Other sports news...

Italy should not be pressed to alter its tough anti-doping laws by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) but a compromise is likely to be found, World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound said.

The Italian government has refused to bring its doping laws into line with IOC rules and respect a commitment made by the Turin organisers when Italy was awarded the Feb. 10-26 Games.

That has left the IOC concerned that athletes could be subjected to police raids and risk prison if they test positive at the Winter Games in Turin next February.

"I think that there will be some administrative solution found to it," Pound said.

"I don't think Italy should be pressed to change their law, it's their right to deal with doping they way they feel it's appropriate," he added.

Boxing - Taylor retains undisputed title

Jermain Taylor won a unanimous 12-round decision over former champion Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas last weekend to retain the undisputed middleweight championship.

All three judges scored the fight 115-113 in favour of Taylor, who improved his unbeaten record to 25-0 while Hopkins fell to 46-4-1.

The fight was a re-match of their controversial bout last July, won by Taylor in a split decision, and followed much the same pattern.

Taylor again came out fast, with the 40-year-old Hopkins coming on strong in the later rounds in an attempt to steal the decision.

Motor racing - Renault confirm Kovalainen

Formula One champions Renault confirmed Finland's Heikki Kovalainen as their test and reserve driver for 2006. Team boss Flavio Briatore said that Frenchman Franck Montagny would continue testing with the team until the end of the month.

"We are delighted to welcome Heikki to the team as our third driver for 2006," he said. "He has demonstrated that he is a talented, aggressive driver in the GP2 series and he has impressed our engineers during his tests with the team."

Kovalainen, 24, was runner-up in the junior GP2 series to Germany's Nico Rosberg, who will be racing for Williams in Formula One next year.

Rugby - Sacked Jones backs Nucifora

Sacked Australia coach Eddie Jones has said he believes Auckland Blues coach David Nucifora should succeed him in the national position.

Jones was dismissed on Friday following the Wallabies' worst run of defeats in 36 years. They lost seven successive tests in 2005 and eight of their last nine.

New South Wales coach Ewen McKenzie, a 1991 World Cup winner and former assistant Wallabies coach, has emerged as the early favourite to succeed him, though Jones said he believed Nucifora should lead Australia to the 2007 World Cup in France.

Asked if he was endorsing McKenzie, Jones said: "He doesn't have the best record."

Hockey - Women's Champions Trophy final

Australia vs Holland 0-0 (Holland win 5-4 after penalty shoot-out). Play-off 3/4th place - Argentina vs China 2-2 (China win 9-8 after penalty shoot-out).