SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2014 SPORTS Former WADA chief condemns back-dated bans

MELBOURNE: Former World Anti-Doping Agency “So it puts, in my view, the integrity of the code year-old Australian, who finished his term as WADA games?! I feel sad for sport today,” swimmer (WADA) chief John Fahey has condemned from ASADA’s management of it in some jeopardy.” chief at the end of 2013. “There would be discus- Melanie Schlanger, who won an Olympic relay gold Australian officials for offering back-dated bans to The players were found to have used substances sions but I would be absolutely certain that WADA at the 2012 London Games, tweeted. “Take prohib- more than a dozen top-flight rugby players charged CJC-1295 and GHRP-6, peptide hormones which has not agreed in advance to an examination of a ited drugs, get a 10 week ban. Accidentally give with drugs offences that will see most of them miss promote muscle growth and are banned under the brief of evidence. They can’t.” ASADA the wrong address of your house, get a 2 only three weeks of competition. Seventeen WADA code. The position of the five players who WADA came under fire this year for not appeal- year ban. National Rugby League (NRL) players were accused had not taken the plea-deal was unclear. Local ing a one-year ban handed to American former Truly ludicrous,” tweeted Mitchell Watt, long of using banned supplements in 2011 at the media reported at least three had turned it down - world champion sprinter Tyson Gay after he tested jump silver medalist at London. WADA have yet to Cronulla Sharks, and 12 current and former players one because he had retired while two others, Paul positive for an anabolic steroid. Gay’s ban, halved receive a brief of evidence from Australia’s anti- for the Sydney-based team had accepted one-year Aiton and Ben Pomeroy, were playing in England’s because of his “substantial cooperation” with dop- doping authority on the case, the Daily Telegraph bans offered by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Super League. NRL CEO Dave Smith said the pun- ing authorities, was back-dated and he was com- reported, citing an email from WADA chief execu- Authority, the NRL confirmed yesterday. ishments would “bring an end to a long and diffi- peting within a few weeks of the announcement of tive David Howman. With the ban back-dated to Nov. 2013 and the cult investigation for the players, their families and the punishment. Fahey said there was ample ASADA have three weeks to provide the brief to current NRL regular season finishing next month, the NRL. “In this case, the evidence supports the precedent for back-dating bans, but could see little WADA at the conclusion of their case. If the global most of the offenders will miss only three weeks of fact that players were misled about the nature of justification for the Cronulla players to enjoy the agency disagrees with ASADA’s penalties, they can play, a plea arrangement slammed as a “sweetheart the substances administered to them by people at benefit. “There was the Tyson Gay case where he apply to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to over- deal” by incensed Australian Olympians. the club who they should have been able to trust,” voluntarily refunded all prize money and agreed to ride them. “I’m puzzled and disappointed that the ultimate he said in a statement. Local media, citing the play- his name being expunged from all events he par- The ASADA probe was triggered by a dramatic penalty for most of the Cronulla players is only ers’ legal representatives, said the players had been ticipated in from the time he breached the anti- news conference by the country’s then-sports min- three weeks,” Fahey said in an interview yesterday. given assurances by Australian anti-doping officials doping code,” Fahey said. “All these (Cronulla) play- ister in Feb. 2013 on the back of a national crime “I don’t know where the code allows that. “I think of that WADA would not appeal the leniency of the ers have played this year, so they haven’t stood report that alleged, among other things, the wide- all of the other athletes that have been dealt with punishments. down.” spread use of banned substances in Australian correctly under the anti-doping code for breaches sport. The investigation has also seen 34 current that have suffered two-year penalties who must be Premature end Disdain and former players at Melbourne-based Australian asking themselves today ‘how can this happen to Fahey disputed that and said any suggestion Australian Olympians reacted with disdain to Rules football club Essendon charged with the use rugby league players when it certainly wasn’t avail- the case was closed was premature. “WADA can’t the bans. “A backdated 12 month ban for taking a of banned supplements. Those cases remain on able for me?’ (agree to that) and they haven’t,” added the 69- banned substance?! Players to miss only a few hold pending a court decision. — Reuters All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup with crushing victory AUCKLAND: New Zealand’s forwards McCaw was returning and the home side responded to criticism of their perform- attacked the visitors’ scrum. ance in their opening Rugby Championship clash to set the foundation for a 51-20 vic- Man advantage tory over Australia at Eden Park yesterday The All Blacks exploited their man that also ensured the retention of the advantage when Brodie Retallick was held Bledisloe Cup. All Blacks captain Richie up over the line and used the resulting McCaw, who was sinbinned early in the scrum to shunt the Wallabies’ backwards game, scored two tries while Kieran Read, and then disintegrate their pack with refer- Julian Savea and Steven Luatua also ee Romain Poite awarding a penalty try. crossed, with their pack awarded a penalty Then they produced a sweeping counter- try as part of a record score against the attack from inside their own 22 after turn- Wallabies. ing the ball over, spread it wide with Cruden Flyhalf Aaron Cruden kicked five conver- drawing defenders before offloading a per- sions and three penalties, while Wallabies fectly timed pass to Savea outside him. fullback Israel Folau and captain Michael Cruden’s conversion gave the All Blacks a Hooper crossed for tries with Kurtley Beale handy 23-6 lead at the break that they adding two penalties and two conversions. extended with a scintillating 10-minute The victory ensured the Bledisloe Cup burst after the break that produced three remained in New Zealand for the 12th suc- more tries, two to McCaw from attacking cessive year. The third match in Brisbane in lineouts. “When you’re chasing 20-odd October is now a dead rubber in terms of points against a team like the All Blacks it’s a the battle for the symbol of trans-Tasman dangerous experience and you need to take supremacy. Maligned for their failure to risks to chase the game,” Wallabies coach combat the Wallabies’ intensity in the 12-12 Ewen McKenzie said. “They played well, no draw in Sydney last week, New Zealand’s question but I know we’re better than that, forwards tore into their Australian counter- so it was a very frustrating night.” parts, intent on protecting a formidable 20- Folau and Hooper scored two quick con- year unbeaten record at Eden Park. solation tries for the visitors before Luatua “We put the acid on those guys to front scored a last-minute try that Aaron Smith AUCKLAND: New Zealand players pose for a group photo with the Bledisloe Cup after defeating Australia in their international test Bledisloe up this week,” McCaw told reporters of his converted to give them a record score. The Cup rugby match yesterday. — AP tight five’s efforts. “We looked at what hap- All Blacks’ previous best score was the 50- pened last week and for a lot of the game 21 they accumulated in 2003, the year they we were getting beaten in the contact regained the Bledisloe Cup. “It was a special areas. They knew that and they set the plat- performance,” All Blacks coach Steve Ledecky smashes world form for some go forward ball. “Rugby is a Hansen added. Obviously we didn’t play hell of a lot easier when you win the con- well last week, it was disappointing tact.” While Cruden and Beale traded early because we set high standards for our- penalties, the sinbinning of McCaw in the selves.” “We showed an intensity that we record, Phelps wins gold 13th minute for a professional foul galva- didn’t have the week before.” Both sides nized the home side, who controlled the now have a week off before their next ball the entire time their captain was on the Rugby Championship clashes, with the All GOLD COAST: The second coming of Michael returned to competition in April with the aim of fly gold and another relay medal - silver - to his tally sideline. With the All Blacks leading 9-6, the Blacks playing Argentina in Napier, while Phelps gained momentum with another gold making the U.S. squad for the Pan Pacs. He achieved on Saturday and still has the medley to race today. “I tide of the match turned when Wallabies the Wallabies head to Perth to host South medal at the Pan Pacific championships on a night that by placing second in the 100 butterfly and the know there’s a lot that can happen in a year with lock Rob Simmons was sinbinned just as Africa on Sept 6. — Reuters when US teenager Katie Ledecky set yet another 200 medley, although his seventh in the 100 training, and that’s what I’m looking forward to,” he world record. The old and the new faces of world freestyle was a setback. said. “This is a building year for me after just getting swimming delivered on expectations Saturday, with A fourth-place finish in the 100 final on Friday back in the water and going through the ups and 29-year-old Phelps following up on his relay gold by night gave him a confidence boost, and he went downs. “I haven’t been able to hit my walls like I winning his first individual title since returning to back into the pool to help the US win the 4x200- want to, at a high speed. That’s just going to have to international competition following 1 1/2 years in meter relay - his first gold medal since returning to be something I work on over the next year, and retirement. The most decorated Olympian in history international competition. Phelps added the butter- hopefully I’ll be able to nail that.”— AP won the 100-meter butterfly in 51.29 seconds, edg- ing long-time US teammate Ryan Lochte. “It definitely feels good to have that sort of con- fidence back to be able to do it in an individual event,” Phelps said. “What it does is really just guar- antee me a spot on the world championships team next summer - that’s the biggest thing and most important thing.” In the next final, 17-year-old Ledecky won her fourth gold medal of the meet, lowering her world record in the 400 freestyle to 3 minutes, 58.37 seconds. Ledecky was under world- record splits for much of the race in an outdoor pool at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, then slipped slightly behind the pace before powering home with a last lap of 29.30 seconds to shave 0.49 off the world mark she set at the US nationals earlier this month. She also holds the world records in the 800 and 1,500 freestyle events, and won all three titles at the TOULOUSE: Toulouse’s French flanker Yannick Nyanga clears a scrum during the last world championships. “It’s a great feeling. It French Top 14 rugby union match between Toulouse and Castres at the Ernest Wallon never really gets old,” Ledecky said of her run of QUEENSLAND: Katie Ledecky of the US competes during the women’s 400m freestyle final at Stadium on August 22, 2014. — AFP records. “I have some long-term goals. We’re not quite there yet, but we’ll get there.” She still has the the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in Gold Coast yesterday. — AFP 1,500 meters to swim in Australia, where she has Toulouse rout already won the 200, 800 and the 4x200-meter relay. Tyler Clary won the men’s 200 backstroke to Rosberg takes the pole give the US its third gold of the night, and 11th for the meet. Castres 35-6 Australia was in second spot with eight gold position for Belgian GP medals after winning the women’s 100 butterfly and 200 backstroke and finishing off the third day SPA: Nico Rosberg will start the Belgian Grand Prix season with Red Bull. Hamilton had not qualified on PARIS: Toulouse clinched a four-try, bonus- Crusaders, was making his debut having only from pole position after holding off a strong chal- the front row since the Canadian GP in June. “We of competition with victories over the Americans in point 35-6 win over Castres on Friday to make arrived in France last Sunday. lenge from his Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton in have a great car here and we’re leading the way it two wins in two outings of the new French Castres had eight changes from their 25- the men’s and women’s 4x100 relays. Alicia Coutts qualifying yesterday. Hamilton was ahead of here. So cool to see that,” Hamilton said. “We defi- Top 14 season. Gael Fickou, Jean-Marc 22 loss to Stade Francais-the most notable won the 100 butterfly in 57.64 from Lu Ying of Rosberg on the first two time splits of his final lap nitely have good chances for tomorrow.” Doussain, Maxime Medard and Sebastien being the return of half-back pairing, skipper China and American Kendyl Stewart, while Belinda but then drifted back, allowing Rosberg to clinch a However, the 2008 champion was again Bezy all scored tries on a night when they Remi Tales and Rory Kockott. English fly-half Hocking led Australian teammate Emily Seebohm fourth straight pole and sixth in the past seven plagued by technical problems - just like in the pre- played the last 15 minutes with 14 men after Toby Flood, who scored all of his team’s in a 1-2 finish in the backstroke, with American races. The German driver leads Hamilton by 11 vious four races, where he started from 22nd, 20th, replacement full-back Thomas Ramos was points on his debut last weekend, kicked Elizabeth Beisel edging teammate Missy Franklin, points in the overall standings. sixth and ninth on the grid and still got on the podi- red-carded for violent play after only being Toulouse ahead before Kockott leveled. Both the Olympic and world champion, for bronze. Rosberg clocked 2 minutes, 5.591 seconds in dif- um every time. “I was nervous going into qualifying, on the field for under two minutes. Toulouse men missed two more penalties each before Beijing Olympics gold medalist Park Tae-hwan of ficult conditions, with the Spa track drenched fol- not knowing if the car was going to get through it,” backs coach Jean-Baptiste Elissalde said the Toulouse grabbed the first try on the 22- South Korea won the 400 freestyle in 3:43.15, more lowing a heavy downpour shortly before qualifying the British driver said. This time, he had a brake two wins were the perfect start for a club minute mark with French international centre than a second ahead of Japan’s Kosuke Hagino and started. “It was just Lewis I had to focus on,” Rosberg problem. “You need to have confidence on the which missed the play-offs last season for the Fickou creating and scoring the try. Fickou Connor Jaeger of the United States. Persistent rain said after his 11th career pole. “It makes it easier brakes. There were times in Q3 when I was just first time in 21 years. bounced off a poor challenge from Max Evans that has overshadowed the meet since the opening when there’s not a whole bunch, only one guy.” going straight on because the left brake wasn’t real- “If the guys make the most of their poten- and exchanged passes with winger Yoann day - even Phelps remarked about the “crazy, side- Hamilton finished in 2:05.819 and Sebastian Vettel ly working. When it glazes it’s hard to recover, espe- tial, I hope it will be a less perilous season Huget before powering over for the score. ways rain” - eased up on Saturday night. Not that it got a much-needed boost with the third quickest cially in the rain,” he said. “But in the evening they’re than last time,” he said. Castres manager Flood converted for 10-3 but Kockott kept would have bothered Ledecky. “It was beautiful out time - although the fact that he was 2 seconds able to scrub it and get rid of the glazing. In the dry Matthias Rolland refused to panic despite Castres in touch with his second penalty of there tonight,” she said. “There’s no rain underwater, behind the Mercedes pair offers the Red Bull driver tomorrow it shouldn’t be a problem.” little hope of securing a first win this season. Vettel, the four-time defending champion, did back-to-back defeats. “We have to stay united, the night. Huget went over for what he so it doesn’t really bother me.” Ledecky was the youngest member of the US “It helped us that it was wet. The gap was a lot not take part in Friday’s second practice run it’s a long championship and we know that thought was Toulouse’s second try but play bigger and our car was really dominant,” Rosberg because of a power unit failure. The German driver’s team at the 2012 London Games, where she won we have to rebound. We must remain confi- was called back after the winger had been said. “It was amazing to see that, how quick our car victory at Spa last year was the first of nine succes- dent and not get into a negative spiral,” he penalized for a knock on. Flood knocked over the 800 freestyle and where Phelps won his 18th is.” Two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso was sive wins. The way things are going this season - he said. Toulouse made nine changes to the side another penalty on the stroke of half-time for gold and 22nd medal overall. Phelps went into fourth in his Ferrari ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, the is languishing in sixth place overall - just a podium that edged a 20-19 win over Oyonnax last 13-6. Toulouse then tightened their grip on retirement and Ledecky’s career went into over- only non-Mercedes driver to win a race so far this finish would be a success. “We know we’re down in weekend with Florian Fritz, Medard, Gilian the match with two tries in four minutes early drive. After an extended break, Phelps realized that season. Hamilton has won five, Rosberg four and power. Mercedes have a strong car and they have a Galan and former All Blacks prop Corey Flynn in the second period. Firstly, they won quick he wanted to compete again and decided he’d try Ricciardo has clinched two in an impressive first lot of downforce. —AP all starting. Flynn, who spent 13 years at the turnover ball on the halfway line. —AFP to qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He