Sydney, Nov 25 : Cricket Australia is investigating into a pub brawl on Sunday night involving all-rounder Andrew Symonds, though the latter has denied the blame on him.

The investigation report is expected to come by Wednesday, and might jeopardize Symonds’ chances of paying in Brisbane Test beginning Friday.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said the investigation would not be rushed or compromised.

Melbourne, Nov. 25 : South Africa’s snarling pacer Dale Steyn is expected to give Australian opener Matthew Hayden a torrid time in next month''s marquee Test series.

Pace ace Dale Steyn, 25, has already passed Allan Donald as the quickest South African to 100 Test wickets with an intoxicating blend of pure pace, aggression and swing.

In 26 Tests, he has 135 wickets at a superstar average of 22.08, having claimed nine, five-wicket hauls and twice finished with 10 wickets for a match.

Australia has never had to confront Steyn and his battle with an out-of-form Hayden who has always tried to impose himself on the new-ball bowlers, regardless of reputation.

Vienna - Austria's anti-doping agency NADA on Monday banned Austrian cyclist Bernhard Kohl for two years after he was found to have used blood doping in this year's Tour de France.

The verdict was "disappointing," Austrian news agency APA quoted the 26-year-old as saying.

The NADA hearing came after Kohl was heard by the body earlier in the day. Kohl said he hoped his full disclosure would make him get away with a one-year ban instead of the normal two years.

Washington - Disgraced former sprint star Tim Montgomery has admitted to doping ahead of the Sydney 2000 Olympics and appears ready to return his gold medal he won there in the 4x100 metres relay.

However, it remains unclear whether the IOC can strip the whole relay team of the gold which would mean that doping would have cost the US all three relay golds from Sydney.

The former world record holder Montgomery, 33, admitted to using the steroid testosterone and Human Growth Hormone (HGH) ahead of the Millennium Games in an interview with the HBO television network to be broadcast on Tuesday.

Madrid - Former Tour de France champion Alberto Contador underwent surgery to relieve a blockage in his nasal passage and to remove a polyp on his vocal cord on Monday.

Contador said the operation would force him to miss a December training camp of his Astana team in Tenerife even though he will travel to the island for light training in the gym.

"The moment to take the bike again will depend of how I evolve, but I have thought to use the stage in Tenerife to make a specific work in the gym," he said on his website.

Bangalore, Nov. 24: England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen has urged his players to keep their chins up and give the Indians a run for their money in the remaining three one-day internationals and the two Test matches.