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Home , World Rally Championship

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 SPORTS

Klopp hints seek Safari Turkish weightlifter at Sakho sale Rally return loses doping appeal

NAIROBI: Kenya is in talks with ’s ruling body LAUSANNE: Turkish weightlifter Sibel Ozkan has lost an appeal against a LONDON: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hinted he could sell exiled the FIA over returning the to the world rally doping sanction which cost her a silver medal from the 2008 Beijing Mamadou Sakho in January after admitting the French defender is no longer in championship after an absence of 14 years. Kenyan Olympics. Ozkan, who finished second in the women’s 48-kilogram class in his first-team squad. Klopp was quizzed about his plans for the January transfer Federation chief Phineas Kimathi is in Geneva Beijing, tested positive for the steroid stanozolol in a reanalysis of her urine window this week and insisted he had no intention of selling England striker to brief the FIA about the government’s committment to sample this year and was retroactively disqualified by the Daniel Sturridge or any other first-team player. “There is absolutely stage Africa’s only leg of the championship from 2019. IOC. Ozkan contended in her appeal to the Court of no thought or idea to sell any player from the first team squad. I legend Colin McRae, who died in 2007, won Arbitration for Sport that her positive test resulted don’t think it would make sense,” Klopp said. But the German the event the last time it figured on the WRC calendar in from a contaminated protein supplement. CAS arbi- indicated that rule does not apply to the out of favour Sakho. 2002 - his final WRC win “The Kenya Government will offer all trator Michael Beloff ruled there was “no evidence of “Now you know, I said it: he is not in these plans for the first forms of guarantees including financial obligations towards the contamination” and that even if her claim were team,” Klopp said. “The first-team squad is here (at the the event,” Kenyan sports minister Hassan Wario promised in true, Ozkan had shown “no due diligence” in dealing training ground). “Do you really think I would have said a letter to WRC managing director Oliver Ciesla. “As a priori- with a supposedly contaminated supplement. CAS Sakho will not be sold in winter? Nothing changed. “Once ty, the government shall put in place the necessary struc- says Ozkan also offered “sensitive information about again this actual first-team squad is in this dressing room, tures leading towards a full WRC Safari in 2019 after running the Turkish Weightlifting Federation in exchange for a from this point of view nobody will be sold.” Sakho, 26, a candidate event in 2018, and 2017 Africa Rally possible agreement with the respondent to dispose of has been training with the club’s under-23 squad Championship event as a dry run WRC Safari.” Wario wrote. this case.” If the IOC decides to reallocate the since September, when he used social The Kenyan classic was dropped from the WRC calender 14 medals, Taiwan’s Chen Wei-Ling would media to dispute Klopp’s comments years ago due to lack of financial and organisational support receive silver, with bronze going to Im about his fitness.—AFP from the government. —AFP Jyoung-Hwa of South Korea.— AP ‘Mission accomplished’ for emotional Rosberg

VIENNA: Nico Rosberg said it was “mission accomplished” as the German star received his trophy on Friday, just hours after he stunned sport by deciding to quit. The 31-year-old paid tribute to longtime friend and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, the outgoing world champion, as well as his father Keke Rosberg who won the F1 title back in 1982. “It’s mission accomplished as far as I am con- cerned,” the German told the FIA prize giving ceremony at a star-studded event in Vienna. “I’m so proud to be here. It’s been a pretty intense period but it was my childhood dream. “When I saw this trophy for the first time today, I immediately went and found where my LAS VEGAS: Eddie Vedder, left, and Tony Stewart stand on the stage during the dad’s name was on it. It’s very special and emo- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series awards Friday, in Las Vegas. — AP tional to share with him what he did 34 years ago.” Rosberg admitted that had he come up Johnson, Stewart and Earnhardt short in the championship this year, he would have carried on in 2017. “When I was six, I want- honored as NASCAR closes 2016 ed to be world champion and I have done it. Now on to other things-family first, see what the future holds and just follow my heart.” LAS VEGAS: called win- atop the sport’s hierarchy. “This was an Rosberg edged Hamilton to the title but he ning a record-tying seventh NASCAR Sprint emotional one,” Johnson said, adding the paid generous tribute to the Briton. Cup title “insane” Friday night, while Tony final laps at Homestead were “the most “Lewis was awesome so to take the title away Stewart was sent off into retirement and spiritual experience that I’ve ever had in my from him is very special,” added Rosberg who Dale Earnhardt Jr. told his adoring fans at life.” Stewart enjoyed his final awards week admitted that winning the title was the second the -ending banquet that he’ll be before becoming just a NASCAR team own- most intense thing he has done. ready to race in 2017. er. His boyhood hero, A.J. Foyt, made a sur- “Well, watching my wife give birth, that was Johnson’s dramatic victory in the finale prise appearance at a Thursday fan event pretty intense.” Dutch driver Max Verstappen VIENNA: Nico Rosberg, 2016 F1 World champion, right, arrives with his wife Vivian Sibold at a last month at Homestead moved him into a that turned into an impromptu Stewart won the award for FIA Personality of the Year FIA gala at Hofburg palace in Vienna, Austria, Friday. Current Formula One World Champion tie with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt roast as the sport said goodbye to one of and FIA Action of the Year. Nico Rosberg announced Friday that he will retire from Formula One racing. — AP for the most series championships. its strongest characters. The colourful Red Bull driver became the Johnson was introduced by 23-time “It’s just been one hell of a journey, a lot youngest winner of a Grand Prix when he tri- time to Sebastien Ogier and co-driver Julien the future and thinking about new challenges. Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael of fun,” Stewart said. “Everybody keeps say- umphed at the Circuit de Catalunya in at Ingrassia. We are confident that we can still be part of the Phelps at the Wynn Las Vegas. ing I’m retiring, but I’m still going to be the the age of 18 years and 228 days. But it was an emotional night for Ogier next championship.” “I’ve won as many championships as same pain in the (rear) with all the NASCAR It was one of only two races not won by a whose team revealed last month Ogier was cheekily asked if he’d be interested Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, but I’ll officials. I’m certain there’s already a pool Mercedes driver in 2016 — the other went to that 2016 was to be their last season in the in filling the vacancy created by Rosberg at never be the King or the Intimidator,” going on back there at the NASCAR offi- Verstappen’s team-mate Daniel Ricciardo in championship. Mercedes in next year’s Formula One world Johnson said. “I’m just a guy from California cials’ table on what the over-under is for me Malaysia. “The whole story of the last four years has championship. “Well, my heart’s in and who always wanted to race.” getting called to the trailer as an owner.” Meanwhile, the world rally championship tro- been amazing-the time of our lives,” said Ogier. I’d need to get a super-licence,” he said. “But it NASCAR honored Stewart, who retired Earnhardt sustained a concussion in a phy was presented for the fourth successive “It has come to an end and we are looking to would be a great story, no?” —AFP after an 18-year career that included three June 12 wreck at Michigan. His last start series championships, with a video poking was July 9 at Kentucky as he continued to fun at his coarse language, weight and suffer serious aftereffects that included bal- temper and with a surprise appearance by ance and vision problems. Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. Earnhardt, who missed the final 18 Car owner Rick Hendrick then races, stopped taking medication in announced a $1.8 million donation by the October. He’s confident he’ll be healthy for the motorsports industry to Vedder’s chil- drive the No. 88 Chevrolet in the Daytona dren charity in Stewart’s name. 500 on Feb. 26. His busy offseason will “Totally caught off guard,” Stewart said. include getting married on New Year’s Eve “But really honored that Eddie Vedder and also participating in January’s testing would come here for this and I’m so excited session at Phoenix. the racing community raised that kind of “We’ll get out there and spend half a day money to help that charity.” somewhere running some long runs and Earnhardt Jr. was voted most popular getting a good idea if I’m ready to go,” driver by fans for a record 14th time Earnhardt said. “I feel 100 percent. I don’t despite missing the second half of the sea- think there will be any issues.” son following at least the fifth concussion Xfinity Series champion Daniel Suarez of his career. While not announcing the and Craftsman Truck Series winner Johnny date or track, he intends to drive a test ses- Sauter were also reconginzed at the black sion this month, the final hurdle before he’ll tie banquet that included a musical per- be cleared to return. formance by Sting and was hosted by “It made the bad days better,” Earnhardt comedian Jay Mohr for the sixth time. said of the unending fan support. “Once I “Sorry it’s not seven,” Mohr told Johnson. started feeling good about coming back, it It also marked the final event sponsored gave me a lot of motivation and maybe a by Sprint in NASCAR’s top series. Sprint’s reminder of why I want to be back in the yellow and black logo, splashed all over the car. You race to have fun and win races, but casino ballroom and above the red carpet, it wouldn’t be worth even making the trip if will be replaced by Monster Energy’s green- the fans didn’t show up.” clawed ‘M’ in 2017. The unflappable Johnson was in his Sprint and the company it merged with, tuxedo more than two hours before the red Nextel, sponsored the series since 2004. carpet ceremony smiling for numerous “That’s 13 years, kindergarten through photo shoots. He knows how the process 12th grade,” Sprint corporate marketing works as the 2016 title secures his spot chief Steve Gaffney said. “Thank you.” —AP Verstappen a double winner at FIA awards

VIENNA: Dutch Formula One driver Max “I’m very happy with my second season Verstappen collected two special awards in F1,” said the Red Bull driver. “When it for the second year in a row at the started, I didn’t think it was going to be this LAKE LOUISE: Ilka Stuhec, of Slovenia, skis during the women’s downhill ski race at Lake Louise, Alberta, Friday. — AP International Automobile Federation (FIA)’s good... hopefully we can be even more suc- gala prize-giving ceremony on Friday. cessful next year.” Rosberg, who won the The 19-year-old won the Personality of championship in Abu Dhabi last Sunday, Stuhec wins season-opening downhill the Year, while his overtake of Nico was handed his trophy at the ceremony- Rosberg’s Mercedes in the wet at the hours after he stunned Formula One by MONTREAL: Slovenia’s Ilka Stuhec won the sea- one minute, 45.70 seconds, while ’s Kajsa the overall with 338 points. She tied for 18th in Brazilian Grand Prix was judged Action of announcing his retirement. son-opening ladies downhill at Lake Louise on Kling finished third with one minute, 45.79 sec- Friday’s downhill with a time that was almost the Year across all FIA-sanctioned series. “It’s mission accomplished for me. I’ve Friday with the first World Cup victory of her ski onds. The pre-race favorite, Lara Gut of two seconds slower than Stuhec. But this is the The personality award was voted for by done it. That’s the dream come true,” said racing career. Switzerland, settled for a time of one minute, first World Cup downhill for Shiffrin who has the international media. the German, son of 1982 world champion The 26-year-old Stuhec stunned the favorites 46.17 seconds and a fourth place finish. dominated in slalom the past few seasons. Verstappen, who became the youngest Keke. “When I saw this trophy for the first by clocking a winning time of one minute, 45.48 Gut, who failed to earn a single World Cup “It wasn’t bad at all,” said Shiffrin of her down- ever grand prix winner in Spain in May and time straight away I had a look at where my seconds to claim the first of two downhills this point during last week’s races in Vermont hill debut. The 21-year-old American had a is now the hottest young talent in the dad was. So I found my dad down there weekend at the mountain resort in the Canadian because of a bad fall, now sits in sixth in the lengthy wait in the starting gate after the skier sport, has now won the Action of the Year and for me that’s one of the most emotion- Rockies. “I knew I could ski fast and I just needed overall race with 150 points. before her crashed. award for three successive years. al things about all this that I managed to to put it in a race and I did,” said Stuhec, whose Stuhec was a surprise winner Friday after “I struggled a little with the course hold, but it He won it last year for a daring move on achieve what he did 34 years ago and share best previous result on the World Cup circuit was starting from the 29th position. was a clean run-cleaner than previous days,” she Brazilian Felipe Nasr around the outside at that with him,” he added. a fourth place in the 2013 super-G in Beaver “I had a feeling that I could show some more said. “I’m sure we’ll see a couple things in video Blanchimont at the Belgian Grand Prix. In Rosberg also said he would have contin- Creek, Colorado. than just average results around 10th to 15th and then I’ll try and make adjustments for 2014, while in European F3, his last lap ued for another year had he come second in The second downhill is slated for later fol- place, that I could ski good and I could ski fast tomorrow. But right now, I’m alive and every- overtake of Italian Antonio Giovinazzi was the championship to team mate Lewis lowed by a super-G race today. and apparently, today, the fastest,” Stuhec said. thing’s good.” The top Canadian was Valerie the winner. Hamilton, instead of beating him. — Reuters ’s Sofia Goggia was second with a time of American Mikaela Shiffrin is in first place in Grenier who finished in 28th. —AFP