Cycling: Lance Armstrong, seven times the Tour de France winner, will go on trial for defamation next year after losing a preliminary hearing against Filippo Simeoni, an Italian rider, yesterday. The American will be tried in Simeoni’s home town of Latina, near Rome, on March 7 after he criticised Simeoni in an interview with Le Monde in 2003.

At the trial of Michele Ferrari, Armstrong’s former coach, in 2002, Simeoni had said that Ferrari had given him doping substances. Ferrari was found guilty last year of sporting fraud and illegally acting as a pharmacist.

Montgomery quits

Athletics: Tim Montgomery, the former 100 metres world record-holder, has announced his retirement, one day after receiving a two-year doping ban from the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “I’m done. I have retired,” the 30-year-old American said last night.

Skelton show

Equestrianism: The British public will have only their second chance this year to watch Nick Skelton and Arko III, Britain’s top showjumping partnership, when they compete in the London International Horse Show at Olympia, where the jumping classes begin today.

The show, which opened with dressage on Tuesday, hosts the only British round of the FEI World Cup Jumping on Sunday. Skelton, the world No 5, is the highest ranked of the 12 Britons in a field headed by Marcus Ehning, of Germany, the world No 1. Skelton competes in a small class today and tomorrow.

New world order

Squash: England reclaimed the world team title they previously won in 1997 with victory over Egypt in Islamabad, Pakistan. James Willstrop, at first string, beat Amr Shabana and Peter Nicol’s win over Mohammed Abbas meant that Lee Beachill did not have to play.

Oval for Kumble

Cricket: Surrey have signed Anil Kumble, the India leg spinner, for next season. He is available for eight championship matches from July 14 after India’s Test series against West Indies. James Whitaker’s role as director of cricket at Leicestershire has been made redundant.

Balshaw blow

Rugby union: Iain Balshaw has suffered another injury setback after being forced to undergo surgery and he is likely to be out of the game for several months. The Leeds Tykes full back, 26, had an operation on Tuesday to cure a longstanding abdominal problem.

Sprott upset

Boxing: Michael Sprott, the former British heavyweight champion, has had his hopes of gatecrashing the world scene dashed after losing narrowly to Vladimir Virches, of Ukraine, in Solden, Austria. “Decisions like this seem to be a regular thing when you fight the house fighter,” Sprott said.