Real to sign Samuel

MADRID: Real Madrid is poised to sign AS Roma’s Argentine defender Walter Samuel. The Marca said Madrid will pay Roma around $26 million for Samuel, who is believed to prefer the Spanish powerhouse to another interested team Chelsea. The Argentina defender will reportedly sign a five-year contract, although the deal may not be announced until next Monday, a day after the Spanish league season finishes. — AP

Greece lose appeal

NEW DELHI: Hosts Greece will not take part in the field hockey events at the Athens Olympics after their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was rejected. The CAS dismissed claims by the Greeks that they deserved a place in their own Olympics despite not meeting the standards laid out by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). An FIH release said South Africa were awarded the final qualifying place in the 12-nation men’s competition at Athens. — AFP

Tyson gets license

ST LOUIS: Mike Tyson has been granted a license to fight in Missouri in case promoters decide to bring his next bout to St Louis. Tyson got a license from Missouri’s regulatory Office of Athletics. Tyson’s handlers are shopping the fight to several venues. The proposed fight, against Kevin McBride on July 31, would be his first since February 22, 2003, when he knocked out Clifford Etienne in 49 seconds in Memphis. — AP