LONDON: Former world record holders Steve Cram and Derek Ibbotson and Olympic champion Chris Brasher have admitted taking money to race when they were amateur athletes.

``It was all back-door money, brown envelopes, that sort of thing,'' said 1956 Olympic steeplechase champion Brasher.

The three Britons make their admissions in the radio programme `Trackmarks' due to go out on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Wednesday.Cram, who will present Wednesday's programme, said: ``By the time I entered the sport in the late 1970s, payments were common. My first brown envelope came as a result of making the Olympic final in 1980.''

Carl Lewis in European farewell

STOCKHOLM: American track legend Carl Lewis makes what will almost certainly be his farewell appearance in Europe when he competes in the Stockholm Grand Prix here tomorrow.

The 36-year-old, who will be leading the Santa Monica 4x100 relay team, has recovered from an Achilles injury that spoilt his US farewell in Eugene, Oregon last May.

Chinese paddlers rule the US Open

FORT LAUDERDALE (Florida): China's Kong Linghui and Wang Nan won singles titles at the US Open table tennis championship here yesterday.Second seed Kong defeated compatriot Ma Lin 17-21, 21-18, 21-19, 14-21, 21-19 in the men's final, while Wang beat Korea's Ryu Ji Hye 21-16, 21-16, 21-16 for the women's title.

Berry to replace injured Gilchrist

MANCHESTER: Australia have called up Darren Berry of Victoria to replace reserve wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who has had to fly home with a serious knee injury.

Tour manager Alan Crompton said today that Gilchrist would have his knee in a brace for four more weeks, but would hope to be fit for the start of the Australian summer season.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.