Lewis Hamilton has described 2011 as "the most trying year of my career" after being embroiled in a series of incidents that have blighted his season.

The 26-year-old Briton, who won the 2008 world championship in just his second season in the sport, has won two Grands Prix this year but sits a distant fifth in the championship.

Spain's two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso says he is targeting race wins rather than second place in the championship standings in the remaining five races of the season.

With Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull almost certain to take Alonso's crown of the youngest two-time World Champion in history at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, Alonso said finishing runner-up wasn't necessarily a priority.

Defending champion and top seed Rafael Nadal survived an early scare as he and second seed Andy Murray rolled into the quarter-finals of the Japan Open on Thursday in Tokyo.

David Ferrer, the third seed from Spain, also advanced, but not before dropping a set to Australia's spirited qualifier Matthew Ebden.

Netherlands winger Arjen Robben's injury curse has struck again after the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) announced on Thursday that he had been ruled out of their forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Robben had been named in the squad to play Moldova on Friday and Sweden next Tuesday but will now return to his club Bayern Munich to undergo further tests on a troublesome groin injury.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Thursday that the rule banning athletes suspended for doping for six months or more from competing at the Olympics was "invalid and inapplicable".

The decision came following a joint request from the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the CAS to examine the validity of the rule.

Seven-time Tour de France cycling champion Lance Armstrong was among those in the sporting world who took to Twitter to mourn the death of visionary Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

"Devastated 2 hear about the passing of Steve Jobs," Armstrong tweeted. "Was blessed 2 have the opportunity to spend time w/ him on several occasions. May he RIP."

Fabio Capello is certain to leave his role as England coach after Euro 2012, Football Association chairman David Bernstein confirmed on Wednesday.

Capello has revealed his intention to step down following the conclusion of England's Euro 2012 campaign, but recent reports suggested some key figures in the FA are keen for him to remain in charge.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will be banned for two matches for jabbing his finger into the eye of Barcelona's assistant coach, the Spanish football federation said Wednesday.

Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova was banned for one match for responding to Mourinho by slapping him during a mass brawl in the final moments of Real Madrid's Super Cup loss to Barcelona on August 17, the federation said.

Veteran Germany striker Miroslav Klose said Wednesday he will make no decision on his international future until after the Euro 2012 finals next June for which the Germans have already qualified.

"I will not decide anything before the Euro," Klose told German daily Bild with Germany to play Turkey in Istanbul on Friday and then host Belgium in Duesseldorf next Tuesday to finish their Euro 2012 qualifier campaign.

Manchester City's billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour is top of football's Rich List, according to British magazine FourFourTwo.

Sheikh Mansour, a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling al-Nahyan family, is believed to be worth £20 billion ($30.9 billion), putting him ahead of the likes of Chelsea owner Roman Ambramovich and Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, who has a stake in Premier League club QPR.