when you are not playing well."

  Bjorn has now won 13 times on the European Tour stretching back to 1996, but he has had a somewhat rollercoaster career, admitting "fighting demons" after he lost the 2003 Open from three ahead with four to play.

  He went through another low earlier this year following the death of his father, but after also finishing fourth at the Open he is now back in the world's top 30.

  The European Masters was the first qualifying event for next year's Ryder Cup, so Bjorn, who played on the European team in 1997 and 2002, leads the standings.

  The Dane, who is chairman of the Tour's players' committee, has since served as an assistant to Bernhard Langer in 2004 and Colin Montgomerie at Celtic Manor last year.

  However, when asked if it was possible for him to return to the team to play in Chicago in September 2012, he said: "There's a long, long way to go and with the talent we have, it's going to take a few more of these weeks."

  World number six McIlroy, who had a share of the lead after the second round, started the final day two off the lead.

  The US Open champion birdied the first two holes to move into a share of the lead, but his putter let him down thereafter and he faded to finish five shots off Bjorn.

  The Northern Irishman, who was playing for the first time sinceinjuring his arm against a tree root at the US PGA Championship,said: "It was a bittersweet week.

  "Coming back off the injury I didn't know what to expect. To get myself into contention was great and the arm felt 100% healthy, which is a huge positive."

  
  

Rugby World Cup 2011: Lewis Moody out of England opener

Rugby World Cup Pool B: Argentina v England

• Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
 
• Date: Saturday 10 September
 
• Kick-off:0930 BST
 
• Coverage: Live text and score updates on the BBC website, live on ITV1, live commentary on TalkSport radio, highlights on S4C

Captain Lewis Moody will not play in England's opening Rugby World Cup match against Argentina on Saturday after failing to recover from a knee injury.
The 33-year-old suffered a recurrence of the ligament injury in England's first World Cup warm-up game against Wales at Twickenham on 6 August.
Moody hurt the knee playing for Bath in January and missed the Six Nations.
"We hoped he would be fit to start training but he is not quite there", Johnson said.
Moody said on Thursday he was hopeful of adding to his 67 caps and was "on the right path" to proving his fitness for the clash against the Pumas.
But the skipper, who has played only 62 minutes of Test rugby this year, will not be risked with England's next fixture on Sunday, 18 September against Georgia.
Johnson said he was confident Moody would still play a significant role in the tournament.
"He has been running around today so he is not a million miles away," Johnson added.
"It is just one of those calls, 'are you ready to participate fully this week and play a Test match this Saturday?' Not quite."
Meanwhile, defence coach Mike Ford says England face a stern test in the group stage of the Rugby World Cup but that it could serve them well for later in the event.
"You don't want to go to a quarter-final winning by 100 points in every game," Ford said of Group B, which pairs England with Argentina, Scotland, Georgia and Romania.
"If you are not on your game in this tournament you will probably lose.
"We are probably in the group of death as Scotland are playing very well.
"If we don't treat Argentina with the utmost respect we will come unstuck."
England reached the final of the last World Cup in 2007, and go in to the tournament in New Zealand as reigning Six Nations champions.
Johnson's side won their final warm-up game 20-9 against Ireland, a match that Ford saw as perfect preparation for the challenges ahead during a tournament that finishes on 23 October.
The former Northampton Saints coach has been impressed with the way Johnson has improved the fortunes of the team since he took over in April 2008.
"They were really on the rise when we played them at Twickenham in November and we saw that when they beat Australia [on 13 November 2010]," he said.
"They were brilliant. Martin Johnson has done a really good job. He's given them a lot of belief. They come out here with a squad that has developed its game hugely from basically a 10-man rugby team to playing 15-man rugby.
"I think that makes them a real danger." ref: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/14784677.stm

German defender Per Mertesacker to have medical at Arsenal

Werder Bremen's German international defender Per Mertesacker is set to undergo a medical at Arsenal.

The 26-year-old centre-back is captain for the Bundesliga side and although he is on international duty has been allowed to travel to London.

Arsenal's pursuit of Mertesacker, who is 6ft 6in and has 75 caps for Germany, could end their interest in Bolton defender Gary Cahill.

But the Gunners are set to sign Brazilian left-back Andre Santos.

The move by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to bolster his defence comes after they were hammered 8-2 by Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.

They have also recently sold left-back Gael Clichy to Manchester City, and right-back Emmanuel Eboue to Turkish club Galatasary, while on Tuesday Armand Traore joined Queens Park Rangers.

Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen was injured for the trip to Old Trafford and missed most of last season with an Achilles tendon injury.

Mertesacker was part of the German team which beat England 4-1 at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa last summer.

And he has been recalled to the squad to face Austria in their European Championship qualifier on Friday after a heel injury suffered at the end of last season.


ref: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14717213.stm

Liverpool's Joe Cole closing in on season-long loan at Lille

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole is close to agreeing a season-long loan deal with French club Lille.

Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur were also interested in signing the 29-year-old England international.

Cole moved to Anfield in July 2010 on a four-year deal from Chelsea but made only 11 Premier League starts for the Reds and was sent off on his debut.

Lille are in this season's Champions League after winning their first French league title since 1954.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has strengthened his midfield over the summer with the additions of Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing.

Cole failed to make the bench in Liverpool's first three Premier League games of the season.


ref: http://kopthat.co.uk/2011/08/liverpools-joe-cole-closing-in-on-season-long-loan-at-lille/

Derby winner Pour Moi retired to stud because of leg injury

Pour Moi, the winner of this year's Derby at Epsom, has been retired after suffering a serious leg injury.

The colt was hurt while being prepared by trainer Andre Fabre for October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

Pour Moi has been retired to stud by owners, the Irish-based Coolmore Stud.

At June's Derby, winning jockey Mickael Barzalona famously celebrated before reaching the finishing line, as the French-trained horse beat Treasure Beach and Carlton House.

Fabre said: "He badly over-reached himself on his off-fore and I'm afraid he won't run again. It's difficult to mend.

"What he did at Epsom was amazing, to go from last to first. For a horse to get there so easily, the turn of foot he showed was a sign of great ability.

"I'm sure he will be a super sire. He's a beautiful, well-bred colt with a fantastic action and a change of pace."

ref: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/horse_racing/14694432.stm

Ian Poulter & Justin Rose form England World Cup team

Ian Poulter will partner Justin Rose in the England team at the World Cup in China in November.

Poulter, 35, selected close friend Rose, 31, after higher-ranked players Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Paul Casey all turned down the event.

The pair were partners in the 2008 Ryder Cup, winning two of their three games together, and at the 2007 World Cup, where they finished fourth.

Ireland will feature US Open heroes Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

US Open champion McIlroy, the world number six, and fellow Northern Irishman McDowell, who won the US Open in 2010, came up one stroke adrift in 2009.

Scotland will be made up of Martin Laird and Stephen Gallacher, with Jamie Donaldson and Rhys Davies representing Wales.

The United States go with world number seven Matt Kuchar and the big-hitting Gary Woodland, while Italy will once again comprise the Molinari brothers, Francesco and Edoardo, who won the title two years ago.

China, who qualify as hosts, will be represented by Liang Wen-chong and Zhang Xin-jun at the event which takes place at Mission Hills, Hainan Island, from 24-27 November.

Exempt nations (in ranking order of top player): Germany (Martin Kaymer, Alex Cejka), Ireland (Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell), United States (Matt Kuchar, Gary Woodland), South Africa (Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen), England (Ian Poulter, Justin Rose), Sweden (Robert Karlsson, Alex Noren), Italy (Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari), Spain (Alvaro Quiros, Miguel Angel Jimenez), Scotland (Martin Laird, Stephen Gallacher), Denmark (Anders Hansen, Thomas Bjorn), France (Raphael Jacquelin, Gregory Bourdy), Japan (Yuta Ikeda, Tetsuji Hiratsuka), Australia (Brendan Jones, Richard Green), Belgium (Nicolas Colsaerts, Jerome Theunis), Colombia (Camilo Villegas, Manuel Villegas), Wales (Jamie Donaldson, Rhys Davies), Thailand (Thongchai Jaidee, Kiradech Aphibarnrat), Zimbabwe (Brendon de Jonge, Bruce McDonald)


ref: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/14716296.stm