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General Sports News

Hamilton defends honour

Author: Rose Young
Date: 03/04/2009

Lewis Hamilton insists he is not 'dishonest' amid the growing row over his disqualification from last weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The reigning world champion was stripped of the points he claimed after being awarded third place in Melbourne last Sunday after a post-race inquiry suggested that both he and his McLaren team had mislead race stewards.

Hamilton claims he was told to "withhold information" by McLaren's long-serving sporting director Dave Ryan, who has now been suspended.

The British driver was originally promoted from fourth to third by after evidence presented by Hamilton and McLaren led to race stewards disqualifying Toyota's Jarno Trulli.

In football, Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has agreed a two-year contract extension which will keep him at Anfield until summer 2013.

The midfielder has scored 21 goals in 38 games for Rafael Benitez's side and the news of his extension will provide a timely boost as the Reds look to overtake betting favourites Manchester United in the race for the Premier League crown.

The news of the extension comes on the same day that Gerrard denied being involved in a fight outside a Southport nightclub.

The England midfielder formally pleaded not guilty to an affray charge when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court.

Barry Ferguson has been stripped of the Rangers captaincy amid reports that he may have played his last game for the club.

Ferguson and goalkeeper Allan McGregor were sent home from training on Friday morning by Gers boss Walter Smith.

The club and international captain and team-mate McGregor were photographed appearing to make a hand gesture during Scotland's victory over Iceland on Wednesday night.

The Gers duo had already been dropped from the starting line-up following a late-night drinking session in the aftermath of Saturday's World Cup qualifying defeat to the Netherlands.

Frank Hadden has left his post as Scotland's rugby union head coach with immediate effect following a disappointing Six Nations campaign.

The former Edinburgh coach's future had been in doubt after his side failed to secure the Scottish Rugby Union's minimum target of two Six Nations victories per season for the second successive year.

Scotland managed just one win - against Italy - during the recently completed campaign and Hadden has now stepped down.

England's Claire Taylor has made history by being named as one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year.

The 33-year-old has been instrumental in England's success in the recent World Cup, as well retaining the Ashes in Australia last year.

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