WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016 SPORTS Adidas cuts cash for Germany’s anti-doping body

BERLIN: Germany’s National Anti- talks about alternative forms of co-oper- Mortsiefer told German daily Bild. testing for drugs will not be affected at Schenk, the ex-president of the German Doping Agency (NADA) suffered a blow ation. “Of course, Adidas will continue to Neither Brueggen nor Mortsiefer gave a the moment.” Cycling Federation and leader of the yesterday with Adidas announcing it will maintain a clear stance in the fight clear reason why Adidas are withdrawing At a time when the fight against dop- sports work group at Transparency cut 300,000 euros ($326,655) of funding against doping. “In all contracts with our the funding, which will impact NADA’s ing is regularly in the headlines, the with- International, says recent evidence of by the end of the year. athletes, it’s made clear we will terminate work. “It’s a sum which some athletes can drawn sponsorship of a global brand like mass doping in countries like Russia “We have already informed the the contractual relationship immediately earn in a few weeks or months,” said Adidas has raised eyebrows here. prove efforts to catch those doping are National Anti-Doping Agency that in the in the event of a proven doping offence.” Mortsiefer. “It’s very disappointing, that “Obviously, sport and business are of not foolproof. “Obviously, the business spring, we will no longer provide finan- But the loss of sportswear giants the number of supporters of our work is the opinion that the financing of NADA world is not convinced by the concept of cial support beyond our existing con- Adidas-NADA’s only sponsor from dropping. “We used the 300,000 euros is largely a matter for the state,” politician anti-doping controls. Events this summer tract, which runs out at the end of 2016,” Germany’s industry-is clearly a blow for from Adidas for our communications and Dagmar Freitag, chairman of the have shown that the testing systems do Adidas’ spokesman Oliver Brueggen told the country’s anti-doping body. marketing, for example, in our campaign Bundestag’s sports committee, told Bild. not work,” said Schenk. SID, an AFP subsidiary. “We are very sorry that we will lose ‘Give everything, take nothing’, a large “But when the question arises of “Now the sports federations them- “We would like to remain connected one of our main partners in all probabili- part of that will be affected. NADA’s foundation model, it can now be selves and politics are also being asked to NADA and are therefore currently in ty,” NADA’s managing director Lars “However, our prevention work and safely dismissed as a failure.” But Sylvia about this.” — AFP Cotter sad time coming to an end : is disappointed his (Harlequins), Duncan Taylor (Saracens) and time as Scotland coach is coming to what Moray Low (Exeter), who all play for English he regards as a premature end. The New Premiership clubs has been called into Zealander, who took over in 2014, was told question. by Scottish officials in August The issue is a dispute between that his contract would not be renewed Ltd (PRL) — the body when it expires at the end of this season. which represents English club sides-and Murrayfield chiefs have instead decided the SRU over an outstanding £400,000 to bring in , highly ($489,000) injury compensation bill. thought of for his work in charge of But Cotter, previously in charge of Glasgow, to the national head coach’s posi- French club Clermont, was confident the tion amid fears the former Scotland inter- five players would be available to Scotland national could be lost to the country as a next month despite threats their clubs result of lucrative offers from English and would block them from international duty. French clubs. Cotter, who will himself “The fact of the matter is you can’t deny return to to join Montpellier at the people the opportunity to play Test match end of the season, understands the think- footy,” said Cotter. ing behind the SRU’s decision but would “It may be frustrating when you have have liked slightly longer in post after guid- players coming back to your club injured ing Scotland to 14 wins in 28 Tests. Four of but international rugby matches are impor- those wins, including two in the Six tant fixtures and it is pretty tough to Nations, came last year and Scotland were deprive players of the opportunity to play just one controversial penalty decision for their country. “But there are smart peo- away from a place in the 2015 World Cup ple involved and I’m sure it will all get sort- semi-finals before losing in the last eight to ed out.” Australia. But next month’s Tests at home Scotland squad: to Australia, Argentina and Georgia will Backs (13): mark the start of Cotter’s last eight games Full-back: (Glasgow) in charge of Scotland. Wings: (), (Saracens/ENG), Tommy ‘GOOD DECISION’ Seymour (Glasgow), “I understand (the decision). As a com- (Harlequins/ENG) Centres: Mark Bennett petitor you’re always disappointed if you (Glasgow), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow), Huw want to go places and have objectives in Jones (Stormers/RSA), Duncan Taylor mind. That’s natural but it’s done, we just (Saracens/ENG) move on now,” said Cotter after announc- Fly-halves: Pete Horne (Glasgow), Finn ing his 31-man squad for the November Russell (Glasgow) internationals on Tuesday. Scrum-halves: LONDON: This is a Saturday, Feb 12, 2011 file photo of ’s Chris Ashton as he scores the opening try against Italy during their Six Nations “The decision was made to put Gregor (/ENG, capt), international rugby union match at , London. Chris Ashton may have brought an end to his England career after agreeing in place and I think it’s a good decision. The (Glasgow) to move to French giant Toulon from Saracens. Toulon said yesterday that the 29-year-old winger will join the three-time European champions executives made that decision and I Forwards (18): from next season on a three-year deal.— AP respect it. “The deal is the deal now, so we Back-rows: John Barclay (/WAL), just get on with the job and get on with John Hardie (Edinburgh), Rob Harley these last eight games. (Glasgow), (Glasgow), Hamish England’s Chirs Ashton to “There will be some emotions but if you Watson (Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson look at the big picture it’s not about me. It’s (Glasgow) about Scottish rugby.” Second rows: He added: “Gregor’s done really well for (Edinburgh), (Glasgow), Richie leave Saracens for Toulon Glasgow. The performances and his man- Gray (Toulouse/FRA), agement are top shelf. He will do a great (Glasgow) job.” Cotter’s immediate plans could be dis- Hookers: (Edinburgh), Fraser LONDON: England wing Chris Ashton is to leave Toulon’s rivals Clermont. “Chris will still have an important role to play rupted if the five England-based interna- Brown (Glasgow), Stuart McInally Saracens for French side Toulon at the end of the Ashton is due to return from his latest ban on this season and we’ll look forward to seeing him tionals in his squad become unavailable (Edinburgh) season, the English Premiership and European December 19 and, had he avoided suspension, back in action after his suspension,” said McCall. because of a payment row. The involve- Props: (Edinburgh), Alasdair champions announced yesterday, in a move that he might have been in England’s squad for their Toulon, themselves three-times European ment next month of Greig Laidlaw, the Dickinson (Edinburgh), could end his Test career. end-of-year Tests at Twickenham following champions, were defeated by Saracens 31-23 in Scotland captain (Gloucester), Sean (Glasgow), Moray Low (Exeter/ENG), A club statement said Ashton, currently sus- injuries to fellow wings Jack Nowell and the first round of group matches in this season’s Maitland (Saracens), Tim Visser Gordon Reid (Glasgow). — AFP pended for biting, would join the star-studded Anthony Watson. European Champions Cup. —AFP Toulon squad for the 2017/18 campaign after five seasons with the London side where he became the team’s leading try scorer and won Thomas a winner again, still two Premiership titles and a European Stenson eyes Race to Dubai Champions Cup. The move appears to end the a long road toward the top 29-year-old’s hopes of an international recall giv- glory to cap great year en England’s refusal to select overseas-based SHANGHAI: British Open champion Henrik winner in Shanghai. “I need to get on a good SHANGHAI: Winning a PGA Tour event for said. That doesn’t make it easier. The PGA players for Test duty save in “exceptional circum- Stenson said yesterday he was fit, refreshed run, I’ve got some ground to make up but the second straight year, especially the Tour is loaded with promising players from stances”. and would turn a good year into a great one if there’s some big purses these last four weeks manner in which Justin Thomas rallied in his age group. Thomas is part of the high “We would like to thank Chris for his contri- he could cap it by winning the Race to Dubai. and I can be challenging for the number one Malaysia, made it easy to assume that a school graduating class of 2011 which has bution to Saracens over the last five seasons and Sweden’s Stenson has been bothered by spot,” Stenson said. player of his polish and power could be on produced three of the last four players to the role he played in helping us create some what he terms “a small re-tear” in the meniscus Stenson was also suffering on account of the verge of breaking through to the next win rookie of the year - Emiliano Grillo, incredible memories during that period,” said of his right knee recently. But the world num- his knee when he arrived in Shanghai a year level. Daniel Berger and Jordan Spieth. Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall in the ber five said it would not hamper his efforts to ago, but battled to finish tied for 11th along- Ahead of him in age are the likes of Rory club’s statement. In September, Ashton, famous win one of the season’s remaining big prizes, side McIlroy. It was the Swede’s best ever fin- Consider the last two weeks. McIlroy and Rickie Fowler, Jason Day and for his ‘Ash Splash’ try celebration, was given a starting with this week’s World Golf ish in the tournament which is co-sanctioned Thomas began the new season with Dustin Johnson. Thomas believes his game 13-week ban by England’s Championships-HSBC Champions tournament by the US PGA, European and Asian Tours. birdies on his last two holes to make the is good enough to stack up with them, and for biting Northampton’s . in Shanghai. “Yeah it’s pretty good. It was Dubbed “Asia’s Major” the WGC-HSBC cut on the number at the Safeway Open, he should. — AP That suspension came after former holding up pretty good throughout the Ryder Champions this year features eight of the and two days later he was on the cusp of Northampton flyer Ashton blew his bid for a Six Cup where I played five games,” Stenson told world’s top players and 40 of the top 50. contention. His amazing run ended when Nations recall earlier this year due to a 10-week AFP Tuesday about his troublesome knee. “It’s a great course,” said Stenson of the he missed three straight birdie chances ban for making contact with the eye/eye area of “I had some rest before and rehab. I hope I 7,261-yard Sheshan International Golf Course inside 6 feet to start the back nine, and he Ulster centre in January. In both don’t have to go through another surgery but layout. settled for a 66-67 weekend to tie for cases Ashton felt he had had been treated time will tell.” The Olympic silver medallist, “I really like the golf course and the event eighth. Last week in the CIMB Classic, after unfairly and there have been reports he had who won his first major this year at Troon, was has gone from strength to strength. Now seemingly shooting himself out of the tour- become disillusioned with the English game as a speaking on the sidelines of the launch event we’ve got all the best players in the world nament at 4 over through 13 holes in the result. Ashton has scored 19 tries in 39 Tests, for the $9.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions at here,” he added. “It’s a very prestigious event third round, Thomas finished with five including a stunning length of the field effort the plush Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel in down- and I would love to throw my name in there straight birdies to salvage a 71, and then against Australia at Twickenham in 2010. closed with a 64 to win by three shots. town Shanghai. Stenson lies second in the Sunday afternoon and have a chance to get European Tour’s Race to Dubai standings, that trophy. “I have three tour events left here, Leave it to the 23-year-old Thomas to find ‘SPECIAL MEMORIES’ 412,728 points behind leader Danny Willett. South Africa and Dubai. some self-deprecating perspective amid But the former star has not Rory McIlroy is third, a further 643,243 “I can make a really, really good year into an rising expectations. played England under Eddie Jones, following the points behind Stenson. Masters champion even better one, a great one, with the Race to “If you look at it, I had a better start last Australian coach’s appointment last year, with Willett has a healthy lead but there are more Dubai and, hopefully, another title or so before year,” Thomas said Tuesday during a light his most recent international appearance in June than a million ranking points available to the the season is over.” — AFP day of work at the HSBC Champions. “Last 2014. year, I had a third and then a first. This year, He had indicated a desire to resume his I was eighth and first. So I’m slumping.” England career but this now appears to have That only suggests Thomas is not about to been scuppered by his decision to move to get carried away. The season is two tourna- France’s Top 14. “I’d like to put on record my ments old, and he still has much to prove. thanks to Mark McCall, our chairman Nigel Wray After he won in Malaysia last year for his and the whole team at Saracens for the manner first PGA Tour victory, Thomas never in which they have dealt with my request to join showed up on a leaderboard on the week- Toulon next season. I have thoroughly enjoyed end until the Florida swing. Two of his best my time at Allianz Park and I have made so many finishes came from brilliant closing rounds - special memories on and off the field,” said a 65 at The Players Championship and a 62 Ashton. at the Travelers Championship. “I have developed as a player during my time So while he finished at No. 11 on the with Sarries but more importantly I have devel- money list with just over $4 million, and he oped as a person, and I will always be indebted was invited to Hazeltine for a practice to the club for that. round on the weekend before Davis Love III “My focus now is helping the squad prepare made his final captain’s pick for the Ryder for on Saturday, contribute to Cup, his satisfaction went only so far. “I real- the side when I return to action later this year ly don’t think I had that good of a year,” and hopefully make a few more memories Thomas said. “I won. And I had some good together in a black and red shirt.” Ashton will be finishes. But the consistency was not there.” leaving a year before his current Saracens con- Thomas doesn’t like saying that he is KUALA LUMPUR: Justin Thomas of the tract is due to expire. He will join Toulon on a CHASKA: In this Oct 2, 2016, file photo, United States’ Patrick Reed reacts after winning the expecting more out of his game this year deal that is set to keep him at the southeast club fifth hole during a singles match at the Ryder Cup golf tournament, at Hazeltine National Golf because that would suggest his expecta- United States follows his shot on the first hole during the final round of the until 2020. Club in Chaska, Minn. American golfers are traveling more than ever, and the 26-year-old tions were ever any lower. He feels his In moving to France, Ashton is following in Reed is taking that to an extreme. He has played 66 tournaments in the last 24 months (includ- game is better, his head is a year wiser. He CIMB Classic golf tournament at Tournament Players Club (TPC) in Kuala the footsteps of his former Saracens team-mate ing the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup), and as a long and tiring 2016 starts to wind down, is learning. and ex-England wing , now at Reed is just getting warmed up. —AP “I’m excited for what this year brings,” he Lumpur, Malaysia. — AP