North America

Sports ministers from 24 nations have called for a two-year ban across all sports for first-time doping offences and for year-round random drug testing.

NBCOlympics.com, the joint venture formed by NBC Olympics,Inc. and Quokka Sports, Inc. has announced the members of its management team.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corps is re-entering the consumer magazine market in the US, Australia and Britain with an American golf title aimed at 18-35 year olds leading the new strategy.

The New York Islanders NHL franchise is planning to sell up to $200 million in bonds early next year.

The Washington Post reports that a federal judge in Newark has said he will hear arguments on Monday on a federal prosecutor's request for a temporary restraining order that would place limits on the International Boxing Federation and its four top officials.

E*TRADE Group, a global leader in electronic personal financial services, has signed an agreement with the NFL to sponsor the Super Bowl XXXIV Half-time Show.

SFX Entertainment has acquired SME Power Branding, a leading sports brand identity company based in New York.

Fox Sports World and Fox Sports World Espanol have been added to the basic channel programming line-up of 21st Century Telecom Group, the Chicago area cable company which broadcasts over 190 digital-quality channels.

The first merger of a baseball and basketball team has won conclusive approval, when baseball owners unanimously endorsed the merger between the New York Yankees and New Jersey Nets, which had already been approved by the NBA.

Intel Corporation and CSI, Inc., the makers of facility-based entertainment networks, have signed a development agreement to advance CSI's ChoiceSeat technology, which provides an interactive experience to sports fans.

Major League Baseball owners has voted unanimously to approve the sale of the Montreal Expos to a group headed by New York art dealer Jeffrey Loria.

ISL United States has launched collegefootballplayoff.com, a web site designed to provide Division I-A college football with a play-off route to determine college football's national champion on the field.

Each member of the New York Yankees entitled to a full share received $307,808.70 for winning the franchise's 25th World Series championship, Major League Baseball has announced.

The team will play in the Palace at Auburn Hills beginning in April 2000

Pep Boys auto-parts retailer has ended its sponsorship of The Indy Racing League (IRL) in a dispute which is likely to go to federal court.

UK broadcaster Sky Sports has won the exclusive live rights to the next two Ryder Cups between Europe and the United States.