22 sport Friday, January 8, 2010 D justine henin is through to the last four of her first tournament since coming out of retirement. she is joined in the semi-finals of the Brisbane international by fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters who reversed her decision to retire last year and went on to win the us Open and the two former world no.1s are on course to meet in tomorrows final. henin beat hungarian Melinda Czink 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) and said: thats the kind of match i need. she now plays third seed Ana ivanovic, Clijsters faces German Andrea Petkovic. Henins Kim collision course TENNIS BOXING Pacquiaos superfight with Floyd off The big-money showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr has apparently been scrapped after the two sides failed to reach an agreement over drug testing for the contest. The lucrative showdown had been pencilled in for March 13 in what would have been a box office record-breaker, pitting the worlds two leading fighters against each other. But Pacquiao recently began legal proceedings against the Mayweather camp after they made certain demands about drug testing which the Filipino claims defamed him by insinuating he has been guilty of doping in the past. A mediator was brought in this week in an attempt to bring the sides together and save the fight but agreement could not be reached, with Pacquiaos promoter Bob Arum claiming Mayweather never wanted the fight in the first place. I knew this was going to happen, said Arum. There is no chance ever of salvaging it for March. Theres no chance for it ever to happen. In reality there remains every chance the bout could be resurrected, with cynics suggesting the row is simply a publicity drive and typical boxing politics. With the fight agreed, Mayweather insisted upon random blood tests as well as the usual mandatory urine testing, which Pacquiaos side, including trainer Freddie Roach, rejected. Talks took place all week but hopes of salvaging the fight proved shortlived. Legal move: Pacquiao Demands: Mayweather NBA star shoots himself in foot The NBA has suspended Gilbert Arenas indefinitely without pay after the Washington Wizards guard took four guns into the teams locker room on December 21. The suspension also stems from Arenas subsequent conduct when he pointed his index fingers at his team-mates as if they were guns before the Wizards game against Philadelphia on Tuesday. Arenas took the guns to the Verizon Center and his actions have now found the player under investigation by federal and local authorities. NBA commissioner David Stern said: Although it is clear that the actions of Mr Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game. Accordingly, I am suspending Mr Arenas indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately pending the completion of the investigation by the NBA. With each game he misses, Arenas who earns $16.2million a season will lose about $147,000 (103,000). Arenas said: I take full responsibility for my conduct. suspension: Arenas tODAy sOCCeR Coca-Cola Championship West Brom v Nottm Forest........ 7.45 RuGBy uniOn the Magners League: Leinster v Glasgow (8.00) sAtuRDAy sOCCeR (Matches still going ahead, 3.00 unless stated) Barclays Premier League Arsenal v everton ............................. Birmingham v Man Utd ............. 5.30 Burnley v Stoke ................................ Fulham v Portsmouth....................... hull v Chelsea.......................... 12.45 Sunderland v Bolton......................... Wigan v Aston Villa........................... Coca-Cola Championship Cardiff v Blackpool........................... Coventry v Barnsley ......................... Crystal Palace v Bristol City............. Derby v Scunthorpe ......................... Middlesbrough v Swansea............... QPR v Plymouth............................... Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Wycombe............................ Norwich v exeter .............................. Coca-Cola Football League two Northampton v Chesterfield ............. scottish Cup Fourth Round Aberdeen v hearts............................ Dunfermline v Stenhousemuir .......... hibernian v Irvine Meadow............... Partick v Dundee Utd ....................... St Mirren v Alloa ............................... RuGBy uniOn the Magners League: edinburgh v Cardiff Blues (6.30) sunDAy sOCCeR Africa Cup of nations Group A Angola v Mali............................. 7.00 Barclays Premier League Liverpool v Tottenham............... 4.00 West ham v Wolverhampton..... 1.30 Coca-Cola Championship Leicester v Ipswich.................... 3.00 scottish Cup Fourth Round hamilton v Rangers................. 12.15 RuGBy uniOn the Magners League: Munster v Scarlets (5.00) WEEKEND FIXTURES RESULTS GOLF Michael hoey and Darren clarke both feature prominently on a crowded leaderboard after yesterdays first day of the african open in South africa. hoey fired seven birdies on the way to a five-under score of 68 to lie two shots off the lead. clarke did his best to stay in touch with a four-under 69, a card that had two blemishes in the form of bogeys on five and 18. Five golfers share the lead on seven under, including home favourites Richard Sterne and Trevor Fisher. World No.94 Sterne said: i had it going, seven under with four to go. But five and six arent my favourite holes, so i played them conservatively and made pars. i didnt play good wedge shots there at all, but im still happy with seven under. Clarke and Hoey stay in touch Limerick told to end saga ahead of NHL opener the GAA will consider putting players names on the backs of their jerseys. the issue of identification of players, particularly in hurling, has come into focus because of the new rule regarding mandatory safety helmet use from january 1. Director general Paraic Duffy admitted that the GAA has always suffered from a lack of recognition of its top players as most wear helmets. Going forward [names] are something we might look at, said Duffy at the launch of MARC sports helmet scrappage scheme. At the moment our primary concern is to get everyone wearing a helmet. Marketing the games comes after that. GAA By Paul Keane The Gaas top official has told limerick to sort out their hurling crisis before the National league begins. Director general Paraic Duffy said he could not stand another hurling league campaign being distorted by a county fielding a weakened team, like cork did last year. earlier this week Gaa president christy coon- ey privately contacted limerick chiefs to see how things are panning out on Shannonside. and Duffy admitted the row does need to be sorted as a matter of urgency. limerick boss Justin Mccarthy currently has just six players available from last years all-ire- land semi-final panel. around half have with- drawn their services in protest of Mccarthys decision to axe 12 regulars. Wed hope this is settled before the start of the league, said Duffy. We certainly dont want a situation again where teams, a county, would be obviously fielding a weakened team.That doesnt help the league. Duffy said that, for now, the Gaa will not in- tervene directly unless requested. The matter may be resolved next Tuesday night with specu- lation that a motion of no confidence in Mcca- rthy will be brought by delegates. christy spoke with limerick officials earlier this week, but as far as were concerned its a matter for limerick, added Duffy. GOLF AFRiCAn OPen (east London GC, South Africa) (Gbr & irl unless stated, par 73): 66 Titch Moore (Rsa), Patrik Sjoland (Swe), Mark f haastrup (Den), Trevor Fisher Jnr (Rsa), Richard Sterne (Rsa). 67 Tjaart Van Der Walt (Rsa), Thomas Aiken (Rsa), Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Keith horne (Rsa). irish scores: 68 Michael hoey. 69 Darren Clarke. 73 Niall Kearney. 74 Simon Thornton. 75 Gary Murphy. stretched: henin was pleased with her latest workout in Brisbane Picture: AP index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html