Armstrong plans to return to cycling

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-25 10:54

Armstrong plots his return

NEW YORK: Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is set to outline his plans for his return to competitive cycling on Wednesday, heralding a comeback that is certain to spark as much controversy as inspiration.

A survivor of testicular cancer, Armstrong said earlier this month that he was coming out of retirement to raise awareness about the disease that nearly took his life.

The American, who retired following his 2005 Tour triumph, will unveil his plans at a news conference at the Bill Clinton Presidential Center in New York City.

The 37-year-old Texan has been an outspoken advocate in the fight against cancer, raising funds and awareness of the disease through the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Armstrong, however, has been dogged by accusations that he used drugs to help him win the Tour so many times after surviving cancer but he has never failed a drugs test.

Word that Armstrong was ending his three-year retirement was first leaked in an interview with Vanity Fair and was greeted with keen interest by his fellow competitors and cycling officials.

Armstrong's return could see him join the Astana team, which is run by his friend and former sporting director Johan Bruyneel, who helped the American win all his seven Tours.

Kahn defends under-fire keeper

BERLIN: Former Germany captain Oliver Kahn on Tuesday defended Bayern Munich's under-fire goalkeeper Michael Rensing who made several errors in their shock 5-2 home defeat against Werder Bremen last weekend.

"I have always said: if you build your team with youth in mind, you have to accept their may be difficulties along the way and a bumpy road," Kahn told German tabloid Bild.

"It could have very damaging consequences if Michael is called into question now."

Defending champions Bayern were ripped apart by Bremen last weekend with Swedish striker Markus Rosenberg scoring twice, but Kahn, who retired as Bayern goalkeeper in May, says Rensing needs time to settle into the role.

Rensing was at times brutally exposed against Bremen and has been criticized in the press here.

But Kahn, 39, says he himself did not always have it easy in Munich and dismissed calls in various newspapers here to return to Bayern's goal and replace his former understudy.

He said: "My first season (1994/95) at Bayern was a disaster up until I tore my cruciate knee ligament.

"Everything I touched there did not turn to gold, quite the opposite for me.

Antic targets corruption

VIENNA: Serbia's new coach Radomir Antic said on Tuesday he wanted to rebuild the country's soccer landscape by helping to clean up corruption and fan violence.

"With the help of the police, our new FA president (Tomislav Karadzic) and I want to get rid of corruption in the game in our country, as well as halt the outbreaks of fan violence."

Serbian FA (FSS) president Zvezdan Terzic stepped down in March this year over charges of fraud and abuse of power brought by the country's interior ministry.

Antic also told the UEFA Conference for European National Coaches: "I'm very pleased with my new job because it gives me the chance to help rebuild Serbian football.

"We need team spirit on and off the pitch.

"Serbs are hot-tempered people but they love football. We have to turn this emotion into positive energy again. People must come to the stadiums to celebrate our sport."

Serbian soccer has been rife with violence and corruption in the past 15 years as the effects of isolation and economic mismanagement crippled the game amid a series of bloody conflicts in the former Yugoslavia.

Saints guard Nesbit suspended

NEW YORK: New Orleans Saints guard Jamar Nesbit has been suspended for four games for violating the NFL's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances, the league said Tuesday.

"We are disappointed in the suspension of Jamar," Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said in a statement. "We will support Jamar through this process and look forward to having him rejoin the team soon."

No details of the violation were disclosed by the league.

The suspension begins immediately and Nesbit will be eligible to return to the Saints' active roster on Oct 20.

The Saints are 1-2 this season and host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.