Kournikova won't give up
ANNA Kournikova is refusing to give up on her tennis career despite suffering from a chronic back injury.The 22-year-old, who is more renowned for her modelling work than on-court successes, says the complaint is the main reason for her recent poor form. Her only victory on the 2003 WTA Tour came in January at the Australian Open.
"I still love tennis and want to play, but I have a chronic back condition which makes it impossible to play more than a week at a time," said Kournikova.
The Russian made her comments following an exhibition match against Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn in Pattaya.
"As an athlete you must expect injuries and you have to learn how to deal with them, but it is very frustrating. But I really enjoyed playing against Tammy," she added.
Kournikova said she was keen to get back to playing the level which once saw her reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon, even if that means going under the surgeon's knife.
"That is one of the options I'm looking at," she revealed. "I hate needles, but I have to look at everything."
Chambers 'not guilty'
THE LAWYER acting for Dwain Chambers has questioned whether the drug for which his client tested positive should be banned.Graham Shear has vowed to leave no stone unturned in his bid to prove the innocence of the European 100m champion.
Chambers was suspended by the International Association of Athletic Federations on Friday after his B sample, like his A sample, tested positive for the steroid THG.
He has protested his innocence, his legal team stressing on Friday that there has never been an admission by their client that he took THG or any other banned substance.
The 25-year-old has also claimed he was categorically assured that the only supplements he had been given were those which complied with IAAF anti-doping rules.
Shear said the positive testing did not prove anything and that it was just the beginning of a "lengthy process". He said he wanted the status of THG to be clearly set out by the relevant authorities.
Until July, when the US Anti-Doping Agency uncovered its existence after a tip-off from a whistle-blowing American coach, THG was unknown.
UK Athletics say Chambers' hearing could be set up in a matter of days.
There will be a three-man panel, one with a legal background, another with a scientific background and a third with a sporting profile.
US confident
US STATE Department officials have expressed confidence in Greece's ability to protect the 2004 Olympics.The comments came as FBI director Robert Mueller continued his tour of Athens reviewing security measures.
"The Greeks have the will and the resources to hold a secure and successful Olympics. And we have every confidence they will," said a State Department official.
There are fears the event next August could be a potential magnet for international terrorist networks such as Al-Qa'eda.
The FBI and other US agencies are concerned that Greek police may not be taking adequate steps to protect athletes, officials and spectators, despite the Greek government increasing spending on security to a record £350m.
This week the US military also helped organise a planning exercise at its European command headquarters in Germany aimed at helping the Greeks identify any gaps in their planning.
"The US has offered the expertise and resources of several of its agencies to Greece in order to ensure Olympic security. We are providing equipment and security training toward that end," the State Department said.
Although concerns focus on international terrorist networks, some small domestic groups remain active. Within hours of Mueller's arrival on Monday, a series of firebomb blasts damaged three banks in central Athens, police said.
Ferguson set to 2007
ALEX Ferguson looks set to stay at Manchester United until he is 65 and possibly even beyond.Ferguson, in charge at United for the last 17 years, has been talking to the club about a new contract. "I have had some good discussions and we are not far from agreement. It could be done some time in the next week," the 61-year-old Ferguson said.
"The length of time I stay on is open to discussion. It is a difficult one. I would probably think 65 years old would be it. That is a nice time to say, 'Do I want to go now?'"
Ferguson's current deal runs out in June 2005 but it is said he was ready to sign a revised four-year contract worth £18 million ($29.93 million), backdated to this year and taking him to the end of the 2006/07 season.
Ferguson will be 65 on 31 December 2006 and he hinted he might even remain in the post after 2007 if the appetite was still there.
He said: "If I still feel okay at 65 I would stay on if I felt that way and the club wanted me."
Ortega retires
ARGENTINE former international player Ariel Ortega has announced his retirement from football.Ortega is only 29 and the decision comes after FIFA ordered the player to pay Turkish club Fenerbahce $11 million for leaving the club without a reason. "I don't have $11 million so retiring is the only way," Ortega reportedly said.
Ortega has played for River Plate, Sampdoria, Parma and Valencia during his career.
Double for Solberg
PETTER Solberg clinched his first world rally championship by winning the Wales Rally GB on Sunday.Co-driven by Welshman Phil Mills, Solberg safely negotiated the final three stages to win by 43.6 seconds from title challenger Sebastien Loeb.
Subaru's Solberg is the first Norwegian to take the drivers' crown.
Citroen driver Loeb went into the final rally of the season one point ahead of his rival in the standings but was hindered by team orders.
The chase for the drivers' title had been reduced to a two- way scrap between Solberg and Loeb.
British contender Richard Burns never started in Wales after pulling out for health reasons, while Carlos Sainz crashed out on Friday.
Solberg won his first-ever world rally in Wales last year and was in control from the first morning.
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 13 - 19 November 2003 (Issue No. 664)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/664/sp8.htm