Retired rider Erik Zabel has told a German newspaper he used banned substances including the blood-booster EPO and cortisone over several years of his career.

Zabel, who won 12 Tour de France stages and earned the sprinter's green jersey six times on the Tour, retired in 2008. Last year he said he briefly used EPO in 1996.

Pope Francis urged young Catholics in Brazil to become "athletes of Christ" Saturday, telling them Jesus offers something "bigger than the World Cup" in the country hosting the 2014 tournament.

The Argentine pontiff, a fan of the sport, used a football metaphor in this nation that won the World Cup five times to pursue his effort to re-energize Catholic faith during a week-long visit to Rio de Janeiro.

Most athletes can hardly raise a word after running hard over 3,000 meters.

But Mo Farah could hardly stop chatting away confidently about his chances of tasting more golden success at the world championships in Moscow next month.

Arsenal have gone home on a positive note after what manager Arsene Wenger called a "very difficult" pre-season Asian tour in sweltering temperatures.

The north London side returned home on Saturday and will play several more friendlies before their league opener against Aston Villa on August 17, but have yet to sign a big name in the summer transfer window.

A new documentary on former Olympic figure skating rivals Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding that includes an exclusive interview with Kerrigan will air during NBC's Winter Olympics coverage in February.

Mary Carillo will interview both women on the 20th anniversary of their dramatic showdown at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics.

Manchester United manager David Moyes admitted he is concerned about the pitch in Hong Kong, where his side landed Saturday on the last leg of their Asia tour.

The Premier League champions play local side Kitchee on Monday at the 40,000-capacity Hong Kong Stadium, where the playing surface has been badly affected by several days of torrential rain.

Portuguese international defender Jose Bosingwa was Saturday in Turkey to finalize his move from Queens Park Rangers to top flight outfit Trabzonspor.

Trabzonspor have not indicated details of a proposed deal for the 30-year-old, who won the Champions League with Porto and Chelsea but the Dogan press agency reported agreement was close.

As the speculation increases about who will replace Mark Webber at Red Bull next season, former champion Kimi Raikkonen remains unsure if he will stay at Lotus.

Webber announced last month that he is quitting Formula One at the end of the season to race sports cars for German manufacturer Porsche, and there has been a guessing game since over which driver Red Bull will pick to compete alongside three-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel.

Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir appears to be closing in on a takeover of Inter Milan after flying to the Italian city for talks with club president Massimo Moratti.

Thohir met with Moratti and his son, Angelo Mario, for lunch Thursday as he bids to finalize a long running-bid for a controlling stake in the club.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre says the club has no intention of selling striker Luis Suarez despite persistent interest from Arsenal and other clubs.

Liverpool has refused two transfer bids from the Gunners and Ayre said that stance will remain.