Sports News in Brief
Cavendish wins
BRIVE-LA-GAILLARDE, France - Britain's Mark Cavendish has won the 18th stage of the Tour de France, a 226km ride between Blagnac and Brive-La-Gaillarde, to claim his 22nd victory in the race on Friday. Sky teammate and compatriot Bradley Wiggins finished seconds later with his 2min 05sec overall lead on British teammate Chris Froome intact.
Staying put
LONDON - Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists Andy Carroll will not be allowed to leave Anfield on loan, but he won't rule out selling the England striker at the right price. Rodgers is believed to have rejected an approach from Carroll's former club Newcastle to re-sign the 23-year-old on a season-long loan earlier this month. Carroll's future at Liverpool remains uncertain however as Rodgers has made it clear he will listen to offers for the player.
Prix crash
HOCKENHEIM, Germany - Seven-time drivers world champion Michael Schumacher blamed himself on Friday after he walked away unhurt from a heavy crash in second free practice for the German Grand Prix. Schumacher said he was not concentrating properly in difficult, wet and treacherous conditions and lost control of his Mercedes car when it ran over a white line on the circuit. It was a major shock for the crowd in the stadium section of the Hockenheim circuit with four minutes remaining in a session topped by controversial Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado in his Williams. His car suffered heavy damage to all four corners and the practice session was red-flagged and halted.
Upset win
CARLSBAD, California - Chan Yung-jan earned one of the biggest upsets of her career as the qualifier outlasted former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic to reach the semi-finals of the WTA tournament in Carlsbad, California on Friday. Taiwan's Chan, who is ranked 161 in the world, dealt a blow to the third seeded Jankovic's hopes as she won 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (10-8) 7-5 - the second longest match of the season on the WTA Tour. The encounter lasted three hours, 13 minutes - four minutes less than the longest so far on the circuit. Chan was playing in her ninth career quarter-final - her last was three years ago - and made the most of the opportunity against the Serb.
Transfer ban
GLASGOW - Fallen giants Rangers have accepted a one-year transfer ban to ensure their membership of the Scottish Football Association. The transfer embargo which commences on September 1 and a STG160,000 ($F448,000) fine were initially handed down to Rangers for a range of offences including the club's failure to pay tax under former owner Craig Whyte. Rangers successfully challenged the ban in the Court of Session before Charles Green's Sevco bought their assets when the Glasgow club were consigned to liquidation.
Patient
MANCHESTER, England - Socceroos star Harry Kewell says he needs to be patient in his search for a new club after quitting Melbourne Victory to return to England. Kewell, 33, has been on the hunt for a new club.