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.

A French inquiry into sports doping has uncovered proof that 1998 Tour de France champion Marco Pantani and runner-up Jan Ullrich used a banned blood booster to fuel their performances.

France's senate, after a five-month investigation focused on fighting sports doping, released a report Wednesday that demonstrates what many have long suspected: use of the banned substance EPO was rife in cycling in the late 1990s, before a test for the drug had been developed.

Early arrivals for the world championship diving in Barcelona are getting an odd treat this week: the chance to see eagles skimming over the azure water where divers will later launch themselves from up to 10 meters.

The birds' mission: patrol the airspace to keep away pesky seagulls and pigeons.

A year ago, Chad le Clos beat his idol Michael Phelps in the 200 butterfly at the London Olympics.

Now, with Phelps retired, the South African has to find new inspiration at the world championships, where the traditional pool events begin Sunday.

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain arrived in Rome on Wednesday for a reported medical with Serie A runner-up Napoli.

The Argentina international was greeted by about 100 jubilant Napoli fans, waving club scarves and Argentina flags.

Olivia Munn's love for Wonder Woman may be no secret, but the actress doesn't think she'd be likely to play the superheroine on the big screen.

The Chinese-American Munn says she likely wouldn't be considered due to her heritage as well as competition from bigger-name actresses.

Juventus topped the 2012-13 Champions League prize money table, collecting more than 65.3 million euros ($86.3 million) from UEFA despite losing in the quarterfinals to eventual winner Bayern Munich.

UEFA published figures Tuesday showing that Bayern got 55 million euros ($77.7 million) in payments and bonuses, edging beaten finalist Borussia Dortmund (54.16 million euros; $71.55 million).

If Phil Mickelson and Ian Poulter don't like the hole location for the par-3 15th at Oak Hill in the final round of the PGA Championship, they might want to take it up with the fans.

After all, the fans are going to decide where to put the pin.

Protective no more, Major League Baseball players are downright disgusted these days with doping and the trashing of the game's image.

Now they are demanding even stiffer suspensions for those caught cheating.

Snake-haired, golden Medusa heads still glint from the gates, the swimming pool and flower pots at 1116 Ocean Drive, vestiges of the glamour fashion designer Gianni Versace brought to South Beach before his death on his own front steps.

Though the Versace family hasn't owned the oceanfront mansion since 2000, auctioneers hope the Italian designer's legacy will attract bidders to the Miami Beach property when it goes up for auction Sept. 17.