May 22nd 2010
Sports Bites

Disgraced American cyclist Floyd Landis has admitted to systematic use of performance-enhancing drugs and accused seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong of involvement in doping, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title for doping but had always denied cheating, sent a series of e-mails to cycling officials and sponsors acknowledging and detailing his long-term use of banned drugs, the newspaper said. The report said Landis wrote in the e-mails that he started doping in 2002, his first year racing with the U.S. Postal Service team led by Armstrong.

Germany coach Joachim Loew believes he will be taking a strong squad to the World Cup finals, even without missing injured captain Michael Ballack. The Chelsea midfielder has been ruled out of the tournament in South Africa with an ankle injury but Loew said Thursday the coaching staff has confidence in the rest of the squad. In an interview on the national team's official website, Loew declined to say which three players will be dropped from his preliminary squad when the final 23-man selection is announced.

Argentina coach Diego Maradona named his final 23-man squad for the World Cup on Wednesday, which includes Lionel Messi and the country's other big stars. The big surprise was the inclusion of defender Ariel Garce, who played his first international match for Argentina earlier this month against Haiti. The list released on Wednesday includes tremendous power up front, led by Messi, Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain.

Juan Martin del Potro, who underwent surgery two weeks ago on his right wrist, says he expects to miss the U.S. Open and not defend his title. He said on Wednesday he might return to the ATP Tour soon after the last of the four Grand Slam tournaments. The U.S. Open begins on Aug. 30. He will also miss the French Open, Wimbledon and Argentina's Davis Cup quarterfinal against Russia on July 9-11. Del Potro has not played since a fourth-round loss at the Australian Open. He said he will be wearing a protective bandage for several more weeks and then will need several more months to regain strength and flexibility.

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