Texas Grand Prix gets green light

FIA technical delegate and race director Charlie Whiting conducted a 60-day inspection of the venue that is due to host the race in Austin, Texas, from November |16-18.

Whiting has declared the 5.5km (3.4-mile) track and the pit and paddock buildings as “fantastic”, and had no hesitation in awarding COTA ‘Grade One’ status that now allows it to stage grand prix.

“Everything I’ve seen so far has been absolutely first class, and the progress that’s been made since the last time I was here is amazing,” said Whiting in a COTA statement.

Whiting believes the drivers, in particular, will be impressed given the possibilities available for overtaking, which are crucial for entertaining an American audience.

O’Sullivan out of top 16

SNOOKER: The latest World Snooker rankings have confirmed that world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has fallen out of the top 16 for the first time since he entered it.

O’Sullivan, now 36, joined the game’s elite 19 years ago but, despite winning a fourth world crown in May, is now out of the leading group.

That comes as a result of his self-imposed delayed start to the season, with his stalling over signing a contract meaning he missed the Shanghai Masters, the Australian Open and the Wuxi Classic.

His participation in ranking events remains, though, as he is automatically seeded second as a result of his Crucible win.

He will play at the International Championship in China next month.

Deadline on Lance report

CYCLING: A much-awaited report on Lance Armstrong’s lifetime ban should be sent to cycling’s world governing body no later than October 15, according to a spokesperson for the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said.

“We will provide the reasoned decision addressing the lifetime bans and disqualifications imposed to the UCI and WADA as provided for under the world rules. We expect it to be sent no later than October 15,” said Annie Skinner in a statement.

Contador wins in Italy

CYCLING: Alberto Contador won the revived Milano-Torino road race yesterday, his second title since returning from a doping ban.

Contador moved ahead of the peloton on the final climb to the Basilica di Superga and held on for his first victory in a one-day 199 kilometre (123-mile) race. Diego Ulissi of Italy was second, while Fredrik Kessiakoff of Sweden was third.

Contador returned from a doping ban in August, and won the Spanish Vuelta earlier this month.

MLB: San Diego 2 LA Dodgers 8, Baltimore 12 Toronto 2, Detroit 5 Kansas City 4, Philadelphia 4 Washington 8, Boston 2 Tampa Bay 4, Atlanta 3 Miami 0, NY Mets 6 Pittsburgh 0, Cincinnati 1 Milwaukee 8, Texas 3 Oakland 9, Houston 2 St. Louis 0, Chicago White Sox 4 Cleveland 6, Colorado 6 Chicago Cubs 0, LA Angels 4 Seattle 3, San Francisco 6 Arizona 0.