BRIEFS

Increased prize moneyfor Diamond League

MONACO (AP):The Diamond League will offer increased purses at each of its 14 athletics meetings scheduled for this year, bringing the total prize money to $8 million.

The world athletics federation said yesterday the prize money will rise from $450,000 to $480,000 per meeting.

The Diamond League was launched last year as a replacement for the Europe-based Golden League as the IAAF expanded the series worldwide. The 2011 Diamond League season starts May 6 in Doha and will make stops in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States.

Rooney ban upheld

LONDON (AP):The English Football Association has upheld Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's two-match ban for swearing into a television camera.

Rooney admitted his outburst as he celebrated his third goal in Saturday's 4-2 victory at West Ham was wrong, but challenged the severity of the punishment.

The FA says that its regulatory commission did not accept Rooney's claim that the sanction was "clearly excessive".

Rooney will miss today's game against Fulham in the Premier League and the following week's FA Cup semi-final match against Manchester City.

Pakistan change

ISLAMABAD (AP):Uncapped left-arm fast bowler Sadaf Hussain has replaced the injured Aizaz Cheema in Pakistan's squad for the one-day series in West Indies.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said Thursday in a statement that Cheema has been "declared unfit by doctors". There were no further details.

The 21-year-old Hussain took 64 wickets this season in Pakistan's premier four-day tournament.