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.

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.