SPORTS Saturday, January 20, 2018 23 Fury clears licence hurdle, moves step closer to Joshua showdown London medical requirements,” a statement read. Team Sky will ontroversial boxer Tyson Fury That announcement follows another moved closer to his dream all- favourable ruling last month as the BritishC world heavyweight showdown troubled boxer tries to return to the ring with Anthony Joshua when he was told following a positive test for steroids. on Friday that he will get his licence back In December, UK Anti-Doping if he passes a medical. (UKAD) cleared Fury to return, after an not suspend The 29-year-old -- who has not fought absence of over two years, following his since his shock win against Wladimir acceptance of a backdated two-year ban. Klitschko in November 2015 to become Fury -- who will have to bide his time the undisputed heavyweight world to fight Joshua as the WBA and IBF champion -- cleared a hurdle in champion is due to box New Zealand’s his battle to fight again after WBO titleholder Joseph Parker in ChrisLondon another Froome nine months. general image.” a meeting with the British Cardiff on March 31 -- had been eam Sky have assured Chris “Sky should suspend Froome,” A joint investigation by the Boxing Board of Control charged along with his cousin and Froome they will not suspend he said. “Now, it’s not up to me Guardian and Le Monde in (BBBC) on Friday. fellow boxer Hughie, who also himT from competition despite to interfere. Without wishing to December revealed a urine test “Following (an) failed a test for nandrolone in the advice of the head of cycling’s comment on the rider’s guilt, it taken by Froome showed twice the interview with Tyson Fury February 2015. Both insisted world governing body. would be easier for everyone [were permitted amount of the asthma at the BBBC offices earlier the positive tests were a result of David Lappartient, the president Sky to suspend him]. It’s up to drug salbutamol in his system. today, the suspension of eating wild boar that had not been of the International Cycling [Sky’s team manager Dave] Froome admitted the adverse his boxer’s licence will be castrated. Fury also failed a test Union, told a French newspaper Brailsford to take his finding may never have been made lifted subject to receipt for cocaine in September 2016 the team should suspend responsibilities. public had the newspapers not and clearance and later admitted the four-times Tour de Quite apart from investigated. of all using the drug France winner while an that, I think Team Sky and Froome deny to deal with investigation continues that’s what breaking any anti-doping rules and depression. into how he failed a drugs the other are seeking to provide a legitimate Tyson Fury (AFP) test at the Vuelta a España riders explanation for the failed test. The last September. want. team declined to comment on But the Guardian They’re Lappartient’s remarks. UCI rules IOC tests athletes ahead of Winter Olympics understands Team Sky will fed up state that in cases like Froome’s the Geneva 2017 as compared to same period in 2016. still enter Froome for the with the rider is not subject to a provisional ver 14,000 doping tests have been “Protecting clean athletes by fighting Giro d’Italia and this year’s suspension and is free to compete conducted ahead of next month’s doping is a top priority for the IOC... as planned while the process continues. PyeongchangO Winter Olympics in an effort we are committed to working with our unless any anti-doping rule Froome competed for Great Britain to protect clean athletes and safeguard partners to ensure that Pyeongchang violation is brought against the in the world time-trial the Games, the International Olympic 2018 provides a level playing field for all 32-year-old before then. championships after Committee (IOC) said on Thursday. clean athletes,” IOC medical and scientific Lappartient, who found out being notified of The Pre-Games Anti-Doping Taskforce director Richard Budgett said. about the failed drugs test the day his failed test and along with National Anti-Doping The taskforce, which was set up to after taking over from Brian continues to Organisations (NADOs) and International monitor and optimise the testing, has Cookson as head of the train as normal. Olympic Winter Sports Federations placed extra scrutiny on Russian athletes. UCI last September, told (theguardian) (IFs) tested over 6,000 athletes from 61 Twice the number of Russian athletes the French regional Le countries. The IOC said there was a 70 were tested in November and December, Telegramme he thinks percent increase in the number of tests as compared to those from any other the case against conducted between April and December country. (Reuters) Froome could last Peter Sagan: I didn’t expect to climb like that Adelaide n its 20th birthday, the has a stage win by a world champion. The new finish intoO Uraidla Friday afternoon promised to shake up the race and duly delivered. The stage finish is sure to go down as an all-time highlight due to the exploits of Peter Sagan. The new finish, via the category 1 Norton Summit climb, was a stage that had no outright favourite. Predictions were mixed, with riders and sports directors alike suggesting the result could go the way of a climber or a puncheur, but with no one discounting Sagan. On the climb up Norton Summit, BMC Racing drilled the pace to thin the field but couldn’t shake Sagan. The ascent was just seconds slower than when they raced up Norton Summit two years ago. Over the top of the climb, (BMC Racing) and George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo) led the attacks and briefly got clear before Sagan made his counter-attack with 3.5 kilometres to race. Despite being reeled in by the 34-rider group in his wake, Sagan then finished off his early work with a canny sprint finale to take the win ahead of a charging Daryl Impey. With victory came the race leader’s ochre jersey. “It was a really tough day. It was really hot and when we came to the bottom of the last climb, it was not about pain or legs,” Sagan said after his finishing his podium duties as stage winner, race leader and holder of the points jersey. Peter Sagan powers over climb to win stage four of Tour Down Under “It was a really strange feeling. I didn’t expect I could climb like that in this period.” (cyclingnews)