Anh Tuan's doping ban confirmed

The International Weightlifting Federation confirmed the two-year ban on Vietnamese weightlifter Hoang Anh Tuan for failing a drugs test.

The ban took effect on September 18, 2010, after Tuan's "A" and "B" samples both tested positive at the world weightlifting championships that month in Turkey.

He was also fined US$5,500 for infringement of drug rules and the cost of the tests.

Tuan, who subsequently missed the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, last November, claimed the banned substance may have been in medicines he took for flu during training last May in China.

Since Viet Nam does not have a weightlifting federation, the fine will be paid by the Viet Nam National Sports Administration.

Tuan is Viet Nam's best ever lifter and has won silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

He also won bronze medals in the 2005 and 2006 world championships.

Da Nang aim for top spot finish

SHB Da Nang were pushed to regain their V-League title lost last year at a ceremony on Thursday to mark the start of the season.

"SHB Da Nang's target is to be in the top three, but in fact we want to triumph which is only medicine to soothe our failure last year," said Bui Xuan Hoa, director of SHB Da Nang Sports Jointstock Company.

To help make their wish come true, Da Nang have recruited several qualified players, including former national captain Nguyen Minh Phuong and striker Ngoc Thanh.

Both are known for their technique and physique.

Da Nang, under coach Le Huynh Duc, one of Viet Nam's golden generation players, won the V-League title in 2009 but failed the following year despite success in the first half of the tournament.

They played below expectations and finished sixth with 40 points after 26 matches.

The V-League 2011 season started last Saturday. Da Nang will welcome Hoang Anh Gia Lai on their home turf Chi Lang Stadium.

Thien knocked out of Australian Open

Vietnamese Nguyen Hoang Thien was knocked out of the Australian Open Junior Championship after losing 2-6, 3-6 to Japan's Kazuma Kawachi last Friday in Melbourne.

Thien, who has made headway in the International Tennis Federation, could not find a way beat No 13 Kawachi.

Thien is the first Vietnamese player to earn a berth to play at the annual Grand Slam. He jumped from 323rd to 212th place in the junior rankings earlier this month.

During his first match of the qualifying round, the 16-year-old Thien defeated host rival Robert Allan 6-4, 6-0 on Thursday.

Minh out after losing to world No 1

Nguyen Tien Minh exited the Proton Malaysia Open Badminton Super Series after losing 15-21, 16-21 to world No 1 Lee Chong Wei last Friday in Kuala Lumpur.

It is the second straight time Minh has lost to his Malaysian rival in one month. Earlier Minh, who was No 8 seed, was beaten at the Super Series Final held in Hong Kong.

Minh was also eliminated by Lee from the Open's semi-final round last year.

Minh has only beat his top rival once at the Singapore Open in 2009.

Int'l yacht festival to be held in VN

Sailors from 20 countries and territories will take part in an international yacht festival at Mui Ne Beach in Binh Thuan Province's Phan Thiet City from March 17-20.

The event will include a yacht-racing performance of 25 young racers from Russia.

The yachts will begin racing in early morning on March 17 to the finish line over the following two days. A series of cultural activities and traditional music and song programmes will also be included.

The festival is part of Binh Thuan's tourist and investment promotion programme this year, according to the province's deputy chairman Nguyen Van Thu.

The Mui Ne-Binh Thuan International Yacht Festival 2011, is expected to attract 10,000 local and foreign visitors.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News