WICB meeting

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC)

The West Indies Cricket Board is set to discuss the Patterson Report when it meets here later this month. A release from the board, Thursday, said a special meeting would be held from February 23-24 to "review the recommendations of the board's governance committee and progress on initiatives including cricket development".

"The special meeting, which will be the first item of business on February 22, will consider the review and recommendations of the six territorial boards which constitute the WICB and determine the best way forward for West Indies Cricket," the release said. "The Governance Committee's recommendations have also been factored into the WICB's strategic plan which is scheduled for discussion immediately after the governance session."

WICB president, Julian Hunte, said some of the proposals of the Patterson Report, also referred to as the Governance Report, had already been employed, noting that progress had been made.

Shaun, Rajiv win

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CMC)

Jamaican jockeys Shaun Bridgmohan and Rajiv Maragh notched wins on Thursday afternoon to maintain top three positions at their respective race tracks. Bridgmohan landed the sixth race at Fair Grounds in New Orleans and New York-based Maragh finished on top in the second race at Aqueduct. Both riders are lying third in the jockeys' table at the respective tracks.

Nine months for Ronaldo

PARIS (AP)

An operation to repair a ruptured tendon in Ronaldo's left knee "went well", and the Milan striker will be sidelined for about nine months, a French surgeon was quoted yesterday as saying in sports newspaper L'Equipe. After the two-hour operation Thursday evening at Pitie-Salpetriere hospital, the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year is likely to need about 10 days of physical therapy in Paris, L'Equipe reported.

Conte backs Chambers

LONDON (AP)

Beleaguered sprinter Dwain Chambers has an unlikely ally in his return to athletics after serving a two-year doping ban - Victor Conte.

"It's disgusting what has happened to Dwain," Conte was quoted as saying in yesterday editions of The Times of London. "He's using me as an example of how to get through this and make something of his life."

Conte was the founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, the lab at the centre of the steroids scandal in professional sports. Chambers tested positive in August 2003 for the steroid THG, which was provided by Conte.

Chambers and Conte speak regularly, including last Sunday when the British sprinter won the 60-metres at the British indoor trials. The victory earned Chambers a spot on the team for the world indoor championships in Valencia, Spain, from March 7-9.

But Chambers' re-emergence on the athletics scene - after an unsuccessful foray into American football - has not been welcomed by governing body UK Athletics. Meet organisers are also refusing to invite Chambers to race.