Football

The Italian player Cristiano Gagliarducci of Serie C club Frosinone has tested positive for caffeine. The Italian football federation said the first test was carried out after a home match against Catania on 17 November and a second sample had confirmed the result.

Thomas Helmer, the Bayern Munich defender, has had his gall bladder removed in an operation yesterday. He will miss Germany's World Cup qualifier against Portugal later this month - as will Thomas Hassler, Mehmet Scholl and Oliver Bierhoff, who are also injured.