Spanish third division side Real Murcia President JESÚS SAMPER died on Friday morning at the age of 65 at a Madrid hospital, the club announced on its website. He became the majority shareholder of the club in '98 and was named president three years later (EL MUNDO, 12/18). ... JIMMY HILL, one of "English football's most influential figures of the late 20th century," has died aged 87. Hill, who played for Brentford and Fulham and managed Conventry City "before carving out a highly successful broadcasting career, had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for several years." Hill's agent JANE MORGAN confirmed news of his death in a statement that said, "It is with great sadness that BRYONY HILL and the children of Jimmy Hill have announced that Jimmy passed away peacefully today, aged 87, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Bryony was beside him." Hill, a striker in his playing days, "enjoyed considerably more success as an administrator." He "later moved to the BBC, where he presented Match of the Day, and more recently worked for Sky Sports" (LONDON TIMES, 12/20). ... Olympic kayaking Silver Medalist NATHAN BAGGALEY has been "sentenced to a non-parole period of two years and three months in jail for manufacturing drugs." The 40-year-old "was found guilty of manufacturing a marketable quantity of the party drug 2-CB and conspiring to manufacture a marketable quantity of methamphetamine" (ABC NEWS, 12/18). ... Greek tennis player ALEXANDROS JAKUPOVIC "has been banned from the sport for life for breaking rules on match-fixing." The Tennis Integrity Unity said on Friday that 34-year-old Jakupovic "was found guilty of five charges under the sports anti-corruption program." Details of how he "broke the rules were not given" (AP, 12/18). ... Following seven years of investigations, "long pre-trial discussions and a formal trial, all the Lampre riders and team staff implicated in the Mantova doping trial have been cleared of any wrong doing." Only the local pharmacist at the center of the case, GUIDO NIGRELLI, and local masters rider SEBASTIAN GILMOZZI "were given six-month suspended sentences, fines and ordered to pay the trial costs" (CYCLING NEWS, 12/18).
