RETIRED Longtime top Czech tennis player Jiří Novák, who was ranked fifth in the world in 2003, retired from professional tennis at an ATP event in Basel, Switzerland. The 31-year-old lost to Spain's David Ferrer in three sets Oct. 26.

IRON MAN Triathlete Martin Matula became the fastet-ever Czech in the annual Iron Man triathlon in Hawaii. Matula completed 3.8 km (2.4 miles) of swimming, 180 km of cycling and 42.2 km of running in 8 hours 48 minutes and finished 30th in the Oct. 22 race. The previous fastest Czech was Petr Vabroušek, who finished 19th in 2002 at 8 hours 58 minutes.

UEFA Two of the three Czech teams in the UEFA Cup had mixed results against Spanish opponents. Slovan Liberec tied defending UEFA Cup champion FC Sevilla 0–0 at home Oct. 19. On the same night, Sparta lost its home encounter with Espanyol Barcelona, 2–0.

RETIRED Striker Michal Meduna, who suffered a heart collapse in the Turkish league in mid-August, has retired from professional soccer. The 25-year-old underwent heart surgery in September, during which doctors gave him a heart stimulator.

BASKETBALL Guard Levell Sanders could join Maurice Whitfield as another American to boost the Czech national basketball team. Head coach Zdeněk Hummel said in mid-October that he was working on bringing the 30-year-old Sanders to the team. Sanders plays in Děčín, north Bohemia, in the country's Mattoni NBL.

CORRUPTION The Appeals Court in Ostrava confirmed sanctions Oct. 23 against former soccer referee Lubomír Puček — who, over the past year, worked as a sports manager for Slavia — and linesman Jiří Vodička. The two were punished for fixing a 2003 Slovak league game between Bánská Bystrica and Púchov. They were both fined 70,000 Kč ($3,100). Vodička received a two-year ban from the game. Puček stepped down as Slavia manager following the ruling.

HOME Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Čech was released from hospital Oct. 24, 11 days after suffering a skull fracture in a Premiership game in Reading. Čech's personal manager, Pavel Zíka of the Sport Invest agency, said the goalie could return to the field within three months.