Saturday, May 30, 2009

LONDON (AP) A soccer team of only English players is set to represent Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.

The four "home nations" — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — sent a joint letter to world soccer governing body FIFA on Friday saying they had agreed that an English team could represent Britain in both the men's and women's tournaments.

The deal must still be ratified by FIFA, which had given the four soccer associations until the end of May to come to an agreement.

The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish associations refuse to be part of a Britain team, fearing it would jeopardize their independence and voting rights within FIFA.

The four associations compete separately for a place in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions.

The arrangement will allow Britain to enter an Olympic soccer tournament for the first time in 52 years.

LISMORE , Australia (AP) Australian Olympic silver medalist and former world kayaking champion Nathan Baggaley was sentenced to at least five years in prison on Friday on charges of supplying and manufacturing ecstasy pills.

Baggaley, 33, was sentenced in Lismore District Court to a maximum of nine years with a non-parole period of five years after pleading guilty to the sale and distribution of 1,509 ecstasy tablets in November 2007.

With time already served, Baggaley will be eligible for parole on Nov. 20, 2012.

Baggaley won silver medals in the K1 and K2 over 500 meters at the Athens Olympics in 2004. He also won gold medals in the K1 class at the world championships in 2002, 2003 and 2005.

Baggaley tested positive for steroids in September 2005 and was banned for 15 months by the Australian Canoe Federation.

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