Liquigas rider Francesco Chicchi emerged from a mass sprint to win the 195.5 km fourth stage of the Tour of California on Wednesday as David Zabriskie retained the overall lead.

Cyclist Floyd Landis, who lost his Tour de France title after a positive drug test, has admitted systematic doping and accused fellow American Lance Armstrong of doing the same, two reports said Thursday.

FC Sevilla prevented Atletico Madrid from celebrating a cup double on Wednesday as they beat the recently-crowned Europa League champions 2-0 to take the King’s Cup here for the fifth time in their history and second in four years.

Two ultra-modern one-eyed creatures have been unveiled as the mascots for the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics in the hope they will adorn millions of items of merchandise.

The International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit has been investigating Pakistan’s performance in their Sydney Test defeat against Australia in January, it was confirmed on Thursday.

A career-best spell from Ryan McLaren bowled South Africa to a 13-run victory in the first of two Twenty20 Internationals against the West Indies on Wednesday. McLaren captured 5/19 from 3.5 overs to earn the man of the match award, as West Indies, chasing 137 for victory from their 20 overs, were dismissed for 123 with one ball to spare at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

World cricket’s top administrator is convinced it “won’t be too long” before day/night Tests are being played in either Australia or India.

Taliban gunmen armed with rockets and grenades attacked the largest Nato base in Afghanistan at dawn on Wednesday, sparking battles that killed 10 militants and wounded seven soldiers.

Inter Milan’s Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho said on Wednesday he wants to coach Real Madrid “100 per cent” but is not sure when it will happen.
“I want to coach Real Madrid 100 per cent. Whether it’s next year or later, I can’t say,” he said in an interview published on Wednesday in Spanish sports daily Marca.

World and Olympic triple gold medallist Usain Bolt got his 100-metre season underway in a respectable 9.86 seconds at the Daegu Pre-Championships on Wednesday.
Bolt, who owns the world record of 9.58, was the only man under the 10-second barrier, with fellow Jamaican Michael Frater finishing second in 10.15 ahead of American Mike Rodgers in 10.18.