Basketball: Jets' guard suspended

If the Leopards needed any help securing their first Budweiser League championship in just their third season, it came with yesterday's announcement that Chester Jets' guard, Russ Saunders, has been suspended following a drugs test.

The Leopards will take the title if they win their last four games, beginning with tomorrow's visit by Chester to the London Arena. Chester, like their fellow contenders Birmingham Bullets, Sheffield Sharks and the defending champions London Towers, can only stand and watch if Leopards keep winning.

Saunders, the League's all-time leading scorer, has been suspended on full pay by the Jets following a report by the Sports Council that a prohibited substance was found in a sample given by the player during a random drug test.

The visit of Chester poses one of only two traps for the Leopards, the other coming with their visit to Birmingham next Saturday. Leopards' last two games are at home to Derby Storm and the bottom club, Hemel Royals.