WASHINGTON, Oct 2, 2008 (AFP) - Most US voters have doubts about Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's experience and ability to lead, a new poll found Thursday ahead of a televised debate with her Democratic rival.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Oct 1, 2008 (AFP) - Gymnastics officials on Wednesday cleared Chinese gymnasts of underage claims for the Beijing Olympics, but said there were doubts regarding those who competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

WASHINGTON, Sept 30, 2008 (AFP) - Nearly nine out of ten Americans believe Congress' failure to pass a financial system rescue package has worsened the crisis, and 44 percent blame the Republicans, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released Tuesday.

GENEVA, Sept 30, 2008 (AFP) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is not a 'panacea' for the world's problems, IOC president Jacques Rogge said Tuesday, shrugging off critics who accused the body of failing to get China to improve its human rights record.

LONDON, Sept 29, 2008 (AFP) - A British protestor who tried to extinguish the Olympic flame as it passed through London en route for Beijing walked free Monday, after a judge found in his favour.

SYDNEY, Sept 24, 2008 (AFP) - The cream of Australia's Olympic team had their drug test samples locked up in cold storage in the lead-up to the Beijing Games for retesting in case suspicions arose later, officials said Wednesday.

BEIJING, Sept 24, 2008 (AFP) - China's hurdles star Liu Xiang resumed training on Wednesday, state media reported, after an injury forced him to pull out of the Olympic Games in a dramatic move that shocked the nation.

PARIS, Sept 23, 2008 (AFP) - The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) said on Tuesday it had disqualified the United States and annulled the team's fourth place in the Olympic team dressage event following a positive dope test in Hong Kong for one of the squad's horses.

NAIROBI, Sept 23, 2008 (AFP) - Kenyan 400m runner Elizabeth Muthoka has been banned for two years after testing positive for prohibited drug nandrolone, Athletics Kenya (AK) officials said on Tuesday.

Muthoka, who qualified for the Beijing Olympics as the only woman sprinter in the Kenyan team, was dropped after failing the dope test at the national championships in Nairobi in June.

VIENNA, Sept 22, 2008 (AFP) - Coaches from 53 European Union countries are to meet here Monday for a Euro 2008 debriefing, according to the organising body UEFA.

The conference, called 'The UEFA Euro 2008 Experience', will look back at tournament issues such as refereeing, coaching techniques, quality of play and injuries, as well as paying tribute to winning nation Spain.