Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday

Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday:

DOPING

WADA deals Russia new Olympics blow

SEOUL - The World Anti-Doping Agency said on Thursday that Russia remains "non-compliant" with its Code, dealing a major blow to the country's hopes of being cleared for the Winter Olympics in February. (SPORT-DOPING/WADA (UPDATE 1, TV), moved, by Peter Rutherford, 400 words)

SOCCER

World Cup qualifying

Intercontinental playoff

Peru down New Zealand 2-0 to grab last World Cup spot

LIMA - Peru became the last side to clinch their place at next year's World Cup finals when goals in each half from Jefferson Farfan and Christian Ramos gave them a 2-0 win over New Zealand in the second leg of their playoff on Wednesday.(SOCCER-WORLDCUP-PER-NZL/ (UPDATE 2, PIX), moved, 400 words)

Televisa, Globo paid FIFA bribes for 2026/2030 World Cup rights - trial witness

NEW YORK - A prosecution witness in the corruption trial of three former soccer officials testified on Wednesday that Mexico's Grupo Televisa and Brazil's Globo took part in a $15 million bribe to a FIFA executive to secure media rights to the 2026 and 2030 World Cup tournaments. (SOCCER-FIFA/ (UPDATE 2, PIX), moved, by Brendan Pierson, 400 words)

Premier League

We will bring you all the latest news as the Premier league returns this weekend kicking off with Arsenal facing north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday in our showpiece game. (SOCCER-ENGLAND-TEAM/ (PIX), expect throughout)

Manchester United release financial results

LONDON - Manchester United release their earnings report for the three months to the end of September, the first quarter of the 2017-18 financial year. (MANCHESTER UNITED-RESULTS/, moved, by Arathy S Nair, Radhika Rukmangadhan)

La Liga

Atletico meet Real in Madrid derby

Atletico Madrid meet bitter city rivals Real Madrid in the first Spanish capital derby at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium but both sides may need to look for inspiration beyond their usual talismen as Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann are in the midst of their worst goalscoring runs with their respective clubs. (SOCCER-SPAIN/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Richard Martin)

CRICKET

The Ashes

Ghost of Mitchell Johnson looms for England

MELBOURNE - Mitchell Starc has the pace, movement and bounce to launch another Mitchell Johnson-style assault on England, former Australia quick Ryan Harris told Reuters (CRICKET-ASHES-AUS/STARC-HARRIS (INTERVIEW), pix, moved, by Ian Ransom, 600 words)

TENNIS

ATP Finals (to 19)

Federer faces Cilic, Zverev takes on Sock

LONDON - Roger Federer, who has qualified for the semi-finals, faces Marin Cilic who has to win to have any hope of making the last four. In the evening session world number three Alexander Zverev takes on Jack Sock with the winner of that match in a strong position to advance to the knockout stages. (TENNIS-ATPFINALS/ (PIX), expect by 1600 GMT/11 AM ET, by Martyn Herman, 400 words)

MOTOR RACING

Success has a price for high-flying Force India

LONDON - Force India are enjoying their highest-scoring Formula One season, punching above their weight to secure fourth place overall for the second year in a row. But, as chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer wryly observes, there is a price to success. (MOTOR-F1-FORCEINDIA/SZAFNAUER (INTERVIEW), moved, by Alan Baldwin, 650 words)

GOLF

PGA Tour: RSM Classic, Sea Island (to 19)

Kizzire and Kisner head field at Sea Island

St. Simon’s Island resident Patton Kizzire, fresh off his victory in Mexico, and 2015 champion Kevin Kisner headline the RSM Classic in Sea Island, Georgia, where Canada’s Mac Hughes is the defending champion for the last PGA Tour event of 2017. (GOLF-RSM/, expect by 0100 GMT/8 PM ET, 300 words)

LPGA: CME Group Tour Championship, Naples, Florida (to 19)

Twelve vie for $1 million LPGA bonus

A dozen players have a chance of claiming a $1 million bonus for winning the season-long points race, with the top five – Lexi Thompson, Park Sung-hyun, Shanshan Feng, Ryu So-yeon and Brooke Henderson -- all in control of their own fate knowing that if they win the tournament they are assured of capturing the Race to the Globe at Tiburon Golf Club. (GOLF-WOMEN/, expect by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)

RUGBY

Farrell returns for England

LONDON - England recalled Owen Farrell at centre for Saturday's test against Australia at Twickenham. (RUGBY-UNION-ENG-AUS/PREVIEW (PIX), moved, by Mitch Phillips, 400 words)

We will continue the buildup to all the weekend internationals in Europe with team news, injuries and coverage of news conferences on merit. (RUGBY-UNION-TEAM/, expect throughout)

BASEBALL

Altuve, Stanton eye MVP honors

Second baseman Jose Altuve of the World Series champion Houston Astros is among the favourites to win American League Most Valuable Player honors while Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is a frontrunner for the National League award. (BASEBALL-MLB-AWARDS/MVP, expect by 0045 GMT/7:45 PM ET, by Rory Carroll, 400 words)

NHL

Blackhawks host Rangers, Bruins clash with Ducks

The New York Rangers visit the Chicago Blackhawks while the Boston Bruins try to snap a three-game skid when they visit the Anaheim Ducks in two of the three games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL/HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0630 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words)

NFL

Steelers and Titans clash in Week 11 opener

The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Tennessee Titans in a clash of AFC playoff contenders leading their divisions and riding four-game winning streaks to open Week 11 National Football League action. (FOOTBALL-NFL-PIT-TEN/, expect by 0515 GMT/12:15 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)

NBA

Streaking Celtics host champion Warriors

The red-hot Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics put their league-high, 13-game win streak on the line when they host the reigning champion Golden State Warriors, who are seeking an eighth consecutive win, in one of two games on the National Basketball Association’s schedule. (BASKETBALL-NBA/HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)

NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS

Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0100 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words) (Europe desk editor: Ed Osmond)