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.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger credits a bold decision to coach in Japan early in his career with helping him become one of the most successful managers in the Premier League.

Wenger spent 18 months in charge of the J-league's Nagoya Grampus before joining the Gunners in September 1996 and said the move had a significant impact on his career.

If Superman is known for leaping tall buildings in a single bound then the high divers who are about to debut their sport at the swimming world championships must also qualify for superhero status.

Rather than leaping buildings, they will be diving from them, or the equivalent at least.

Despite anti-government protests, doping scandals and low attendance at an international football tournament, leaders of Istanbul's bid for the 2020 Olympics say the project enjoys overwhelming domestic support and is picking up momentum ahead of the IOC vote.

Turkish officials came to London on Thursday to share in the anniversary celebrations of the 2012 Olympics and promote their bid, which is in the final weeks of the race against Madrid and Tokyo.

Only days after retiring from professional cycling, Stuart O'Grady admitted to using a blood-booster during the scandal-plagued 1998 Tour de France.

The 39-year-old Australian rider, a six-time Olympian who wore the leader's yellow jersey for a total of nine days in 17 Tours de France, announced his retirement earlier this week after the 100th edition of the race. He admitted he had used erythropoietin (EPO) for two weeks before the 1998 event, saying he had acquired it himself and used it without the knowledge of his team.

Ronaldinho added a Copa Libertadores title to his collection of honors as Brazil's Atletico Mineiro defeated Paraguay's Olimpia in a penalty shootout to win the continental club championship on Wednesday.

Trailing 2-0 after the first leg, Atletico needed an 87th-minute goal by defender Leonardo Silva to draw level, after striker Jo had scored at the start of the second half.

With a nod to Marilyn Monroe, Svetlana Romashina won her third gold medal of the swimming world championships with a victory in the synchronized solo Wednesday.

Romashina easily took the top spot with 97.340 points, increasing her career haul to 13 world championship golds dating to 2005. China's Huang Xuechen won silver with 95.720, while Spain's Ona Carbonell took bronze before the home crowd at the Palau Sant Jordi arena with 94.290.

Bayern Munich defeated Barcelona 2-0 on Wednesday in a preseason friendly that pitted Pep Guardiola's new side against his former team.

Philipp Lahm scored with a header in the 14th minute and halftime substitute Mario Mandzukic added another goal three minutes from time, giving Guardiola a victory in his first game at Bayern's stadium.

The broadcaster who has delivered British football results to global radio listeners for 40 years in a distinctive style has announced his final score.

James Alexander Gordon is retiring from the BBC because his voice is no longer strong enough following surgery to treat throat cancer, the broadcaster said Wednesday.

Barcelona fans were not the only ones surprised by the club's decision to appoint Gerardo Martino as coach.

Even the little known Argentine, who will replace Tito Vilanova, said he was caught off-guard when the club came calling.