ERFURT: Olympic biathlon Champion Stev Fischer has lodged an appeal after being discharged by the German army for collaborating with the East German Secret Police.

Fischer says he only agreed to collaborate with the STASI, when he was 18, because he thought it was standard practice. The STASI broke off contact after only eight weeks. Fischer, decorated by the Bundeswehr in 1995 for his sporting achievements, was confronted with his STASI secret at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics when he was given the wholehearted backing of the German Ski Federation.

``I just want to get this sorted out so I can concentrate on my training for the Olympics, '' he said of next February's Games in Nagano, Japan.

Bookies fear Lennox Lewis' success

LONDON: British bookmakers William Hill revealed that they face a massive $1.65 million payout if Lennox Lewis unifies all four World Heavyweight titles on or before May 18 of next year.

Britain's Lewis announced last November that he wanted to hold all four versions of the title within 18 months and Hills quoted odds of 500-1 on him achieving that. The odds were then slashed as low as 50-1 when punters started to back him to achieve the feat. ``We already have a huge seven-figure liability, and Lewis could win all four by beating Herbie Hide and Evander Holyfield within the next seven months.''

Soccer player fails drug test

BIRMINGHAM: Shane Nicholson, a defender with Division one club West Bromwich Albion, has been suspended after becoming the first soccer player in England to fail a drug test this season.

The Football Association said the 27-year-old former Lincoln and Derby player tested positive for traces of amphetamine in a random test at Albion's training ground on October 13. He is the only player to have tested positive so far this season. The player has 14 days to respond to the charge of misconduct. In the past three seasons, the FA has reported 22 positive tests. The last player caught was Ipswich defender Adam Tanner, who was banned for three months in February after testing positive for cocaine.

Malik meets Majid to discuss future

KARACHI: Prolific Pakistan batsman Salim Malik is anxiously waiting to find out whether the bribery allegations are still keeping him out of the team with a series against West Indies.

Malik is to meet Majid Khan, chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board, in Lahore today. ``Yes, he has finally called me and I hope I will know why I have been kept out of the team,''said Malik. His exclusion from the team against South Africa and the four-nation One Day tournament surprised cricket circles. Pakistan lost the series to South Africa and performed poorly in the One Day matches.

Schumacher loses important points

LONDON: Michael Schumacher has had his points for this year's World Championship wiped out by the motor racing authorities over his collision with World Championship rival Jacques Villeneuve in the final race of the formula one season.

International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley today said a disciplinary panel had considered a fine but decided not to impose one.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.