Romania calls up foreign-based squad
BUCHAREST: Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu called up a record 15 foreign-based players on Saturday for next month's 2004 European championship qualifier away to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Iordanescu was unhappy with the his home-based players in last week's 1-0 defeat to Greece in an international friendly and replaced them with foreign-based players during the match.
He has recalled midfielder Dorinel Munteanu of German team Wolfsburg and defender Iulian Filipescu of Spain's Real Betis after they missed Wednesday's match through injury.
Iordanescu will next week add five players to his squad from teams competing in the domestic championship.
Romania is due to play its opening group two matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo on Sept. 7.--Reuters
Gainer retains WBA featherweight title
CAROLINA, Puerto Rico: American Derrick Gainer retained his WBA featherweight crown with a second round technical draw Saturday in his title defense against Puerto Rican Daniel Seda.
The bout was stopped by the ringside doctor at 2:13 in the second round after an accidental head butt produced a cut over Gainer's left eye.
Gainer (38-5-1, 24 KO's) stunned Seda with an early knockdown at 2:07 in the first round with a crushing left hook to his face.
The undefeated Seda (18-0-1, 15 KO's) was on the defensive in the second when the headbutt produced the cut over the champion's left eye.--AP
Spaniard suspended after failed doping test
ST PETERSBURG, Florida: Spanish tennis player Lourdes Dominguez Lino has been suspended by the WTA Tour after testing positive for metabolites of cocaine, the tour's website announced on Saturday.
The 21-year-old, who failed the test at the WTA Tour tournament in Acapulco, Mexico on March 1, has been suspended for three months with immediate effect and she must forfeit all her ranking points and prize money from the Acapulco event.
Lino, who won the French Open girls title in 1999, is currently ranked 158th in the world but will fall outside the top 300 as a result of the ban.
"We are extremely disappointed that one of our players has committed a doping offense, but feel strongly that the corresponding penalties are appropriate," said WTA Tour CEO Kevin Wulff.--Reuters
Frentzen to rejoin Sauber next season
LONDON: Heinz-Harald Frentzen says is returning to Formula One team Sauber next season.
The German, who left the financially-troubled Arrows team earlier this month, had been linked with a move to Jordan and Toyota, as well as Sauber.
"I am pleased to announce that I will drive the 2003 season for Team Sauber Petronas," the 35-year-old Frentzen said in a statement on Sunday.
"My relationship with Peter Sauber has always been something special. He gave me the chance in Formula One and, with that, the basis for my career.
"When I left Team Sauber in 1996, I always clearly said that at some time or other I would like to come back to this team." --Reuters
Trinidad ruins Canada in Red Stripe Bowl
CASTRIES, St. Lucia: Canada's hopes of moving to the semifinals of the Red Stripe Bowl ended Saturday when it was demolished by 175 runs by Trinidad and Tobago in a Zone B match.
Canada needed a victory to move with defending champions, Guyana, to Jamaica for the semifinals, which start Thursday. Instead, it will be Trinidad and Tobago that goes through, having secured its third win in four matches.
Guyana, unbeaten so far in this leg of the tournament, plays Antigua on Sunday in the final preliminary.--AP
Chile beats US in world event qualifier
SANTIAGO, Chile: Chile's national rugby team on Saturday beat the United States 21-13 to revive its chances of winning a berth in the 2003 world championship in Australia.
In a simultaneous match in the four-team series played in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, Uruguay upset Canada 25-23.
Canada has already qualified with 13 points, followed by the United States with nine, Chile with eight and Uruguay with six points.
In the series closing matches next Saturday, Chile will host Canada and the United States will meet Uruguay.
The two first place teams in the series qualify for the world tournament.--AP