Australia

Sports leaders have failed to agree on a compulsory two-year ban for serious drugs across all sports, leaving in place one of the biggest anomalies in the Olympic movement.

A new method of testing for the presence of the human growth hormone (hGH) represents a major breakthrough in the fight against drug abuse in sport, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) medical expert has said.

The Japanese government decided on Thursday to cut even symbolic links with cities bidding for Olympic Games until investigations into the bribery scandal over selecting venues are completed and it has had time to study them.

National governments have expressed serious reservations about the final declaration adopted at a global anti-doping conference.

Australian sports officials and coaches have reacted with dismay to news that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) might back down on its commitment to get tough on drugs in sport.

Australia plans to host an international drugs-in-sport convention in Sydney this year to push for a tougher stance on drugs after the International Olympic Committee failed to approve uniform doping bans.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has adopted a declaration on doping in sport at the end of a three-day conference in Switzerland.

The man in charge of the 2000 Sydney Olympics has proposed a full audit of the records of the city's bid for the Games to clear the air "for once and for all" on allegations of corruption.

Australian TV broadcast rights for the Paralympic Games could finally be resolved after it was revealed the ABC was in talks with the organising committee.

The Australian government will spend A$1.2 million (US$780,000) on tickets for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games to entice dignitaries and investors to the country, officials have said.

Osaka, Japan's second largest city, has formally launched its bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics saying its campaign would mark the rebirth of "clean" Games.

The man in charge of Sydney's Olympic preparations said that an international sponsor had written to him expressing "second thoughts" because of the corruption scandal hitting the Olympic movement.

Sydney 2000 Games organisers announced a full, independent review of the city's Olympic bid, only to be upstaged by a Salt Lake City ethics report questioning the actions of an Australian IOC member.

An Australian IOC member alleged to have taken his family on four free holidays to Salt Lake City has angrily denied any wrongdoing and accused the city's Board of Ethics of defamation.

A major corporate sponsor of the Sydney 2000 Games, car maker GM-Holden, has said it was concerned about the impact of the International Olympic Committee corruption crisis on its sponsorship investment.

Melbourne is almost certain to host the 2006 Commonwealth Games after its last rival pulled out of the bidding, Victorian state premier Jeff Kennett has said.