Reigning Tour de France champion Alberto Contador will skip the UCI Road World Championships this year in order to better prepare for next season, according to Spain's coach.

Shamoline Warrior, a leading prospect for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, has gone amiss and is out of the spring carnival.

The Australian Commonwealth Games Association is still awaiting a security report on the Delhi Games.

Overnight rain has flooded the pitch at the women's field hockey World Cup in Argentina and forced the cancellation of all three scheduled matches.

World 800m champion Caster Semenya insists she is not interested in what people say about her as she steps up her preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next month.

Australia's netball team has been thrashed by 19 goals as New Zealand hit back in the second Test in Wellington.

The owners of smart sprinter Ortensia have confirmed they will appeal the decision to strip the mare of its win in the Group 1 Galaxy because of a positive swab.

Mick Fanning is keeping cool about his chances of retaining the world surfing title after advancing to the Billabong Pro Tahiti fourth round.

Hard-hitting Australian boxer Michael Katsidis has secured a world title fight against Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez.

Swimming Australia head coach Leigh Nugent is delighted that Libby Trickett is coming out of retirement, but said he is unsure whether she will be able to get back to her best.