(Refiles to fix formatting, add skedlines)
Reuters sports schedule at 0030 GMT on Friday:
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OSCAR PISTORIUS
South Africa puts top detective on Pistorius case
PRETORIA - South African police investigating Oscar Pistorius for murder pulled their lead detective off the "Blade Runner" athlete's case on Thursday after it emerged he himself faces attempted murder charges for shooting at a minibus.(SAFRICA-PISTORIUS/UPDATE 9 (PIX, TV), moved with updates to follow, by Peroshni Govender, 650 words)
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TENNIS
Federer's heart is in South Africa
GOVHU, South Africa - Roger Federer talks to Reuters about the pressures faced by top athletes, being in his South African mother's homeland, and what he hopes to achieve during the 10th anniversary of his Foundation. (TENNIS-FEDERER/INTERVIEW (PIX), moving at 0200 GMT/9 PM ET, by Xola Potelwa, 1300 words)
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ATP
Memphis International
Buenos Aires Open, Argentina (to 24)
Marseille Open, France (to 24)
Copy on merit
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WTA
Dubai Championships, UAE (to 24)
Kvitova advances, Stosur continues poor run
DUBAI - Czech Petra Kvitova defeated titleholder Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 6-4 in the Dubai Championships to set up a semi-final against Caroline Wozniacki.(TENNIS-WOMEN/DUBAI, moved, by Matt Smith, 400 words)
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Bogota Cup, Colombia (to 24)
Copy on merit
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OLYMPICS
Australia swimmers to discuss misbehaviour allegations
SYDNEY - With Australian sport mired in controversy, the men's Olympic sprint swimmers will address questions regarding their failed London campaign amid allegations of bullying, drunkenness and misuse of prescription drugs. (OLYMPICS-SWIMMING/AUSTRALIA, expect by 0500/ 12:00 AM ET, by Nick Mulvenney, 500 words)
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NBA
Heat and Bulls share spotlight on trade deadline day
LeBron James and the Miami Heat pay a visit to the Chicago Bulls on a quiet night in the NBA with just two games on the schedule as all eyes focus on the league's Thursday trade deadline. (NBA-HEAT/expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, 250 words)
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NHL
Struggling Sabres begin new era with visit to Maple Leafs
TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs host a struggling Buffalo Sabres team playing their first game since Lindy Ruff, who had been the longest-tenured head coach in the NHL, was fired. (NHL-MAPLELEAFS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/10:30 PM ET, by Frank Pingue, 350 words)
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GOLF
PGA Tour: WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship (to 24)
Upset wins for Henley, Day and Sterne
MARANA, Arizona - PGA Tour rookie Russell Henley beat in-form South African Charl Schwartzel 1up to pull off the biggest early upset in the snow-delayed first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Thursday. (GOLF-PGA/MATCHPLAY (UPDATE 1, PIX), moved, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 450 words)
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SOCCER
Slovenian match-fixing suspect detained in Milan
MILAN - Italian police arrested a fugitive associate of alleged soccer match-fixing kingpin Tan Seet Eng on Thursday after he flew in from Singapore to hand himself over, they said in a statement. (SOCCER-MATCHFIXING/UPDATE 5, moved, by Emilio Parodi and Francesca Landini, 400 words)
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Europa League last 32, second legs
Atletico out, Chelsea scrape into Europa League final 16
LONDON - Holders Atletico Madrid were sent spinning out of the Europa League by Russian outsiders Rubin Kazan while Champions League winners Chelsea scored with almost the final kick to scrape into the last 16. (SOCCER-EUROPA/WRAPUP 1 (PIX), moved, by Tony Jimenez, 600 words)
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Chinese players chase their dreams to Portugal
SINTRA, Portugal - Dreams of emulating Cristiano Ronaldo have prompted nearly 40 Chinese youngsters to leave home and travel halfway round the world to improve their soccer skills in Portugal. (SOCCER-PORTUGAL/CHINESE (FEATURE, TV, PIX), by Daniel Alvarenga, moving at 0300 GMT/10 PM ET, 850 words)
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RUGBY
Super Rugby
Otago Highlanders v Waikato Chiefs, Dunedin (0635)
Melbourne Rebels v ACT Brumbies, Melbourne (0840)
Bulls v Stormers, Pretoria (1710)
New Zealand and South African teams join Super Rugby fray
SYDNEY - The Waikato Chiefs get their title defence underway this weekend without the departed Sonny Bill Williams and a couple of injured All Blacks as the heavyweights of New Zealand and South Africa finally enter the Super Rugby fray. (RUGBY-SUPER/, expect from 1000/5 AM ET, 350 words)
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CRICKET
South Africa v Pakistan, third test, Pretoria, (to 26)
South Africa seek series whitewash against Pakistan
PRETORIA - South Africa, already assured of keeping their top ranking, seek a series whitewash over Pakistan in the third test at Centurion after winning the first two. (CRICKET-PAKISTAN/ (PIX), expect from 0830 GMT/3:30 AM ET, by Nick Said, 500 words)
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India v Australia, Chennai, 1st test (to 26)
Reuters coverage of cricket events conducted under the auspices of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was suspended from 0000 GMT on Nov. 15.
This is a direct result of a policy decision by the BCCI to exclude news agencies working only in the photographic medium from covering its events. Action Images is a Thomson Reuters business.
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CYCLING
World track championships, Minsk (to 24)
MINSK - American Sarah Hammer, who won her fifth world title in the individual pursuit on Wednesday, goes for her second gold in the women's 10km scratch race while France's Francois Pervis, who won the men's time trial for his first global crown at 28, hopes for another triumph in the keirin. The men contest medals in the 40km points race. (CYCLING-TRACK/WORLD (PIX), 500 words)
- - - - (Duty editor: Greg Stutchbury)
