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.