SPORTS BRIEFS

Appear in court!

ATHENS, Greece (AP):

Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou have been ordered to appear before an Athens court to answer questions in their perjury case.

They are accused of staging a motorcycle crash to avoid a doping test on the eve of the 2004 Athens Olympics. They are also accused of making false statements and causing doctors to issue false testimony regarding their wounds. They face misdemeanour charges over the accident. Both deny any wrongdoing.

The trial has dragged on for years because of frequent postponements. The court yesterday adjourned until February 21.

Sexism row

LONDON (AP):

The football broadcasters who left British TV station Sky Sports over a sexism row have been hired by a radio station. London-based TalkSport announced yesterday that Richard Keys and Andy Gray will present a three-hour show every weekday from next Monday.

Keys says "this is the start of something new and exciting for Andy and myself".

TalkSport was the outlet used by Keys last month to apologise for making derogatory comments about female assistant referee Sian Massey, West Ham executive Karren Brady and a former girlfriend of player-turned-commentator Jamie Redknapp.

Keys resigned, but Gray was fired after footage of him emerged making a suggestive comment towards a female colleague, having already been caught mocking Massey.

Morgan out

LONDON (AP):

England's hopes of challenging for the Cricket World Cup title were hit yesterday when Eoin Morgan was ruled out of the six-week tournament because of a broken finger. Coach Andy Flower had already blamed a gruelling three-and-a-half month tour to Australia for a series of injuries to key players when he announced yesterday that Ravi Bopara will replace England's most important limited-overs batsman in the 15-man tournament squad.

Morgan needs surgery after fracturing the middle finger of his left hand during the one-day matches that followed England's victory in the Ashes Test series.