MELBOURNE (Reuters) – An explosive report lifting the lid on “widespread” use of performance enhancing drugs in Australian sport showed the country’s professional leagues had patently failed to build robust anti-doping regimes, WADA chief John Fahey has said.

The government report released on Thursday, the result of a year-long probe by Australia’s top criminal intelligence organization, found multiple players and teams across a number of codes had taken banned substances, with coaches, doctors and support staff complicit in their use.

MELBOURNE, Feb 8 (Reuters) – An explosive report lifting the lid on “widespread” use of performance enhancing drugs in Australian sport showed the country’s professional leagues had patently failed to build robust anti-doping regimes, WADA chief John Fahey has said.

The government report released on Thursday, the result of a year-long probe by Australia’s top criminal intelligence organisation, found multiple players and teams across a number of codes had taken banned substances, with coaches, doctors and support staff complicit in their use.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Li Na’s bid for a second grand slam title ended tearfully with an injured ankle, a bruised head and a heart-breaking defeat to Victoria Azarenka, but she could still laugh off her “stupid” falls after a gallant failure in the Australian Open final.

Li raised gasps from the Rod Laver Arena crowd as she rolled her left ankle twice in the 4-6 6-4 6-3 loss on Saturday, and banged her head on the blue centre court on the second fall, causing her to black out momentarily.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Li Na’s bid for a second grand slam title ended tearfully with an injured ankle, a bruised head and a heart-breaking defeat to Victoria Azarenka, but she could still laugh off her “stupid” falls after a gallant failure in the Australian Open final.

Li raised gasps from the Rod Laver Arena crowd as she rolled her left ankle twice in the 4-6 6-4 6-3 loss on Saturday, and banged her head on the blue center court on the second fall, causing her to black out momentarily.

MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) – Li Na’s bid for a second grand slam title ended tearfully with an injured ankle, a bruised head and a heart-breaking defeat to Victoria Azarenka, but she could still laugh off her “stupid” falls after a gallant failure in the Australian Open final.

Li raised gasps from the Rod Laver Arena crowd as she rolled her left ankle twice in the 4-6 6-4 6-3 loss on Saturday, and banged her head on the blue centre court on the second fall, causing her to black out momentarily.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray’s burgeoning grand slam rivalry turns another page on Sunday, with the two iron-men of tennis bracing for a world of pain when they clash in the final of the Australian Open.

Although good friends off the court dating back to their junior days, the two 25-year-olds hold no quarter once they cross the white lines, and have made a habit of punishing each other in gruelling five-set duels at the grand slams.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray’s burgeoning grand slam rivalry turns another page on Sunday, with the two iron-men of tennis bracing for a world of pain when they clash in the final of the Australian Open.

Although good friends off the court dating back to their junior days, the two 25-year-olds hold no quarter once they cross the white lines, and have made a habit of punishing each other in grueling five-set duels at the grand slams.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Defending champion Victoria Azarenka will bid for back-to-back titles at Melbourne Park on Saturday when she takes on China’s late-blooming Li Na in the final of the Australian Open.

The 23-year-old Belarusian holds a 5-4 career record against former French Open champion Li, including the last four of their encounters.

MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) – Defending champion Victoria Azarenka will bid for back-to-back titles at Melbourne Park on Saturday when she takes on China’s late-blooming Li Na in the final of the Australian Open.

The 23-year-old Belarusian holds a 5-4 career record against former French Open champion Li, including the last four of their encounters.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Accused of gamesmanship and dogged by injury, Victoria Azarenka’s bid for successive Australian Open titles on Saturday will pit her against an opponent in the form of her life and a centre-court crowd wary of any hint of bad sportsmanship.

The Belarusian will take on sixth seed Li Na, who has not dropped a set all tournament and boosted her sky-high confidence further by demolishing last year’s finalist Maria Sharapova 6-2 6-2 in the semi-finals.