Vera is out of Fed Cup

Moscow: Vera Zvonareva, who was expected to lead the home side, was forced to pull out of the Fed Cup final due to a nagging shoulder injury.

Russia, meanwhile, picked Maria Kirilenko to face Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the opening singles, on Saturday.

Kirilenko, whose Fed Cup experience was limited to two matches five years ago, was tagged as Russia’s No. 2 by captain Shamil Tarpischev in Friday’s draw. Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russia’s No. 1, takes on Lucie Safarova in the second singles.

Dope test

Chandigarh: National Anti Doping Agency (Nada) has taken samples of 12 players from six teams participating in the second edition of the World Cup Kabaddi. The samples have been sent to National Dope Control Laboratory (NDTL) in Delhi for thorough investigation, an official said.

Athletes banned

Monaco: A Portuguese steeplechaser and South Korean sprinter have been suspended after failing doping tests at the World Championships in South Korea.

Sara Moreira and Lim Hee-nam tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine in urine controls during the August 27 to September 4 worlds in Daegu.

Thorpe return

Singapore: Australian swimming great Ian Thorpe voiced relief, on Friday, as he made a successful return to competition after ending a five-year retirement in a bold bid to reach next year’s London Olympics. Thorpe said he was wracked by nerves before the World Cup short-course swim in Singapore, where he timed 56.74sec in the 100m individual medley to finish second in his heat.

Rooney appeal

London: The English Football Association is appealing against the three-match ban that is set to rule Wayne Rooney out of the group stage of next year’s European Championship . The striker was sent off in England’s last Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro for kicking a player. The FA has until next week to submit the grounds for its appeal.

India lose

Calcutta: India lost to Uzbekistan 1-2 in the U-19 AFC Cup qualifiers, on Friday. With this, India stay on three points from three matches with one match to go.

CSA probe

Johannesburg: Prompted by allegations of irregularities with IPL bonuses paid to CSA chief executive Gerald Majola and other staffs two years ago, South African sports minister Fikile Mbalula, on Friday, appointed judge Christopher Nicholson to chair a probe into the finances of the cricket board.

BCCI letter

New Delhi: The BCCI, which had rejected the revised sports bill last week, on Friday wrote a letter to the sports ministry, conveying their strong reservations on various aspects of the controversial bill.