Burkino Faso have been cleared to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations after Namibia’s claims they fielded an ineligible player were thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Namibia claimed that Burkino Faso should have been removed from the tournament — which pits the continent’s best sides against each other — because Cameroon-born defender Herve Zengue wasn’t eligible.

They appealed to African soccer’s ruling body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), whose decision to dismiss the case has now been upheld by CAS.

Burkino Faso won both their matches against Namibia during qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations, with Zengue featuring in both games. He was given a five-year passport from Burkino Faso in March 2011.

CAF threw out Namibia’s appeal on the basis that their protest letter did not meet certain criteria laid down in their regulations and CAS backed their decision.

Burkino Faso can now look ahead to taking their place at the tournament in Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Sudan and Angola.

This year’s competition will be hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and starts on January 21.

Former world number one Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Brisbane International tournament in Australia after suffering an ankle injury in Wednesday’s third-round victory over Bojana Jovanovski.

However, the American hopes it will not stop her from competing at this month’s Australian Open, an event that the 13-time grand slam champion has won five times — a record in the post-1968 Open era.

The world No. 12 sustained the injury while serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set of her clash with Jovanovski at the Pat Rafter Arena.

The Serbian broke to keep the contest alive, but fourth seed Williams responded to earn a 6-2 6-4 win before the results of a scan forced her to exit the Queensland event.
Serena: ‘I don’t love playing tennis’

“I’m disappointed to have to pull out of the Brisbane International,” the 30-year-old Williams told the tournament’s official website.

“I have been to hospital and it has been confirmed that I have a left ankle sprain that I probably shouldn’t play on. I’m going to take a couple of days off, not too many, and see how I feel. I’m still hopeful of playing the Australian Open.”

Williams was playing in her first event since losing to Samantha Stosur in the final of the U.S. Open in September, when she was fined $2,000 for verbally abusing the match umpire.

The Michigan native has been plagued by injury in recent years, having twice undergone foot surgery after stepping on a piece of glass in July 2010 and then suffering blood clots on both lungs.

“It was such an unexpected end to the tournament,” she said. “I didn’t expect to be getting an MRI today. I’ve had a great time here in Brisbane — the tournament is great, the fans are fantastic and hopefully I’ll see them again next year.”

Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova is guaranteed a place in the last four as a result of Williams’ withdrawal, having beaten American Vania King 4-6 6-2 6-3 in the third round on Tuesday.

Jovanovski’s fellow Serb Jelena Jankovic reached the quarterfinals after the former world number one earned a straight-sets 6-3 6-2 win against Russian qualifier Nina Bratchikova.

Jankovic next faces Italian third seed Francesca Schiavone, who defeated Kazakhstan’s Galina Voskoboeva on Tuesday.

Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi set up a last-eight clash with German second seed Andrea Petkovic after cruising past Russian No. 7 Anastasia Pavlyuchenko 6-0 6-3.

Elsewhere on the WTA Tour, top seed Sabine Lisicki battled the elements to record a hard-fought 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-3 success against fellow German Mona Barthel in second round of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.

A 90-minute rain delay disrupted the opening set, which Lisicki eventually won in a tie-break, and the world No. 15 clinched the decider in a match which saw both players surrender seven breaks of serve.

Lisicki next faces compatriot Angelique Kerber, who upset fifth seed Julia Gorges 6-2 6-3 in another all-German encounter.

Chinese second seed Peng Shuai crashed out of the hard-court event, losing 6-4 6-3 to the Czech Republic’s Lucie Hradecka.

The 26-year-old Hradecka will face Peng’s compatriot Zheng Jie in the last eight, after the world No. 48 eliminated Romanian eighth seed Monica Niculescu 6-0 6-2.

Russian third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova thrashed American Christina McHale 6-1 6-1 to set up a clash with Italy’s Sara Errani — who beat 2010 champion and 2011 runner-up Yanina Wickmayer. The Belgian seventh seed lost 4-6 6-1 6-1 in her second match since an injury retirement at September’s U.S. Open.

Fourth seed Flavia Pennetta beat Britain’s Elena Baltacha 6-4 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal with Russia’s Elena Vesnina, who eliminated the 2010 runner-up’s fellow Italian Roberta Vinci 6-3 6-4.

Top seed Rafael Nadal and second seed Roger Federer are both through to the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open in Doha after comfortable straight sets victories on Wednesday.

French Open champion Nadal took 90 minutes to see off fellow-left-hander Denis Gremelmayr of Germany 6-2 6-2 while Federer’s 6-2 6-3 success over Slovenian Grega Zemlja was achieved in exactly and hour.

Nadal told reporters he was happy with the way he played, saying: “The worst thing I did last year was my return and I was happy with the way my return worked today.

“I also want to have enough shots not to be predictable. I want to attack the ball faster and hit with more power and spin,” he added.

Both Nadal and Federer had to contend with a troublesome wind and Federer said: “I used to be very emotional when I was younger, after growing up in Switzerland where we didn’t have wind that much, and where we also played indoors a lot.
It was difficult learning how to play in the wind — but I have had a lot of practice playing in windy places and it doesn’t bother me any more.”

Federer next faces eighth-seeded Italian Andreas Seppi, while Nadal will take on Russian Mikhail Youzhny.

Also through to the quarterfinals are third seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and fifth seed Viktor Troicki.

Top seed Andy Murray is through to the last eight of the Brisbane International event but he had to fight back from the brink of defeat for the second successive match, eventually beating Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller 4-6 7-6 6-0.

The Briton next faces Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, who dumped out fifth seed Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-3 6-4.

Serena Williams has revealed she is not in love with playing tennis, despite an impressive straight sets victory on her return to action at the Brisbane International tournament.

Playing in her first match since losing the U.S. Open final to Samantha Stosur in September, Williams brushed aside South African Chanelle Scheepers 6-2 6-3 with consummate ease.

The 30-year-old American, who is seeded fourth in Brisbane, fired down seven aces in a 68-minute victory — but later told reporters that she will cut back her schedule even further in 2012.

Clijsters returns with convincing victory

“I just want to be able to do other things that I’m doing and expand on that. I think that helps keep my motivation up,” said the 13-time grand slam winner.
“I don’t love tennis today but I’m here. I can’t live without it — there’s a difference between not loving something and not being able to live without it.

“It’s not that I’ve fallen out of love with it. I’ve actually never liked sports and I never understood how I became an athlete,” Williams continued.

“I don’t like working out, I don’t like anything physical. If it involves sitting down or shopping, I’m excellent at it.”

In other matches, top seed and local favorite Stosur beat Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus 6-2 6-3 and is on course to face Williams again in the semifinals.

Second seed Andrea Petkovic of Germany defeated Israeli Shahar Peer 7-6 1-6 6-3, while former world number one Ana Ivanovic saw off Austrian Tamira Paszek 6-3 6-3 and now faces Kim Clijsters.

Top seeds the Czech Republic opened their Hopman Cup campaign with a 2-1 Group A victory over Bulgaria on Monday.

World number two Petra Kvitova set the ball rolling in Perth with a 6-4 6-2 success over Tsvetana Pironkova, ranked 46th in the world.

And men’s number seven Tomas Berdych secured the triumph by defeating Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 6-7 6-3.

Hewitt is beaten on comeback

Kvitova believes she will be under more pressure this year, after a remarkable 2011 which saw her win both Wimbledon and the WTA Tour Championships — as well as leading the Czech Republic to their Fed Cup triumph.
“Every season is different. One year ago I was 34th in the world and now I am world ranked second.” Kvitova told reporters after her victory.

“It is not always easy to play on the court and the first match of the year is always tough, but I played well.”

The Bulgarian pairing earned a consolation by saving three match points to win the dead mixed-doubles rubber 2-6 6-3 11-9.

The later Group A match saw world number one Caroline Woznaicki help Denmark to a 2-1 victory over the United States.

Mardy Fish beat Frederik Nielsen 4-6 7-6 6-4 in the men’s singles, but Wozniacki’s 7-6 6-2 success over Bethanie Mattek-Sands drew the United States level.

However, the Danes secured victory when Wozniacki and Nielsen combined to beat the Americans 7-5 6-3.

Defending champion Marc Coma claimed the 17th Dakar Rally motorcycle stage win of his career on Monday with victory in the 295km second stage from Santa Rosa de la Pampa to San Rafael in Argentina.

The Spaniard moved to the top of the overall standings after finishing one minute and 18 seconds ahead of KTM team-mate Cyril Despres of France with Joan Barreda Bort of Spain third and opening stage winner Francisco Lopez of Chile back in fourth place.

Aprilia rider Lopez faded after leading at the first time marker and 35-year-old Coma told reporters: “Lopez and I were riding at top speed and let me tell you, the Aprilia is very, very quick.

“After that, we arrived at the second part of the special stage with sand and dunes. It was a lot more technical, with some navigation to do as well,” Coma continued.
“I took the lead and kept riding at a good pace. I’m happy because I didn’t get lost, so it’s been a good day for me!”

Coma leads Lopez by exactly two-and-a-half minutes in the overall standings with Despres up to third place a further 22 seconds behind.

Meanwhile, defending car champion Nasser Al-Attiyah won Monday’s second stage by 54 seconds from Stephane Peterhansel of France.

Al-Attiyah lost 10 minutes on Sunday following engine problems with his Hummer and, despite his stage win, he only lies sixth overall nearly nine minutes behind the Mini of six-time winner Peterhansel.

Al-Attiyah’s Hummer team-mate, American Robby Gordon, lies 2:28 behind in the overall standings with Peterhansel’s Mini team-mate, Krzysztof Holowczyc of Poland, another five seconds adrift in third.

Tuesday’s third stage covers 270km from San Rafael to San Juan.

Investec Loyal edged ahead of favorite Wild Oats XI to take line honors in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart ocean classic Wednesday in one of the race’s closest finishes.

The two supermaxis had fought a thrilling tactical duel along Australia’s east coast with the lead changing hand several times throughout the 628 nautical miles.

But 2010 runner-up Investec Loyal crossed the line in two days, six hours, 14 minutes and 18 seconds, according to the race’s official website.

Official Rolex Sydney-Hobart website

With thousands watching at Hobart’s Constitution dock, the record holder and five-time winner Wild Oats XI arrived just over three minutes behind.

The smallest margin of victory was back in 1982 when Condor of Bermuda pipped Apollo by just seven seconds.

Investec Loyal took the lead for the first time on Tuesday night as the pair had broken away from the rest of the 88-strong fleet at the start in Sydney Harbor on Boxing Day.

Light winds and the traditional difficult run to the finish on the Derwent River left the outcome in doubt to the very end.

Wild Oats XI set the race record of one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds in 2005 and has dominated the line honors battle in recent years.

A separate prize for victory on handicap is also awarded as the entrants in various categories battle it out to the finish in the Tasmanian capital.

Former World No.5 Anna Chakvetadze is making her latest comeback after a 2011 marred by illness and capped with an unsuccessful bid to win election to Russia’s Duma.

Chakvetadze’s problems began when she dramatically collapsed on court while leading World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki in a second round match in Dubai.

“When I got sick in Dubai I was in very good shape,” Chakvetadze told the official WTA website.

“I was finally enjoying the way I was playing. I was feeling the ball great. I had found my game again and was really ready to compete. But then I got sick.”

She was to play only three main draw matches in the remainder of the year, slipping to 234 in the rankings, before the illness was diagnosed as an inflammation of the inner year which caused dizziness and effected her balance.

“I’m 100 per cent healthy now. It doesn’t bother me anymore. I’m completely over it.”

Former World No.1 Safin elected to Russian federal parliament

While away from tennis, the 24-year-old dabbled in politics, standing for the Right Cause Party in December’s elections.

But with her party polling less than one per cent in the election, for now Chakvetadze’s political ambitions are on hold.

“I met some new people and really enjoyed myself. It was great to try myself in a different world.

“While I will do something if my party asks me to, right now my priority is sport. I spend my days on the tennis court. Tennis comes first for me,” she said.

Chakvetadze will head to Hobart in Tasmania for the first tournament of 2012 ahead of a tilt at the Australian Open later in January.

She reached her career-high ranking in 2007 when she won four tournaments and made the semifinals of the U.S. Open.

But in December of that year she suffered a horrifying ordeal when her home was burgled and the intervening years have been marked by a series of injuries and loss of form.

In other tennis news Tuesday, Alex Corretja, former coach of British star Andy Murray, has been named captain of Spain’s Davis Cup team.

Corretja replaces Albert Costa, who quit earlier this month after leading Spain to triumph in the 2011 final against Argentina.

The 37-year-old Corretja will have to take charge of their title defense without Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer, who have decided not to take part in the 2012 Davis Cup.

Sachin Tendulkar’s wait for a history-making 100th international century continues after the legendary Indian cricketer fell short again in the first Test against Australia in Melbourne on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old “Little Master” was dismissed for 73 in the final over of the second day as the tourists reached 214-3 in reply to Australia’s first-innings total of 333.

Tendulkar is international cricket’s record run scorer in both the five-day and limited overs formats but has been stranded on 99 centuries since March.

He added 117 with Rahul Dravid after coming to the crease at 97-2, following opening batsman Virender Sehwag’s quickfire 67 off 83 balls. Sehwag passed 8,000 runs in Tests as he registered his 31st half-century.

Australia lose late wickets against India

Tendulkar continued the brisk pace, as he hit eight fours and a six from 98 deliveries faced, reaching his 64th Test half-century before being bowled by Peter Siddle.

Dravid was unbeaten on a patient 65 off 185 balls, with the 38-year-old notching his 63rd Test fifty, while Ishant Sharma successfully negotiated the final three balls of the day to leave India 119 runs behind Australia with seven wickets remaining.

Dravid is the second-highest Test run scorer of all time behind Tendulkar on 13,162, having extended his margin over Australia’s Ricky Ponting (12,718).

India, seeking a first series victory in Australia in 64 years in the four-match competition, lost an early wicket when Gautam Gambhir was caught by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin off the bowling of Ben Hilfenhaus for just three runs with the score at 22.

Australia had resumed on 277-6, with Haddin on 21 and Siddle unbeaten on 34.

Both fell to Zaheer Khan with the addition of only 14 runs as Haddin was caught by Sehwag for 27 and Siddle by wicketkeeper captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for 41.

Left-arm fast bowler Khan ended with figures of 4-77 off 31 overs, while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took the last two wickets to fall to finish with 3-81.

Ashwin said the Indians were not concerned by Tendulkar’s failure to reach the coveted landmark.

“It’s going to eventually happen, no point in bothering about it. We’re very happy to be in the position we are presently,” the 25-year-old told reporters.

In other Test action Tuesday, left-arm paceman Chanaka Welegedera took five wickets for 52 runs as Sri Lanka bowled out South Africa for just 168 at Kingsmead in Durban.

It left the tourists with a commanding first innings lead of 170 in the second Test, having lost the first by an innings and 81 runs.

Sri Lanka lost captain Tillekeratne Dilshan, dismissed by Dale Steyn, to be seven for one when bad light drew proceedings on the second day to an early close.

Welegedera had all his victims caught behind or in the slips and was superbly backed up by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who four for 49.

Earlier, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 338 with Thilan Samaraweera the last man out for 102.

Marchant de Lange took seven wickets for 81 on his debut for South Africa, the best figures recorded by any bowler in Test cricket in 2011.

Kauto Star made racing history on Boxing Day by claiming his fifth King George VI Chase victory at Kempton Park, the first horse to achieve the feat in the 74-year history of the famous race.

The 11-year-old gelding, trained by champion trainer Paul Nicholls and ridden by Irishman Ruby Walsh, took up the running from the halfway stage of the three-mile contest to finish ahead of last year’s winner Long Run, with Captain Chris back in third place.

Kauto Star won the race four years in succession, from 2006 to 2009, but was well beaten last year by the younger Long Run, and retirement beckoned after Long Run, five years his junior, also proved victorious in jump racing’s Blue Riband chase — the Cheltenham Gold Cup — last March.

However, Kauto Star beat his rival in their prep race at Haydock Park earlier this season, and he confirmed his resurgent form with a comfortable victory on Monday, ensuring the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup will once again prove an intriguing clash between the pair.

Kauto Star and Desert Orchid (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990) shared the previous record of four victories in the race — the second most prestigious level-weights chase on the National Hunt calendar — but this victory means he is now out on his own with a remarkable five successes.

“It’s amazing, he is just the best,” Nicholls told reporters. “We knew we had him in serious order today and if he gets to Cheltenham in that form he’ll be the one to beat in the Gold Cup.”

Kauto Star has twice won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in 2007 and again in 2009 when he became the first horse in history to regain the trophy.

However, he will turn 12 on New Year’s Day and only two horses in the 87-year history of the race have won it at that age.