Mexico fired coach Hugo Sanchez after only 16 months in the job. The former Real Madrid striker, widely regarded as the finest player Mexico has produced, was sacked two weeks after the under-23 team, which he … via Eurosport

“There was no evidence of Thanou committing any doping offense during the period in question, which leaves us with no alternative but to award the medal to her.”

Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou has been awarded the silver medal from the 100 meters at the 2001 world championships following Marion Jones’ doping admission. via CNN

“We remain optimistic, we can’t afford negative thoughts. “There will be a decision on that in the next couple of weeks if we want to go forward with a legal case.”

Dwain Chambers has begun a one-month trial with Super League strugglers Castleford Tigers but admits a legal challenge to his Olympic ban for failing a drugs test is “likely”. Chambers: “I’m not doing this for … via Eurosport

“Coming round Vicky, I was really excited.”

U.S. claims first gold at world track championships as Jennie Reed wins keirin American takes first world title from UK’s Victoria Pendleton in the final event Teun Mulder wins men’s 1 km time trial, Eleanora … via CNN

The altercation took place at a bar at Sydney’s King Street wharf area around 0230 on Sunday - just hours after D’Arcy was officially named on the Australia Olympic swimming team for Beijing. via NEWS.com.au

We already know that Bush and Gordon Brown have no cojones when it comes to standing up for China and boycotting the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. via GOP Vixen

An Iraqi sprinter has survived sniper attacks and religious disapproval to become her country’s only female athlete at the Olympics. via Reuters

“We haven’t been starting very well”

Canadian skip Jennifer Jones will have to solve surging Japanese counterpart Moe Meguro to get another crack at China’s Bingyu Wang at the world women’s curling championship. via CBC News

A human rights activist says at least 60 people are still jailed in China for protests by pro-democracy demonstrators in 1989 at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. via Guardian Unlimited

Greek police are stepping up security during the Beijing Olympic torch relay over the weekend to prevent protesters from disrupting the event, officials said Friday.

The flame will reach the capital Saturday and spend the night on the Acropolis before being handed over on Sunday to Beijing 2008 organizers.

Greek officials kept details of the route’s Athens leg under tight wraps Friday, fearing a repeat of protests by human rights campaigners and opponents of China’s violent crackdown in Tibet that marred Monday’s flame-lighting ceremony in Ancient Olympia. Officials said about 2,000 police would provide security. Read more

“She is still in my eyes the best player who has ever played this game. I wanted her to go out on top.”

Lisa Fernandez, a three-time Olympic champion and perhaps softball’s signature star for more than a decade, did not make the U.S. team’s final 15-player roster for the Beijing Games. via SI.com

Sprint stars Eamon Sullivan and Libby Trickett gave the ongoing Australian Olympic swimming trials a soar after reclaiming world records at Sydney on Thursday. via People’s Daily

“The big aim is always the Olympics but we prepared well for this. Then we had a couple of illnesses over the last six weeks which put to bed the thought of doing a world record, so I absolutely believe we can go faster.”

Great Britain’s team pursuiters broke the world record as they successfully defended their title at the track cycling world championships in Manchester on Thursday evening. via CNN

“She pitched a great ball game. I told our team what she was capable of and told them to be ready to go. But she came out firing and really kept us off our game.”

The U.S. softball team’s winning streak of 185 pre-Olympic tour games came to an end Wednesday in a 1-0 loss to Virginia Tech. via WMTW-TV Auburn

Libby Trickett, Libby Lenton and competing for the first time under her married name, set a world record in the 100-meter freestyle at the Australian swim championships, finishing in 52.88 seconds Thursday.

Australian Eamon Sullivan set the 50-meter freestyle world record again, lowering the mark to 21.41 seconds on Thursday.

Bill Toomey, the 1968 Olympic decathlon champion, pleaded no contest to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs after crashing his Mercedes-Benz into two parked cars.

Lauren Ross beat Laurenne Ross with a come-from-behind win in the women’s giant slalom as the U.S. Alpine Championships ended in a steady snowfall.

Women’s coach Patrick Riml has resigned from the U.S. Ski Team after five seasons that included Lindsey Vonn’s World Cup title and Julia Mancuso’s Olympic gold medal.

Finnish ski jumping great Janne Ahonen retired Wednesday after 15 seasons at the international level.