Dick pounds Samaranch

Toronto: World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) chief Dick Pound has claimed former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch tried to sweep doping under the carpet to protect IOC interests. “Samaranch wasn’t interested in the issue,” Pound said. “There was no money available for research and Samaranch wasn’t interested in using the Olympic leverage against the international federations to make them do their job. He was never willing to do that.”

Samaranch, who took over as IOC chief in 1980, is credited with turning the then lagging fortunes of the Olympic movement around. The Spaniard’s reign ended in 2001 and Jacques Rogge, who has advocated a zero tolerance policy on drugs, succeeded him.

Sheffield FC oldest club

Sheffield: Powerhouses like Manchester United and Real Madrid, who have claimed just about every major title in club soccer, can’t match the honour held by Sheffield FC — the oldest “football” team in the world. The little-known amateur side in northern England celebrated its 150th anniversary on Wednesday.

“We have got a claim no one else can ever have,” Sheffield manager David McCarthy said. “There can always be a bigger club, a richer one and a more successful one, but they can’t be the first...”

Sheffield will play an exhibition match on November 8 against an Inter Milan team featuring younger players. Pele will attend the game.

Knee scan for Scholes

London: Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes will have a scan on a knee injury that forced him to miss Tuesday’s Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev, the English champions said. United manager Alex Ferguson said the 32-year-old had picked up the injury in training before the group F match in Kiev, which they won 4-2.

Argentina back at No. 1

Zurich: Argentina have returned to the top of Fifa’s world rankings after winning their first two qualifying matches for the 2010 World Cup.

The South Americans secured 2-0 victories away to Venezuela and at home to Chile earlier this month to climb above Brazil and Italy in the monthly standings.

Italy, who topped the rankings last month, fell to third despite two wins of their own. The Italians also dropped points under the rolling system used by Fifa to evaluate national teams, with a more heavily weighted win over Ukraine in October 2006 being devalued. England have dropped out of the top 10.

India remain at 145 on the Fifa list with 156 points, while they are at No. 25 in Asia. Japan are No. 1 in Asia and No. 30 in the world.

TOP 10 (Previous positions in brackets) — 1. (2) Argentina 1533 points; 2. (3) Brazil 1459; 3. (1) Italy 1387; 4. (6) France 1271; 5. (4) Germany 1245; 6. (7) Spain 1226; 7. (5) Netherlands 1207; 8. (8) Portugal 1203; 9. (11) Czech Republic 1174; 10. (10) Croatia 1155.

Amir Khan cleared

Bolton: British boxer Amir Khan was cleared of dangerous driving by a court despite running through a red light and knocking down a pedestrian last year. Amir was cleared by a jury on Tuesday.

Cricket: Challenger Trophy — India Red vs India Blue, live from 2.30pm on Neo Sports
Soccer: Champions League — Highlights from midnight on TEN Sports