Former Team Sky rider JONATHAN TIERNAN-LOCKE "has had his two-year ban upheld after his attempt to attribute a failed drugs test to alcohol was rejected." The 29-year-old Briton was suspended by the Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) for "irregular blood samples."
Tiernan-Locke "blamed a drinking binge to celebrate joining Team Sky."
However, UK Anti-Doping said that "did not sufficiently explain the abnormal values obtained from the sample" (BBC, 8/18). ... Three South Korean coaches "will temporarily join forces to lead the national football team for its upcoming friendly matches." Talks "broke down" between the Korean FA and former Dutch national team coach BERT VAN MARWIJK. KFA Technical Committee chief LEE YONG-SOO said that the interim coaches are SHIN TAE-YONG, PARK GEUN-HA and KIM BONG-SOO, "who will be working together as equals" (KOREA TIMES, 8/18). ... TIM SHERWOOD "is ahead in the race to become next Crystal Palace manager as bookmakers have suspended betting on him taking charge."
Eagles co-Chair STEVE PARISH "has identified Sherwood -- who was sacked as Tottenham boss at the end of last season -- as a contender to take the reins at Selhurst Park."
Former Cardiff Manager MALKY MACKAY "is also a strong contender for the role, but Coral and William Hill have closed the book on Sherwood taking charge" (London DAILY MAIL, 8/18). ... NEYMAR was "cleared to play for Barcelona by the team's doctors after recovering from a broken vertebra suffered during the World Cup" (AP, 8/18).
The forward scored two goals as Barcelona beat Liga MX side Leon 6-0 (Barcelona). ... RAFAEL NADAL, the defending US Open champion, "is to miss this year’s tournament at Flushing Meadows because of an injury to his right wrist." The problem, a new one for Nadal after long-running issues with his knees, means "he is unable to defend the title" he won against NOVAK DJOKOVIC last year. Nadal wrote on his Facebook page, "Not much more I can do right now, other than accept the situation and, as always in my case, work hard in order to be able to compete at the highest level once I am back" (LONDON TIMES, 8/18).
