WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 SPORTS

RUGBY Sports world mourns ‘true warrior’ van der Westhuizen PARIS: Reactions to the death Monday of legendary right through you with so much determination. He had • “He’s been such a big part for so many people’s • “One of the best players in the world! It was a privi- Springbok scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen at the age this sparkling personality, you could still see it in his lives for such a long time. lege to see him in action!” of 45 following a long battle with motor neurone disease: eyes even those last years.” He fought so bravely. He was a naughty little imp Naas Botha, captain of the Springboks in the 1980s Morne du Plessis, manager of 1995 World Cup-win- - there was always chaos around him! I remember • “Joost will be remembered as one of the greatest ning Springbok team him crawling under the table and setting my • “South Africa has lost a legend and one of the best Springboks-not only of his generation, but of all time. shoelaces on fire.” Joel Stransky, 1995 world champi- rugby players that the country has ever produced. On He also became an inspiration and hero to many fellow • “Very very sad to hear this, he was the ultimate on with South Africa behalf of the government and the people of South sufferers of this terrible disease as well as to those unaf- player and competitor, thoughts with his family.” Africa, our heartfelt condolences to Mr van der fected. We all marvelled at his bravery, his fortitude and England’s 2003 World Cup-winning coach Clive • “I knew Joost most of his life because when I Westhuizen’s family. May his soul rest in peace.” his uncomplaining acceptance of this terrible burden.” Woodward was a young teacher at FH Odendaal he was at Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby school there. There are so many things you can say • “Rugby has lost a true warrior today.” about Joost but the one thing that I keep coming • “Thoughts and love with the family of Joost. Great • “RIP Joost van der Westhuizen. An incredible player Former England international Will Greenwood back to is that both as a player and person he was a man.” and fighter to the end. The first of the new age 9s.” warrior and a fighter. It was very sad to see him Former Wales international Scott Quinnell Former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll • “A great friend has left us with an incredible legacy physically go backwards but he never lost that in rugby. Joost inspired on and off the field. Rest easy fighting spirit.” • “You will be missed!” • “In a team talk I can still remember his eyes looking blue eyes....” Ex-England scrum-half Matt Dawson Heyneke Meyer, ex-Springbok head coach. South Africa cricket star AB de Villiers. — AFP

NFL Judges who ruled in Brady case unanimous in praise of game

NEW YORK: Three Manhattan judges who tions, I’ll say no more about football - until ruled in the “Deflategate” case differed on Coach Belichick is ready to discuss the law but unanimously praised this year’s Supreme Court cases about mandatory Super Bowl on Monday. arbitration clauses,” he said in a lightheart- They included Denny Chin, one of two ed reference to the kinds of arcane legal judges with the 2nd US Circuit Court of subjects many people would find boring. Appeals who decided in a 2-to-1 decision The league had asked Berman to affirm last spring that New England quarterback Goodell’s decision to uphold a four-game Tom Brady must serve his four -game sus- suspension of Brady after the commission- pension. Brady piloted the biggest come- er appointed himself as the arbitrator of back in Super Bowl history Sunday as New the quarterback’s appeal. The NFL Players England defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 34- Association opposed the request and filed 28. Chin said in an email to The Associated its own claims. Press that both teams deserved congratula- Berman, who referred to the controversy tions for a “terrific Super Bowl,” but he sin- as the “deflation situation,” found Goodell gled out Brady, saying he “showed once went “far beyond” the factual findings of again why he is one of the all-time best.” the NFL’s investigation into the deflated During oral arguments last March, Chin footballs. In a report on that probe, attor- said evidence of ball tampering was “com- ney Ted Wells concluded it was likely Brady pelling, if not overwhelming,” and there was “generally aware” about the deflation was evidence to support a finding that of footballs. When Goodell upheld the Brady “knew about it, consented to it, penalty in July 2015, he said Brady “knew encouraged it.” about, approved of, consented to and pro- Circuit Judge Barrington D. Parker who vided inducements and rewards” to sup- joined Chin in ruling against Brady, con- port the scheme. gratulated both teams for a “very well- Brady’s suspension resulted from claims played game” and said it rivaled for excite- the Patriots deflated footballs to gain a ment the 1968 Harvard-Yale game, when competitive advantage in the AFC champi- MOSCOW: This file photo taken on July 28, 2016 shows athletes competing in the women’s 3000m final at a track and field meet called “Stars of Parker was a Yale student. onship game in January 2015, when New 2016” in Moscow. Russia will miss August’s World Athletics Championships in London after their doping ban was extended on Monday, world US District Judge Richard Berman, who England beat the Indianapolis Colts 45-7. governing body president Sebastian Coe said. — AFP ruled against the National Football League The Patriots then won the Super Bowl. in September 2015, nullifying Brady’s sus- When he ruled, Berman noted that Brady’s ATHLETICS pension until the appeals court reinstated statistics were better in the second half of it, congratulated the Patriots in an email to the game, when the balls were properly The Associated Press. inflated. Brady served the suspension at the Russia banned from London “Last night, they showed us all never to start of last season. Mark Harrison, a quit, everything is possible, and the impor- Phoenix, Arizona lawyer and an expert on tance of teamwork,” wrote the judge who judicial ethics, said it is always unusual had required Brady and NFL Commissioner when judges speak about cases on which World Championships: IAAF Roger Goodell attend proceedings in his they’ve ruled. But he said the comments by courtroom in August 2015. the judges Monday were safely off the sub- CAP-D’AIL: Russia will miss August’s World added to the IAAF’s international testing pool drug-testing programme.” Upon the Taskforce’s ject they confronted. “People are always Athletics Championships in London after their which, although not guaranteeing those ath- recommendation, the Council also approved ‘BEYOND CONGRATULATIONS’ going to read into what judges say, particu- doping ban was extended on Monday, world letes reinstatement, Coe said it does mean the the participation of Russian under-15 athletes He also gave a shout-out to the Patriots’ lar in a case that is pending, more than they governing body president Sebastian Coe said. world governing body has a greater “guarantee to compete in international competition, coach, Bill Belichick. “Beyond congratula- should,” he said. — AP Coe said Russia, whose 15-month ban from ath- they have undergone a long term recognised, including at July’s European Youth Olympic letics was prolonged at the IAAF’s Council meet- independent and fully WADA Code-compliant Festival in Hungary. — AFP ing in Cap d’Ail near Monaco, could not be rein- tegrated into the sport before November. Double Olympic 1500-metre champion Coe was speaking after the IAAF Council approved the Taskforce’s recommendation that Russia was “not ready for reinstatement”. Russia has been barred from international competition since November 2015 following a damaging report alleging that state-sponsored doping was rife in the country. The ban had already been extended in March and then June 2016, preventing Russia’s athletes from competing at the Rio Olympics. The Taskforce, which was set up to oversee Russia’s reintegration into international athletics, pro- duced recommendations detailing a roadmap to reinstatement. But while “acknowledging several positive developments” at recent meetings in Moscow with RusAF, the Russian Athletics Federation, and new Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov, the Taskforce also “pointed to some negative developments” including “unhelpful public com- ments recently made by some Russian sporting officials”. It said that RusAF “continues to face practical and legal difficulties in enforcing provi- MOSCOW: In this Friday, Dec 25, 2015 file photo, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko sional doping bans and there continues to be gestures during a news conference in Moscow, Russia. Russian Deputy Prime Minister very limited testing of Russian track and field Vitaly Mutko says the country’s ban from international athletics is ongoing because many athletes at the national level as well as troubling coaches have specialized in doping their athletes. — AP HOUSTON: New England Patriots fans wait for the start of a parade yesterday, in incidents at what testing is taking place”. The Boston to celebrate their team’s 34-28 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Sunday’s NFL roadmap to reinstatement specifies that “testing Russian coaches can’t Super Bowl 51 football game in Houston. — AP of Russian athletes must take place without fur- ther incidents or difficulties” and that RusAF work without doping: Mutko takes “demonstrable objective and practical Stop to allegiance changes steps to cultivate the clean sport movement”. MOSCOW: Russian athletics coaches “don’t ence to the outspoken Mutko, who is close to understand how to work without doping”, Russian President Vladimir Putin. will protect children: Kenya ‘BADLY LET DOWN’ Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko said yes- Mutko said that Russia-which insists that Coe meanwhile reiterated the IAAF’s commit- terday, after the IAAF extended a ban on the drug cheating is an international issue-was NAIROBI: Under-age Kenyans are being law provides,” a top sports official at the ment to giving clean Russian athletes the possi- country’s team to the world championships. cleaning up its act. “Over the past year we “lured” without their consent or knowl- education ministry, Eliud Wambua, told bility to compete as neutrals, providing they are Russia has been barred from international have done a massive amount of work,” he edge to compete for other countries, a AFP. Wambua, also a member of an not tainted by the Russian doping system. track and field competition-including the Rio said. “They (IAAF) tell us: you have done great top official said yesterday, welcoming a Athletics Kenya (AK) youth committee, “Our priority is to return clean athletes to Olympics-since November 2015 following a work but there is still a lot to be done (to stop move to stop athletes switching alle- said many under-age children were competition but we must all have confidence in damning report alleging state-sponsored Russian doping). “That happens when there giances. The International Association of transferred to other countries without the process,” said Coe at the IAAF’s Council meet- doping in the country in Olympic sports over aren’t clear criteria, clear regulations.” ARAF Athletics Federations on Monday said it their say-so, often after their parents ing in Cap d’Ail, France. several years. deputy chief Andrei Silnov said he was was freezing all new transfers of alle- were “enticed” with money. “Clean Russian athletes have been badly let Moscow denies any state role in doping buoyed by IAAF comments which said that giance, with IAAF president Sebastian “The change of allegiance has been a down by their national system. We must ensure but Mutko, who was promoted from sports while Russia was not ready to return to the Coe saying that the “present rules are no big blow to this country. Some of our they are protected and that those safeguards minister to deputy prime minister despite the fold, it recognised “several positive develop- longer fit for purpose”. innocent children have been lured away give confidence to the rest of the world that doping controversy, pointed the finger at ments”. “They don’t have any serious grudges Kenya has suffered particularly badly: without their knowledge by people mas- there is a level playing field of competition when Russia’s athletics coaches. Russia’s tainted ath- against us,” he told a press conference. since 2003 more than 60 Kenyan-born querading as their coaches, managers Russians return.” letics federation ARAF “had a lot of (doping) Individual Russian athletes can apply to take athletes have given up their nationality and agents. So far in 2017, 35 Russian athletes have violations”, he told the R-Sport agency. part in international events as neutrals if they to run for another country, most notably “Other countries have opened a applied to compete as neutral athletes in inter- “Athletes broke rules and many coaches are deemed drug-free. However, the reigning for Bahrain and Qatar. supermarket on Kenya by taking advan- national competition, the statement added. Last don’t understand how to work without dop- 110m hurdles world champion Sergey During the Rio Olympics, 20 former tage of the young ones, who sometimes week, RusAF revealed the names of 31 of its ath- ing-it’s time for them to retire.” On Monday Shubenkov, who has applied to compete as a Kenyans competed for adopted coun- don’t understand they are being forced letes to have made applications, including both world athletics boss Sebastian Coe said that neutral, said that the latest IAAF verdict would tries, including Ruth Jebet, who upset her to forfeit their nationalities.” world and Olympic champions. Ivan Ukhov, Russia could not be reintegrated into the do little to help Russian athletes. former compatriots to win the first Wambua said Kenya had no problem Olympic high jump champion in 2012, 2015 sport before November, meaning the country “They said we have a chance to compete Olympic gold medal for Bahrain in the with any athlete trying to earn a living by world 110m hurdles champion Sergey will miss August’s world championships in as neutrals but for some reason we still do not 3,000m steeplechase. “We fully support competing for another country but they Shubenkov, 2015 world high jump champion London. The IAAF said Russian progress over compete,” he said. Sports minister Pavel the move to put to an end the transfer of must only do so when they are old Maria Kuchina, and 2014 world indoor triple doping was mixed, pointing also to “unhelpful Kolobkov told TASS news agency that if any innocent young talented Kenyans with- enough and given clearance by the jump champions Lyukman Adams and public comments recently made by some Russian athletes qualify as neutrals then out justification and due process as the national federation. — AFP Yekaterina Koneva, were all named on the list. Russian sporting officials”-a possible refer- Moscow would guarantee funding. — AFP More than 60 Russian athletes have been