Welsh four-time Olympic sprinter CHRISTIAN MALCOLM was appointed head of performance & coaching at Athletics Australia. Malcolm will work with national head coach CRAIG HILLIARD for next year's world championships in Doha and Tokyo 2020 (THE AGE, 12/11). ... Juventus striker CRISTIANO RONALDO would like Barcelona's LIONEL MESSI to leave Spain and "rekindle their rivalry" by joining him in the Italian top flight. Messi and Ronaldo have "dominated the global football landscape for a decade," each winning the Ballon d’Or five times (REUTERS, 12/10). ... Formula 1 driver BRENDON HARTLEY will remain part of Porsche's factory driver program in '19. The Kiwi, who was sacked by Toro Rosso earlier this month after only one full Grand Prix season, was "confirmed in the role" on Monday (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 12/11). .... Japan Top League side Yamaha Júbilo head coach KATSUYUKI KIYOMIYA said Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the season. His club finished first in the Top League's White Conference this season but lost its semifinal playoff against Suntory Sungoliath on Saturday (KYODO, 12/11). ... Former England football int'l PAUL GASGOIGNE denied sexually assaulting a woman on a train from York to Durham. Appearing at Peterlee Magistrates' Court, Gascoigne pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault by touching (BBC, 12/11). ... Korean All-Star catcher YANG EUI-JI signed the second-largest free agent contract in Korea Baseball Organization history on Tuesday. The 31-year-old agreed to a four-year deal worth 12.5B won ($11.1M) with the NC Dinos, and includes a 6B won ($5.3M) signing bonus (YONHAP, 12/11). ... Five club rugby players -- including former New Zealand Sevens int'l NATHANIEL WALKER -- were banned from participating in rugby after a New Zealand Rugby Judicial Committee completed the latest anti-doping hearings of allegations brought by Drug Free Sport New Zealand. The charges were brought against club players SAM BARTON, HENRY BOYHAN, PARATENE EDWARDS, SHANE LAURENCE and Walker following an investigation initiated by MedSafe into the operation of the website Clenbuterol NZ in '14 and '15 (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 12/11).
