Jerome Pugmire

Renault's appeal against its suspension from the European Grand Prix began on Monday, with the team optimistic the decision will be overturned.

Reigning Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton's McLaren team was to face charges of bringing the sport into disrepute at a special hearing on Wednesday

Junior Agogo scored a late goal on Sunday to lead 10-man Ghana over Nigeria 2-1 and into the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals. Agogo met Sulley Muntari's cross from the left and sent the ball into the roof of the net in the 83rd minute to send the Black Stars into a showdown with either Cameroon or Tunisia on Thursday.

Côte d'Ivoire are the favourites to go one step better than two years ago and win the Africa Cup of Nations. Chelsea striker Didier Drogba captained the Elephants to three straight wins in a tough Group B that included Nigeria, Mali and Benin. They next play Guinea in the quarterfinals on Sunday in Sekondi.

Roger Federer won his 500th career match on Friday, beating David Ferrer 6-4, 6-0 in the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters. ''I am very happy to have done it here,'' said Federer, who reached the final in Monte Carlo last year. ''That is a lot of games. I'm glad they are victories.''

Tour de France champion Floyd Landis's back-up urine sample confirmed high levels of testosterone, cycling's governing body said on Saturday, raising the prospect that he could lose his title. Following the results of the ''B'' sample, Landis was fired by his Swiss team, Phonak.

To the very end of his career, Zinedine Zidane could dictate the flow of play with rare skill and elegant control of the ball. In the World Cup final, Zidane lost control of his temper. The parting image for the France captain will forever be him rearing back in anger, lowering his head and launching his bald crown into the chest of Italy defender Marco Materazzi after the two exchanged words.

Thierry Henry thinks Franck Ribery can surprise France's opponents at the World Cup, and urges coach Raymond Domenech to pick him. ''He carries the expectations of a nation,'' Henry said on Sunday. ''It is not easy. But I think he has the talent to do it. He is our trump card.''

Top-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland and defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain will meet in the Monte Carlo Masters final after winning their semifinals on Saturday. Federer beat 12th-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-2, 6-4, and second-ranked Nadal downed Gaston Gaudio of Argentina 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.

Lance Armstrong's teammates are doing a better job of beating him than his rivals are. Armstrong's Discovery Channel teammate Paolo Savoldelli won Wednesday's 17th stage of the Tour de France, three days after George Hincapie earned a stage victory of his own. Meanwhile, Armstrong has yet to win an individual stage so far.

The day after his teammates crumbled, Lance Armstrong surrendered. But it was a calculated move designed to make the coming days easier to manage. Armstrong relinquished the Tour de France leader's yellow jersey on Sunday's ninth stage, allowing Team CSC rider Jens Voigt to ride away in pursuit of stage winner Mickael Rasmussen.