Frigo sacked after Giro drugs raid
Manager Giancarlo Ferretti told reporters by telephone that the team had received an official notice from the police late on Thursday that drugs had been found the previous evening.
"Dario admitted this and so, under the rules of the team, he was immediately sacked," Ferretti said.
The Italian was lying second overall in the Giro, 15 seconds behind compatriot Gilberto Simoni after leading the race for nine days. His sacking means he will be unable to continue in the race.
Police raided team hotels on Wednesday evening in the biggest crackdown on doping in cycling since the notorious 1998 Tour de France. Italian news agency ANSA quoted police sources as saying substances including testosterone, caffeine, adrenal and anabolic steroids and other stimulants had been seized.
Organisers cancelled Thursday's 18th stage as the cyclists held a seven-hour meeting. Italy's Mario Cipollini won the sprint finish at the end of yesterday's 181k stage from Alba to Busto Arsizio.
CYCLING: The Thomas Sheehan Memorial Road Race gets underway in Carrick-onSuir tomorrow with a question mark over the participation of Brian Kenneally, who has won the event for the last two years, writes Tommy Campbell.
His form of late has been erratic and he may miss the race in attempt to re-charge the batteries. He has been recently campaigning with Team Ireland in France, who are in action this weekend in the Ronde san Quentin, north of Paris.
Included in the eight-man team are Paul Griffin, Ray Clarke and Eugene Moriarty, who gave exemplary displays in the recent FBD Milk Ras.
Naturally the race organiser, Paul Lonergan, will miss the trio but he can be assured that between Martin O'Loughlin and Eddie O'Donoghue that the trophy will remain in the Carrick area.
CRICKET: Irish cricket has been boosted by an injection of over £250,000 in Lottery grants under the Sports Capital Programme announced by Minister Jim McDaid, writes Emmet Riordan.
The Irish Cricket Union received £100,000 towards a national indoor cricket centre, being built by North County in Balrothery. The club have also received £100,000 towards the cost of the development.
There were grants also for Meath side Knockharley (£60,000), Tipperary's Ballyeighan (£5,000) and £2,000 for Donegal club St Johnston.
Meanwhile, Merrion include Dom Joyce in their side for this afternoon's Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup second round tie with Phoenix in the Park.
The Irish player flies back into Dublin this morning following an outing with the Middlesex seconds against Leicestershire during the week. Older brother Ed, already an established Middlesex star, will be making only his second appearance of the year for the club as he lines out for Trinity in the Lewis Traub League. The third of the Joyce brothers, Gus, misses out with a hamstring injury.
HANDBALL: The famed St Paul's club from Belfast provide the two finalists for today's women's 40x20 singles final in Kells, when Fiona Shannon takes on Brigid Kerr.
Shannon, champion of the past two years, has dominated the women's scene here in recent years and is firm favourite to retain the title, although Kerr is boosted by reaching the semi-finals of the Canadian Open singles last month.
SNOOKER: Defending champion Rodney Goggins and his hotly fancied Celbridge club-mate Martin McCrudden remain on course for a final meeting in the Strachan Irish Snooker Championships at the Ivy Rooms Snooker Rooms in Carlow.
Goggins had a tight opening round game against Nigel Power (Celbridge) winning 3-2 before defeating Monkstown's Keith Sheldrick 4-0 in yesterday's second round.
McCrudden has only dropped one frame so far. He beat Alan Casey of the 147 Club in Wexford 4-1 in the first round and followed up with a 4-0 victory over John Sutton (Embassy Navan).
