Sport digest

O'Sullivan's solicitor Gerard Sinclair confirmed that the player had failed tests taken during the Benson & Hedges Irish Masters in March.

Sinclair said that the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association were now likely to institute disciplinary proceedings against O'Sullivan, who would not contest those proceedings.

World No.3 O'Sullivan beat Ken Doherty in the final of the Irish Masters and Sinclair added: ''I would stress that the smoking of cannabis is in no way performance-enhancing and Ronnie has made the point of writing to Ken Doherty, his opponent in the final of the Irish Masters, to offer his personal apologies to him.

Sinclair responded to speculation that O'Sullivan's drug test failure had been leaked, adding: ''I wish to express my disappointment that the confidentiality of this matter was breached at a time when the WPBSA's drugs test procedure was still ongoing.''

Tennis

Teenager Anna Kournikova pulled off the biggest win of her career at the German Open yesterday when she beat world No.1 Martina Hingis 6-3, 7-6 to reach the semi-finals in Berlin.

Russian Kournikova let three match-points slip away before collecting her first win against the Swiss player.

''I've been praying this win would come,'' she said. ''I didn't really think about who was on the other side. I just played my game. I think she was surprised by that.''

Hingis promised she would be ready for the French Open later this month - the only grand slam event she failed to win last year. ''It's nothing to cry about. I'll be ready for the French Open. I was just a little tired - more mentally than physically.''

Kournikova, still seeking her first title, will face Conchita Martinez in the last four tomorrow, after the Spaniard beat Japan's Ai Sugiyami, 6-3, 6-3.

Third-seeded Czech Jana Novotna advanced with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 win against Romania's Irina Spirlea and will face 18-year-old French qualifier Amelie Mauresmo, who ousted Austria's Barbara Paulus, 6-4, 6-2.

Monica Seles' father Karoly has died following a long battle against cancer.

Alberto Berasategui earned revenge for Spanish clay courters yesterday, knocking New Zea-land's Brett Steven out of the quarter-finals of the Italian Open in Rome.

Steven, a serve-and-volley player, had easily handled Monte Carlo Open winner Carlos Moya in the third round a day earlier at the Foro Italico.

But 1994 French Open finalist Berasategui levelled the score for the Spaniards with his 6-4, 6-2 defeat of the Kiwi in a rain-hit contest which was interrupted for an hour by the weather.

French Open holder Gustavo Kuerten was to play Spaniard Fernando Vincente, while third seed Marcelo Rios was facing 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek of Holland.

Speedway

BERWICK BANDITS host the first leg of the northern section of the Four Team Tournament at Shielfield Park tonight when they take on Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle.

Equestrianism

Nick Skelton continued his barnstorming start to the Royal Windsor Horse Show as he completed a hat trick of victories on the second day.

Skelton, having had an opening day success with his bright new prospect Carte Gene, won yesterday's Hildon Men's Championship on the same partner.

This came a few hours after the 40-year-old Warwickshire rider had taken his Atlanta Olympics partner Showtime to victory in the Traxdata Great Park Speed Stakes.

Top riders from both sides of the Border will be competing today in the Charter Hall Horse Trials in Berwickshire.

Duathlon

St. Andrews' British No.1 Fiona Lothian puts her dynamic training regime to the test in Poland's Czartoryski Castle Park tomorrow when she races in the European Duathlon Championships.

Lothian rang up a series of impressive road and cross country race results this winter including taking two Scottish titles after heavy cycle training just before each race.

This, she felt would give her a edge in her duathlon when, this weendn, she runs 10km, cycles 40km then finished with another 5 km run.

She finished seventh in the championships last time. With world No.1 Irma Heeren injured and missing from the field the Scot has an extra reason to hope for a medal placing.

JSB Plumbing Forth Valley League Division 1 at Livingston - 1, City of Edinburgh 308.5 pts; 2, Babcock Pitreavie 297 pts; 3, Falkirk Victoria 285 pts; 4, Corstorphine 284 pts; 5, Lochgelly and District 262 pts; 6, Harmeny 233.5 pts. Division 2 at Pitreavie Statium, Dunfermline - 1, Livingston and District 315 pts; 2, Lasswade 284 pts; 3, Dunbar 280 pts; 4, Central 225 pts; 5, Edinburgh Woollen Mill 134 pts.

Fife Schools Relay Championships at Glenrothes Boys 4 x 100m relay - 1, McLean School 58.9 seconds; 2, Cowdenbeath 59.1 seconds; 3, Lawhead 59.2 seconds. Girls 4 x 100m relay - 1, McLean School 59.7 seconds; 2, St Katherine's 60.4 seconds; 3, Aberdour 61.3 seconds.

Women's rugby

New Zealand will be strong favourites against the United States in the inaugural Women's World Cup final in Amsterdam tomorrow.

The Kiwis, who beat the Americans 86-8 when the teams last met in the Canada Cup two years ago, have conceded only one try and 20 points in the tournament and will be at full strength.

However, the United States are missing 32-year-old veteran Candi Orsini, who has 19 caps, with a knee injury.

New Zealand beat Germany 134-6, and outscored the Germans, Scotland, Spain and England by a combined total 300-20 in the run-up to the final. The American women have also been impressive in beating Russia, Spain, Scotland and Canada by a combined margin of 203-32.