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.

Ana Ivanovic demolished third seed Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-1 as the upsets continued at the China Open on Wednesday, where Agnieszka Radwanska ended home hopes on the women's side of the draw.

A revitalized Ivanovic, 23, became the first player into the quarter-finals as she showed the kind of scintillating form that once made her the highest-rated player on the women's tour.

World number four Andy Murray suffered a major scare before finally beating a dogged Marcos Baghdatis to reach the second round of the Japan Open on Wednesday in Tokyo.

The 24-year-old Briton, fresh from victory at the Thailand Open last week, needed a tough two hours and 33 minutes to see off the big-serving Cypriot 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-4.

Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor insists he won't be affected by the abusive chants from Arsenal fans during Sunday's north London derby.

Adebayor has had to endure plenty of taunts from Arsenal supporters since he left the Gunners to join Manchester City in 2009, but the abuse reached a new low with songs about the gun attack on Togo's team bus during the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola.

Former world champion Jenson Button has committed his long-term future to McLaren after signing a new contract with the British constructor on Wednesday.

Button, who won the world title in 2009, is in his second season with the team and is now set to continue for several more years, although the exact length of the deal has not been disclosed.