Messi to return

forBarcelona

after son's birth

Barcelona's Lionel Messi should be available for the leaders' game at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday after the birth of his first child.

Liga top-scorer Messi missed training on Friday to accompany his pregnant girlfriend Antonella Racuzzo to the Instituto Universitario USP Dexeus, a hospital in central Barcelona.

She later gave birth to baby boy Thiago.

"Leo Messi is a father," his club Barcelona said. "This Friday afternoon Antonella Rocuzzo, the Argentine star's girlfriend, gave birth to Thiago Messi, the couple's first son."

Messi, 25, added on his Facebo ... Read more »

Paris Masters - Janowicz

sets up Simon semi

 as Ferrer ends Tsonga hopes

Polish qualifier Jerzy Janowicz, 21, lies in wait for Simon in the semi-finals after he produced another breathtaking performance in recovering to complete a 3-6 6-1 4-1 win over world number nine Janko Tipsarevic, who retired apparently feeling groggy with his opponent on the cusp of victory.

David Ferrer showed his class with a convincing 6-2 7-5 win over 2008 champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The world number four was always a step ahead of Tsonga, who huffed and puffed but failed to earn one break point never mind a break of serve in the match.

He will face French qualifier Michael ... Read more »

WADA won't appeal

 USADA Lance

Armstrong ruling

The World Anti-Doping Agency has confirmed they will not appeal against the United States Anti-Doping Agency's sanctions against Lance Armstrong.

USADA recommend that all Armstrong's results from 1 August, 1998 were expunged from the record books, including his seven consecutive Tour de France `wins` from 1999 to 2005, as well as handing the 41-year-old a life ban from cycling.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) last week ratified the sanctions imposed by USADA, who concluded Armstrong and his United States Postal Service team ran "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen".

But while the UCI did highlight some cri ... Read more »

Athletics - New York

Marathon cancelled as

residents complain

New York City has cancelled its annual marathon, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, as Sunday's race had become a lightning rod for residents frustrated by the disastrous aftermath of megastorm Sandy.