GOLD COAST: The young wife of Australian tennis player Scott Draper died from cystic fibrosis. Kellie, 23, had married Draper 20 months ago.The Aussie, who was beaten by Pete Sampras in the 1st round of Wimbledon last month, proposed at the Eiffel Tower in Paris after reaching the fourth round of the French Open in 1996.

Two athletes test positive

LONDON: Spaniard Julio Rey, one of the favourites for the men's marathon at next month's World Championships in Seville, has tested positive for a prohibited drug.

Rey and former British 400 metres hurdler Gary Cadogan, were named in a list published by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) this week.

Players bartered for gas!

BUCHAREST: A cash-strapped Romanian football club have paid their gas bill with two players instead of money, The Pro Sport daily reported today. Third division club Nitramonia Fagaras could not meet the payment demand of $20,000 from the NitramoniaGas Works, the report said. But the bill was settled when defenders Gabor Balazs and Ioan Fatu were handed over. They now play at second division Gazmetan Medias, the club of the state-run gas supplying company.

Rafter grabs number one spot

BRISBANE: John McEnroe once called Pat Rafter a one Slam wonder and ended up with egg on his face.

Coaches were also left eating humble pie after warning the now accomplished serve-and-volley exponent to stay away from the net.

Nine years after joining the ATP Tour at No 444, Rafter will become the world's No 1 ranked men's tennis player on Monday when the tour's new rankings are released.

Brazil increase lead in rankings

PARIS: Brazil's 3-0 victory over Uruguay in the Copa America final has seen them strengthen their grip on the top spot in the Fifa world rankings. Rankings: 1. Brazil 835, 2. France 762, 3. Czech Republic 753, 4. Italy 726, 5. Germany 720.