Malaysia's Wong Poh San performs with the Ribbon during the Visa International Gymnastics at the North Greenwich Arena, London yesterday. Anthony Devlin/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Early Doors
The Morning Score: Wednesday
Here’s everything you need to know – unless your name is Deccie and you’re about to pick the Six Nations squad.
The Mullingar long-distance athlete faced an anti-doping disciplinary panel in Dublin, having admitted to using EPO, in the wake of a positive test.
A statement reads: “Mr Fagan has been sanctioned, subject to his right to appeal within 14 days, by the imposition on him of a period of ineligibility for two years. The Panel has decided that because of the prompt admission of the violation by Mr Fagan the appropriate commencement date for the period of ineligibility is 10th December 2011, the date on which the sample was collected.”
In the 29-page document, Duffy outlined three options available to the GAA, which has been accused of hypocrisy for turning a blind eye to an estimated €12m in “under-the-counter” payments to managers.
4. #FA CUP Leicester beat Nottingham Forest 4-0, Bolton beat Macclesfield 2-0 and Milwall were too good for Dagenham and Redbridge, cruising to a five-foal rout at the New Den.
5. #DOWN UNDER Defending champion Kim Clijsters and No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the third round of the Australian Open in contrasting styles earlier.
Clijsters needed only 47 minutes to beat Stephanie Foretz Gacon of France 6-0, 6-1. Wozniacki seemed to be on the same trajectory, but had to battle to beat Anna Tatishvili of Georgia in the second set, recovering two service breaks and saving a set point en route to a 6-1, 7-6 (4) win.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are also through.
6. #EL CLASICO Real Madrid and Barcelona face off at the Santiago Bernabeu tonight in the first-leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final. We’ll liveblog that one. Who do you fancy?
The Morning Score: Wednesday
1. #ATHLETICS Martin Fagan was last night, as expected, banned for two years.
The Mullingar long-distance athlete faced an anti-doping disciplinary panel in Dublin, having admitted to using EPO, in the wake of a positive test.
A statement reads: “Mr Fagan has been sanctioned, subject to his right to appeal within 14 days, by the imposition on him of a period of ineligibility for two years. The Panel has decided that because of the prompt admission of the violation by Mr Fagan the appropriate commencement date for the period of ineligibility is 10th December 2011, the date on which the sample was collected.”
Read the full finding here.
2. #SIX NATIONS Declan Kidney will today name his squad for the upcoming Six Nations championships. We’ll have the news as it happens at lunchtime.
3. #GAA The GAA will consider regularising payments made to inter-county managers at a meeting in Croke Park this weekend.
Director General Paraic Duffy yesterday published a long-awaited discussion paper which will frame the debate when the controversial issue of managerial compensation is tackled by county officials this Saturday.
In the 29-page document, Duffy outlined three options available to the GAA, which has been accused of hypocrisy for turning a blind eye to an estimated €12m in “under-the-counter” payments to managers.
Confused? Here’s some FAQs.
4. #FA CUP Leicester beat Nottingham Forest 4-0, Bolton beat Macclesfield 2-0 and Milwall were too good for Dagenham and Redbridge, cruising to a five-foal rout at the New Den.
5. #DOWN UNDER Defending champion Kim Clijsters and No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the third round of the Australian Open in contrasting styles earlier.
Clijsters needed only 47 minutes to beat Stephanie Foretz Gacon of France 6-0, 6-1. Wozniacki seemed to be on the same trajectory, but had to battle to beat Anna Tatishvili of Georgia in the second set, recovering two service breaks and saving a set point en route to a 6-1, 7-6 (4) win.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are also through.
6. #EL CLASICO Real Madrid and Barcelona face off at the Santiago Bernabeu tonight in the first-leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final. We’ll liveblog that one. Who do you fancy?
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Caroline Wozniaki Six Nations Croke Park Declan Kidney Early Doors GAA IRFU Kim Clijsters Paraic Duffy