Russian cross country skier Nikolay Pankratov given two year ban

Russian cross country skier Nikolay Pankratov, 28, has received a two year ban from game, after being caught carrying equipment for blood doping.

Pankratov was stopped in Austrian Swiss border when the custom officials found banned substance, Actovegin - a protein free extract from filtered claf blood. The Actovegin has an insulin like instant effect of increased glucose utilization and it also increase the intake and use of oxygen, which is very dangerous.

Nikolay Pankratov is one of the best in Russia. He won silver medal for Russia at 2007 World Championships in the relay and competed at the 2006 winter Olympics. His recent doping case is the latest blow to Russia. Since Russia is preparing to host the 2014 Olympics is Sochi, Krasnodar Krai.

England Cancels Friendly match In Thailand

The English Football Club has called off the Friendly Match in Thailand which is scheduled for June 7, 2011. Sources say the game was called off due to scheduling problems.

With England suffering an annoying exit in the initial turn of choosing by casting votes with usually two votes, a from their own representative, it seemed unavoidable that the tie in would be called off.

Alex Horne, personal assistant for English Football Association board sais in a email, that the England team is not yet ready to play in thailand as per the programme.