Subscribe Italian cycling star Marco Pantani has been found guilty of sports fraud in a
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Italian cycling star Marco Pantani has been found guilty of sports fraud in a doping trial and was given a three-month suspended prison term, a judge said in Forli, Italy, today. Pantani, who was not in court, had been accused of taking the banned performance-enhancing drug EPO during a 1995 race.He was also ordered to pay a 1.2 million lire ($500) fine, Judge Luisa Del Bianco, who delivered the verdict Monday in the central Italian town of Forli, told The Associated Press.Pantani has denied any wrongdoing."I'll do whatever it takes to prove my innocence," the cyclist was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency.During the Milan-Turin race in 1995, Pantani's red-blood cell count tested at almost 60 percent above normal during the race.A high red blood cell count can indicate the use of EPO, a growth hormone considered the drug of choice in endurance sports like cycling. It can also occur naturally.Defense lawyers have argued that Pantani, who crashed out of the race and had to be hospitalized, suffered dehydration that caused the surge in red blood cells.Pantani, the 1998 Tour de France and Giro d'Italia champion, is expected to appeal the ruling.. At least three leading England players found alternative attractions to touring Pakistan, India and Ceylon for three gruelling months back in 1961-62. At least three leading England players found alternative attractions to touring Pakistan, India and Ceylon for three gruelling months back in 1961-62. Yet Ted Dexter's weakened side was the last England team to win a series in Pakistan before Nasser Hussain's.Dexter was given the captaincy when Colin Cowdrey decided he would not tour, along with the opening bowlers Fred Trueman and Brian Statham, who felt the English winter was preferable to unforgiving pitches in an unfriendly environment.Dexter, a patrician figure who hit the ball ferociously hard, had little outwardly in common with the streetwise Hussain, but he forged a similar team spirit at a time when a visit to the subcontinent was a genuine hardship tour with the constant danger of serious illness.England won the first Test in Lahore, defeating the home side by five wickets after an unbeaten 139 by Ken Barrington, a prolific scorer on overseas pitches who took England within seven runs of Pakistan's first innings 387. Pakistan collapsed to 200 all out in their second innings against the spin of David Allen and Bob Barber. Dexter hit 66 not out as England swept to victory.After losing 2-0 in a five-Test series in India, England returned to Pakistan, drawing the final two Tests. Dexter hit 205 in the final game to give him an average for the three games of 101.00..
England's cricketers returned home to a heroes' welcome today with thoughts turning to next summer's Ashes tests against world champion Australia. England's cricketers returned home to a heroes' welcome today with thoughts turning to next summer's Ashes tests against world champion Australia. The players have a six-week break before they go to Sri Lanka for a three-test series in February and March and then they can focus on trying to win back the Ashes for the first time since David Gower's team in 1985.Despite a 2-1 loss in South Africa, Fletcher's team, under the captaincy of Nasser Hussain, beat Zimbabwe 1-0 and then the West Indies 3-1 and yesterday became the first team to beat Pakistan in Karachi to clinch that series 1-0."There's only one ambition left, and that's (beating) Australia," captain Nasser Hussain said. "We've got some hard work left before then, but that's the only goal left. That's the main thing that everyone has got one eye on."Finally we have some reward to bring back to the country," Hussain said as he clutched the trophy the team won in Pakistan.For Nasser Hussain's team, the moment of glory - an inside-edge for two by Graham Thorpe as twilight faded into night - achieved what no England side had done here since 1961, when Ted Dexter led his men to a 1-0 victory in a three-match series.
In fact, it was only the second time England have won a Test in Pakistan, long-term proof that this was an achievement to rank alongside beating the All Blacks in the Otago mud."This series is the most remarkable of all the recent wins we have achieved," said Hussain, who appeared as emotionally drained as he was after last summer's victory over the West Indies. "To come here and win like this beats anything I've ever been involved in." Considering the distinctly unpromising situation England found themselves in after the first day, when Pakistan were 292 for 3, the turnaround was astonishing and Hussain's claim is not an exaggeration. Although the home side's brainless batting had much to do with it, England never gave up.With an almost undetectable stealth, firstly through Michael Atherton's belligerent century and then by the perseverance of Ashley Giles and Darren Gough, a spark was created, which, when ignited by Graham Thorpe, saw England home."When I read the local press on the last morning, I though we had a good chance," said Hussain. "The pressure was all on them as they'd never lost here."The manner of victory on the final day, after England had taken Pakistan's last seven wickets for 87 in 46.3 overs, came from a run chase of four runs an over, calmly overseen by Thorpe, who made an unbeaten 64.Afterwards, Thorpe likened the experience of playing in the rapidly fading light to "playing for Wrecclesham in the Flora Doris trophy." For those not acquainted with the local leagues of the Surrey Downs, it was a eight-ball over competition which, according to Thorpe, was played in near darkness when he was a youngster.Sharing a stand of 91 with Graeme Hick, after Atherton and Marcus Trescothick had got England off to a brisk start, the left-handed Thorpe struck just four boundaries as Moin Khan set his field deep in an attempt to prevent England scoring the 176 runs that stood between them and history.On a pitch where the attacking shot was loaded with risk it was a mistake, for it allowed Thorpe and Hick to keep up the rate in singles. Barely a shot was played in anger until Hussain arrived in near darkness with 20 runs needed and an idea that the game had to be finished promptly.If Moin's field placings were not without controversy, his almost constant efforts at time-wasting were in direct conflict with the spirit of the game. Changing the field constantly - coupled with the fact the sightscreen had to be moved with England's left and right-hand combination at the crease - Pakistan bowled just seven overs in the 37 minutes to tea.During the break, Moin was summoned by the match referee, Ranjan Madugalle, and reminded that as captain he is responsible for keeping the spirit of the game alive.
In total, Moin was warned on three occasions for time-wasting by umpire Steve Bucknor, though after tea his team did approach the 13 overs per hour, more or less the norm for both sides throughout this series.Even so, the warnings created some confusion. Under the new law changes made by MCC, the umpire can award a five-run penalty after the first warning under Law 42.9. However, such punishment was not applicable here as it had not been agreed in the playing conditions set out for this series. Remarkably, given that the new laws have been passed by the International Cricket Council, the playing conditions for individual series can still supersede them.Bucknor, who a week earlier in Faisalabad had triggered Hussain lbw in an appalling decision, stood firm in the face of cynical time-wasting by Moin, who, once the light began fading fast, protested to the umpires at every opportunity.
Later Moin said he had "no regrets" over the umpiring decision to stay out in the gloaming even though "we could not see the ball properly".Opening with his pace bowlers, Moin was soon on the defensive as Atherton pulled Abdur Razzaq's first ball to the mid-wicket boundary. England had considered opening the batting with Alec Stewart but stuck with Atherton, who showed his touch with a brace of fours off Waqar Younis.With Abdur in particular leaking runs, Moin resorted to Saqlain Mushtaq, who in his second over had Atherton caught off a top-edged sweep at short fine-leg. Two overs later, he had Marcus Trescothick too, after the left-hander had attempted to follow a pull for four with a slog sweep which ended in Inzamam ul-Haq's hands at deep mid-wicket.Following a period in which both Thorpe and Stewart played themselves in, Saqlain struck again, removing Stewart with one that Moin caught after it had come off inside edge and thigh. At that point, with 24 overs left and England 65 for 3, Hussain decided to send in Graeme Hick, a man who had made just 59 runs from five Test innings here.With no one near the bat, Hick played sensibly, giving the strike to Thorpe, who then gave it back again.