ATHLETICS: Russia’s Liliya Shobukhova, the second fastest female marathon runner of all time, has received a two-year doping ban from the country’s athletics federation.

The 36-year-old has also had all her results since October 9 2009 annulled, meaning her marathon best of two hours 18 minutes and 20 seconds, set in winning in Chicago in 2011, will be wiped from the record books.

Shobukhova has the right to appeal the ban.

RUGBY UNION: England wing Jack Nowell will undergo surgery next month to solve a persistent knee problem, ruling him out of the summer tour to New Zealand.

The 20-year-old Exeter wing has not played since damaging nerves in his shoulder in the Devon club’s 45-15 Premiership defeat at Leicester Tigers on March 23.

“He needs an operation on a long-term knee issue,” Exeter boss Rob Baxter said.

ATHLETICS: Mark England has been appointed Chef de Mission of Team GB for the Baku 2015 European Games and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, 

England said it is an honour to have been selected for the role.

He said: “I’m hugely honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead the teams heading out to Baku and Rio over the next couple of years.

“I look forward to working with my Team GB colleagues.”

BASKETBALL: Four firms, including Mercedes Benz USA, have withdrawn their financial backing from the Los Angeles Clippers after owner Donald Sterling’s alleged racist comments.

 NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson urged NBA commissioner Adam Silver to act quickly over the claims.

“Unfortunately, this is a man in a powerful position and a man who should be embracing minorities not discriminating against them,” he said.