The International Olympic Committee today announced that seven samples taken during the Olympic Games in Beijing had resulted in “adverse analytical findings”.

France remain on course to join the Tri-Nations Series in 2009 despite their World Cup flop, according to Rugby Football League executive chairman Richard Lewis.

THE Olympic Council of Ireland will not be co-operating with the Irish Sports Council in the Beijing Report, Hon General Secretary, Dermot Sherlock, confirmed at last night’s EGM held in Croke Park.

Ireland will be out to prove the doubters wrong when they meet Tonga in their opening Rugby League World Cup Pool Three clash at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday night.

Former Leeds stand-off Graham Holroyd’s debut for Ireland has been put on hold for at least nine days due to injury.

Head coach Andy Kelly says Ireland will leave no stone unturned to ensure his team are competitive at the 2008 World Cup in Australia.

THE ‘Waterford Crystal’ doping scandal which cost Cian O’Connor his Olympic gold medal was referred to by the Hon General Secretary of the Olympic Council of Ireland, Dermot Sherlock, who told delegates at last night’s EGM that they should learn from the debacle and be better prepared in the approach to the Beijing Games.

Australia today re-appointed Wayne Bennett as national coach but kept alive the debate over the Kangaroos captaincy.

THE SENSATIONAL theft of part of Olympic winning show-jumper, Waterford Crystal’s B sample, has been labelled “a sinister development” by Equestrian Federation chief Avril Doyle.

The world’s largest humanitarian network, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, is collaborating with the renowned US-based Fritz Institute in the design of a state-of-the-art, web-based humanitarian logistics software.

Former rugby league chief Maurice Lindsay flew out to Sydney today with a mission to rebuild the international game.