The wife of the doctor at the centre of the `Operation Puerto` doping affair said she could bring down Spanish sport if she revealed all to which she was privy.

In an interview with La Provincia newspaper, the wife of Dr Eufemianio Fuentes, Cristina Perez, a European 400m bronze medallist in 1987, said: `I know what happened at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.`

NEW YORK, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - Police raided a chemist in New York where they seized more than seven million dollars of human growth hormone from China, the American media reported Wednesday.

The raid carried out on Tuesday was the second in five months on Lowen's Pharmacy in the suburb of Brooklyn which has been linked to a larger probe of HGH in professional sports.

Officials discovered 90 grams worth 7.2 million dollars worth of raw HGH which was imported from China.

PARIS, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - France's 400m hurdles Olympic bronze medallist Naman Keita was on Wednesday banned for two years after testing positive for testosterone.

Keita failed the urine test at a training camp before the Osaka world athletics championships in August, leading to the ban handed out by the French athletics federation.

He explained last month that he had been advised to take a dietary supplement to help muscle regeneration and had gone and ordered it off the internet.

BERLIN, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - Germany has completed a compensation programme for former sportsmen and women who were victims of the state-sponsored doping system in communist former East Germany, the German Olympic committee said Thursday.

A total of 157 people received payments of about 19,000 euros (27,000 dollars), while an undisclosed number received special payments for 'extreme cases'.

BEIJING, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - China's top female triathlete, Wang Hongni, has been banned for two years for doping, meaning the reigning Asiad champion will miss the 2008 Beijing Olympics, sporting officials announced.

Wang was formally banned by the International Triathlon Union after testing positive for steriods on August 24, the Chinese Triathlon Association said in a statement posted Wednesday on its website.

LOS ANGELES, Oct 7, 2007 (AFP) - Sprint queen Marion Jones tumbled from her pedestal with a resounding, if not surprising, crash on Friday. Now US sports fans wonder, could home run king Barry Bonds be next?

Jones became the face of a sport as she pursued an unprecedented five gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where she eventually won three golds and two bronze.

WHITE PLAINS, New York, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - BALCO, the San Francisco lab that peddled performance enhancing drugs to athletes, continues to rock the sports world four years after it became a byword for cheating.

Marion Jones, once the golden girl of US athletics, Friday pleaded guilty to lying to a federal agent about her use of drugs during the investigation of the company that billed itself as a vitamin and nutritional supplement supplier.

WHITE PLAINS, New York, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - Disgraced sprinter Marion Jones shouldn't wait to be stripped of her Olympic medals, but should return them as a gesture to athletes who didn't cheat, US Olympic Committee chairman Peter Ueberroth said Friday.

'After years of denying that she used banned substances, Ms. Jones has finally decided to come forward and admit the truth. Her admission is long overdue and underscores the shame and dishonor that are inherent with cheating,' Ueberroth said.

WHITE PLAINS, New York, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - After years of dodging doping allegations, US track star Marion Jones admitted on Friday that she had taken banned steroids, in a move that could see her stripped of her Olympic medals.

Jones, 31, appeared in a court in White Plains, New York, where she pleaded guilty to a charge of lying to federal agents over her drug use and an unrelated fraud charge, for which she now faces up to 10 years in jail.

WHITE PLAINS, New York, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - Tearful US track star Marion Jones said Friday she had broken the trust of her fans and announced she was retiring from the sport after admitting in court to taking steroids.

'It is with a great amount of shame that I stand before you to tell you that I have betrayed ... your trust,' the Olympic gold medal winner told a crowd gathered outside the courtroom in White Plains, New York.

WHITE PLAINS, New York, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - Track star Marion Jones pleaded guilty on Friday to lying about her use of banned drugs to US agents, in a move that could see the American sprinter put behind bars.

Jones, 31, who has dodged doping allegations for years, entered the plea at a US District Court in New York state.

In a statement read out to the court, Jones admitted using the steroid THG, produced by the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO) and known as 'the clear,' between September 2000 and July 2001.

WHITE PLAINS, New York, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - US track star Marion Jones arrived at a US court Friday where she was expected to plead guilty to lying to investigators about her use of banned drugs, in a move that could see the sprinter stripped of her five Olympic medals.

Jones, who has dodged doping allegations for years, told friends and family in a letter obtained by the Washington Post on Thursday that she intended to plead guilty during the court appearance at White Plains in New York state.

WASHINGTON, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - President George W. Bush is saddened by news US track star Marion Jones was expected to plead guilty to lying to investigators about her use of banned drugs, the White House said Friday.

The 31-year-old sprinter could be stripped of five Olympic medals won in 2000 in Sydney.

'I talked to him about it this morning, he was saddened by the news, he's long been concerned about the issue of steroids use. He, in the 2004 State of the Union, dedicated time to it,' said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino, referring to Bush.

NEW YORK, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - US track star Marion Jones was expected to plead guilty Friday to lying to investigators about her use of banned drugs, in a move that could see the sprinter stripped of her five Olympic medals.

Jones, who has dodged doping allegations for years, told friends and family in a letter obtained by the Washington Post on Thursday, that she intended to plead guilty during the court appearance later Friday in New York state.

MADRID, Oct 1, 2007 (AFP) - New Zealand's Simon Daubney, a crew member of America's Cup winners Alinghi, has tested positive for substances linked to cocaine during this year's competition in Spain, organizers said Monday.

Alinghi announced on Thursday that Daubney had resigned after he tested positive for a banned substance, confirming a report in Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport that one of its team members had returned a positive test.

BEIJING, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - China's cabinet has launched a probe into charges that Chinese factories are supplying illegal US laboratories with the raw materials to make anabolic steroid, state media reported Friday.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced Monday in Washington it had smashed the biggest illegal steroid ring in US history following a two-year investigation.

It said 37 factories in China had supplied 26 underground steroid labs that were raided last week, resulting in more than 50 arrests.

MADRID, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - Simon Daubney, a crew member of America's Cup winners Alinghi, said Thursday he has tested positive for cannabis and had resigned but intended to prove his innocence.

In a statement seen in Madrid by AFP, Genoa trimmer Daubney confirmed an Italian media report that a team member had returned a positive test, the first recorded relating to the world's oldest sporting event.

'Yesterday (Wednesday), I went before the five-man 32nd America's Cup Jury in London regarding a positive doping test taken on 23 June 2007.

MADRID, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - Retiring sports stars face a high risk of divorce, alcohol and drug abuse, according to studies carried out by a group of Spanish psychiatrists.

Among the most common problems found is the 'consumption of hashish and cocaine', the 11th Spanish conference of psychiatry being held in the northwestern city of Santiago de Compostella heard on Thursday.

Dr Juan Carlos Dias del Valle told AFP: 'According to the epidemiological data that we have, we estiamte that 30 percent of retiring professional sports people abuse alcohol and drugs.'

ROME, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - A crew member on the boat of America's Cup winners Alinghi tested positive for cannabis, the Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Thursday.

The newspaper did not cite any sources, nor the name or nationality of the crew member who is no longer a member of the Swiss team, but said that the person was not Italian.

Alinghi's spokesman refused to comment on the report when contacted by AFP.

BERLIN, Sept 24, 2007 (AFP) - Germany said Monday it has launched raids against international crime rings dealing in illegal doping substances and pirated medications, and arrested several suspects.

The federal police force said it had conducted searches of homes and offices last week and collected evidence in cities across Germany as part of an international probe codenamed 'Raw Deal' and run by US authorities.

MONTREAL, Sept 23, 2007 (AFP) - An Australian former Finance Minister emerged Sunday as a contender to head the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in a challenge to the current vice-president and former French Sports Minister Jean-Francois Lamour.

John Fahey, whose candidature was voted on at a WADA meeting here this weekend, will contest a vote to be taken at a WADA meeting in Madrid on November 15-17 by the representatives of the agency's 17 member governments.

MUNICH, Germany, Aug 29, 2007 (AFP) - Three Russian rowers - two men and a woman - have been kicked out of the World Rowing Championships underway here this week and banned for two years for doping infractions, the International Rowing Federation (FISA) confirmed Wednesday.

Denis Moiseev, Vladimir Varfolomeev and Svetlana Fedorova were banned for violating rules concerning 'use of a prohibited method,' FISA said.

FISA executive director Matt Smith said the three rowers had not failed a drugs test, but had broken rules concerning an intravenous drip used.

MUNICH, Germany, Aug 29, 2007 (AFP) - Three Russian rowers - two men and a woman - have been kicked out of the World Rowing Championships underway here this week and banned for two years for doping infractions, the International Rowing Federation (FISA) confirmed Wednesday.

Denis Moiseev, Vladimir Varfolomeev and Svetlana Fedorova were banned for violating rules concerning 'use of a prohibited method,' FISA said.

FISA executive director Matt Smith said the three rowers had not failed a drugs test, but had broken rules concerning an intravenous drip used.

MUNICH, Germany, Aug 29, 2007 (AFP) - Three Russian rowers - two men and a woman - have been kicked out of the World Rowing Championships underway here this week and banned for two years for doping, the International Rowing Federation (FISA) confirmed Wednesday.

Denis Moiseev and Vladimir Varfolomeev, who competed in the men's Lightweight Double Sculls, were disqualified ahead of Wednesday's quarter-finals.

WASHINGTON, Aug 8, 2007 (AFP) - US President and former pro baseball team owner George W. Bush congratulated Barry Bonds for smashing baseball's hallowed home-run mark, but avoided the controversy on Bonds' alleged use of steroids on his record hunt.

Bush told Fox television that he had 'politely waited until the appropriate time on the Pacific Coast' -- which is three hours behind Washington -- to call and offer his congratulations to the San Francisco Giants slugger.

WASHINGTON, Aug 8, 2007 (AFP) - US President and former pro baseball team owner George W. Bush did not appear Wednesday in a hurry to congratulate Barry Bonds after the San Francisco Giant smashed baseball's hallowed home-run record.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush, a longtime fan of the game who once was part owner of the Texas Rangers club, did not call Bonds after the slugger hit his 756th homer Tuesday, breaking the 33-year-old mark held by legendary player Hank Aaron.

Asked if Bush had plans to call Bonds, Snow said, 'I don't know.'

PARIS, Aug 7, 2007 (AFP) - A French sports scientist has claimed the famous Tour de France cycling race could be won without doping, adding that cynics ought not to discount top individual performances as evidence of cheating.

Spaniard Alberto Contador's victory in the doping-tainted race on the Champs-Elysees in Paris just over a week ago is shrouded with suspicion even though he was cleared after being named in the Operation Puerto blood-doping scandal in Spain.

BOGOTA, Aug 5, 2007 (AFP) - A doping test on Colombian cyclist Libardo Nino during last month's Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro has shown up positive for banned blood-boosting drug EPO.

Nino, who won silver in the individual time-trial event in the Games and is currently taking part in the Tour of Colombia, protested his innocence.

'It's very tough for me,' said Nino. 'Nevertheless I'm not going to be hiding myself away.

BERLIN, July 27, 2007 (AFP) - Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme wants to stop working with the International Cycling Union (International Cycling Union) on next year's race, it will be reported here on Saturday.

'One should not make the Tour de France organisers responsible for everything,' said Prudhomme in an explosive interview with German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

'Just like in every sport, there is an international organisation in cycling, but despite all the respect it warrants, it does nothing.

ANGOULEME, France, July 25, 2007 (AFP) - International Cycling Union (International Cycling Union) chief Pat McQuaid has played down fears that cycling could be axed from the Olympic Games.

A senior European IOC member told AFP on Wednesday, speaking under anonymity, that the troubled sport risks being ejected from the Games because of the consistent spate of drug scandals.

However, International Cycling Union chief McQuaid said Friday that was not on the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) agenda.

MARSEILLE, France, July 27, 2007 (AFP) - Disgraced Tour de France cyclist Alexandre Vinokourov has invested over a million euros in a rehabilitation centre for athletes, it was claimed on Friday.

French daily newspaper Le Parisian on Friday reported that the project involves the renovation of an hotel.

It was bought at the end of 2006 and will be a 'top-of-the-range establishment', said Grasse town secretary, Danielle Dominichine.

Le Parisien also reported that the Kazakh rider will invest 1.3 million euros in the project aimed at top level athletes.

PAU, France, July 27, 2007 (AFP) - Spain's Alberto Contador will wear the Tour de France's yellow jersey at the start of Friday's stage, after the previous race leader was sacked by his own team in a row over doping tests.

No rider wore the emblematic yellow jersey designating the overall leader Thursday, after the Rabobank team sensationally withdrew Denmark's Michael Rasmussen on suspicion of doping.

On Thursday the Dutch outfit's manager, Theo de Rooy, said Rasmussen, was not only out of the Tour but had also been sacked from the team.

NEW YORK, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - The doping scandals wreaking havoc on the 2007 Tour de France should come as no surprise, three-time Tour champion Greg LeMond told AFP on Thursday.

In a dramatic few days on the crisis-hit race, long-time race leader Michael Rasmussen of Denmark has been sensationally turfed out by his own Rabobank team.

France`s number one team Cofidis pulled out after it was revealed that Italian Cristian Moreni had tested positive for testosterone while Astana have also left the race following favourite Alexandre Vinokourov`s dope test failure.

PAU, France, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - The Tour de France temporarily lost its emblematic yellow jersey Thursday -- a victim of the latest in a string of doping scandals that have taken the sheen off the world`s greatest cycle race.

The jersey was absent at the start of the 17th stage after the race leader, Denmark`s Michael Rasmussen, was sensationally withdrawn by his own Rabobank team on Wednesday on suspicion of doping.

PARIS, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - World anti-doping body, WADA, on Thursday upped the stakes in the Tour de France`s battle to save its damaged credibility by calling for a high-level summit to discuss the doping crisis.

WADA president Dick Pound admitted he was concerned by developments in the Tour this week which have seen yellow jersey Michael Rasmussen axed from the race and long-time favourite Alexandre Vinokourov fail a test for blood doping.