SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2016 SPORTS

US sailor lends hand to clean Rio’s bay before Games

RIO DE JANEIRO: Bobbing on Rio de bish from the Bay which is clogged by held. Two academic studies seen by down in the competition. Inea has the situation considerably, but that more Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay in a blue and sewage from some 15 municipalities, Reuters in June showed the waters were deployed 12 green eco-boats - each with needed to be done. white fishing boat, American sailor Brad home to some 9 million people. “I decid- infected by drug-resistant super bacteria a wire metal scoop on the front that lifts Inea has appealed to Rio’s citizens to Funk uses a plastic bin to scoop rubbish ed that if I am not going to compete, I and microbes normally found only in hos- rubbish out of the water and into its hull. stop throwing waste into canals and into from the waters where Olympic sailing want the sailors to not have problems pitals. The State Environmental Agency It has also placed 17 red floating eco-bar- the bay. On the airplane over to Rio, races will take place next month. when they sail,” he told Reuters. “I love (Inea), which is conducting daily monitor- riers across the mouth of rivers and canals Funk met Camila Avelar who decided to Funk missed out on his dream of com- Rio, and it is very important to me that ing of water quality with the help of the feeding the bay, which collect debris volunteer to help his effort, hoping to peting in Rio 2016 in the two-man 49er the Olympic Games is a success and the World Health Organization (WHO), insists floating on the water’s surface. inspire a chain reaction. “A lot of people sailing class, but travelled to any- trash does not get stuck on the sailboats, the water quality is fine, helped by the Just the eco-barrier in the Canal do say that the two of us trying to clear the way with the aim of clearing the path for taking medals away from them.” rapid movement of water through the Cunha had collected 208 tonnes of rub- rubbish from the sea will not make any those who did, including his girlfriend In recent months, concern flared over mouth of the bay where events will be bish in the last month, Inea said. difference,” Avelar said. “But I don’t think British windsurfer Bryony Shaw. A native pollution levels in the bay and nearby held. More worrying for many competi- Brazilian sailors said recently that the that is the point, it is the attitude and of Clearwater, Florida, Funk is leading his sea, where sailing, windsurfing and long- tors, however, is the floating debris which work of eco-boats picking up rubbish encouraging other people to do the own clean-up effort to help remove rub- distance swimming events are being could crash against boats and slow them along competition routes had improved same thing.” — Reuters Genetic doping: The ‘sea serpent’ of cheating

LAUSANNE: How big a threat is genetic month, said: “there may well be tests but doping to clean competition in sport? “It’s a I’m not sure of their relevance.” bit like sea serpent,” mythologised, poten- tially capable of causing serious harm, “but THE BIGGEST THREAT not so present”, said Martial Saugy, former “The biggest problem at the moment director of the Swiss Laboratory for Doping are microdoses,” Saugy said, when asked Analyses. The lab is in Lausanne, near the about the worst threat to fair play. headquarters of the International Olympic Dopers have increasingly realised that Committee, which put Saugy on the front- tiny doses of steroids or the oxygen capaci- line of efforts to purge drug cheats from ty booster EPO can be very effective and global sport. extremely hard to detect. Saugy noted that In an interview with AFP ahead of the Tour de France 2006 winner and former August 5 start of the Lance Armstrong teammate Floyd Landis Olympics, Saugy said anti-doping labs had cheated with a steroid “that is still very to keep pace with new methods developed present”. Landis “made an error in usage. by doping cheats that multiple scandals Without that error, we wouldn’t have seen involving Russia have proved are still a anything,” he explained. major threat. But he cautioned against The use of biological passports “helps putting too much focus on the still unde- enormously,” said the doctor, who now termined threat of genetic doping, when heads the Center for Research and other dangers-like micro-doses-are far Expertise in anti-Doping sciences at the more pressing. University of Lausanne. “This is one of my main principles: you need to work with the LOOKING FOR ‘INDICATORS’ right sample from the right athlete taken at Doctors have for years been experi- the right time,” he said. menting with ways to inject synthetic genes into patients, altering an individual’s CHANGING THE SYSTEM genome to enhance muscle recovery or Overall, Saugy endorsed the notion that stem muscle deterioration, among other the entire global anti-doping infrastructure benefits. Should such treatments be taken needed a shake-up. up by athletes, anti-doping efforts could be In too many cases, private labs motivat- PRISTINA: Kosovar judoka Majlinda sits with other ’s athletes prior to the flag handover ceremony in Pristina onFriday. Double set back years. ed by profit are accredited to conduct tests world champion Majlinda Kelmendi will carry Kosovo’s flag and its dreams of winning a gold medal in its first Olympic Gamesin Rio. —AFP “We’ve been talking about it since the by sport federations, which are sometimes creation of the World Anti-Doping Agency motivated by the desire to see their star in 1999,” Saugy said, adding that the goal athletes have clean records. for labs is to find a way to detect “the indi- Making sure that WADA has the authori- Judo star carries Kosovo hopes cators of genetic doping.” ty and willingness to withdraw accredita- But he noted that since the world’s best tion for labs whenever problems occur is doctors are struggling to use the technolo- crucial to cleaning up the system, Saugy for gold at first Olympics gy to treat sick children, athletes and train- argued. IOC executives have pushed for a ers seeking to cheat with genetic doping major anti-doping overhaul and have float- PRISTINA: Double world judo champion Majlinda are inevitably facing similar difficulties. “We ed the idea of WADA taking over the entire Kelmendi will carry Kosovo’s flag and its dreams of need to put things in perspective. Genetic system, removing authority from national winning a gold medal in its first Olympic Games in Russian father and son hammer therapy in the medical domaine has diffi- sport federations which can be corrupted, Rio. will lead the nations who will not be culty getting its place because it’s very as notably happened in Russia and Kenya. celebrating if the 25-year-old succeeds in putting throwers share Olympic sorrow complicated,” he said. IOC executives last month called for a spe- Kosovo’s name on the Olympic map. The 52 kilo- Asked if there was a testing system for cial summit on doping to be held next year, gramme champion leads eight Kosovo athletes at MOSCOW: Russian hammer thrower Sergey world could finally breathe-his absence from genetic doping in place for Rio, Saugy, who where enhancing WADA’s authority will be the Rio Games following its recognition by the Litvinov and his father have a lot in common: the Los Angeles Games left a stain on his stel- stepped down from the Lausanne lab last discussed. —AFP International Olympic Committee in 2014. a first name, an athletics discipline and now a lar career. “I could have had a chance to go for Olympic fever is mounting among the 1.8 million history of missing the Olympics. gold,” he said. “But what can I say? It didn’t Kosovars and with it the pressure to succeed. The suspension of Russia’s athletics federa- happen and that’s it.” President Hashim Thaci set Kelmendi’s photo, tion over “state-sponsored” doping will deny Litvinov Sr. declined to answer questions S Sudan refugee Olympians Kosovo flag and the Olympic rings logo as his the 30-year-old a shot at Olympic glory, just as whether he had doped or had witnessed the Twitter account background. “We may get gold, the Soviet boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles use of performance-enhancing drugs among run for glory of lost home we may not, still we are heroes,” he tweeted in a Games did for his father and coach, legendary his Soviet teammates. But he said that doping reflection of the growing national pride. Soviet hammer thrower Sergey Litvinov. “has always existed.” NAIROBI: There will be more South training. Beyond their sporting talent, the Kelmendi and her coach Driton Kuka went into Father and son recognise the striking paral- Sudanese competing at the Rio Games in quintet’s childhoods also bind them hiding ahead of Rio. Having made her interna- lels between their careers and wish the sting- ‘A CLEAR WAY’ the Olympics refugee team than for the together. All come from families that fled tional debut in 2011, Kelmendi is unbeaten since ing memories of 1984 had not returned more The younger Litvinov insists he has never African state that will be taking part for the civil war that broke out in Sudan in the 2013. “This girl is a machine,” said France’s Priscilla than thirty years later. “There is nothing good doped and says he has paid the price for first time. Five South Sudanese runners 1980s and lasted until 2005. None have Gneto after losing the European title final to in this,” Litvinov Sr. told AFP about seeing his refusing to cheat. In a letter to IAAF chief who make up half of the refugee Olympic lived in South Sudan since it split from its Kelmendi in April. son sidelined from Rio like he was in 1984. Sebastian Coe, Litvinov Jr. implored interna- Team arrived in Rio on Friday. For the likes northern neighbour in 2011, but the pain But Kelmendi only assured local media she Unlike many banned Russian athletes, tional athletics chiefs to outline what Russia of James Nyang Chiengjiek the troubles of of the new country’s five years of on-off wanted “to win a medal this time”. The judo star Litvinov and his father have been openly criti- needs to do to return to international compe- home have cast a shadow over the tough fighting since plays on their minds. went to the 2012 London Olympics for as cal of Russia sports authorities and their tition. “Just please show me a clear way,” he preparations for the Games which start the IOC had not yet recognised Kosovo. inability to reform the scandal-ridden anti- wrote. “Otherwise the situation is out of my August 5. RUNNING BACKWARDS doping system in time for track and field ath- control and I am dependent on my federation, South Sudan is allowed to send three “It is so sad that our country is going NOT JUST WAR letes to compete in Rio. Litvinov Sr., 58, thinks which does not make me optimistic.” Russian runners who will take part with special invi- backwards instead of moving forward,” Kelmendi said she chose to compete for that Cold War-era politics weighed into the athletes in other sports have been cleared to tations. The refugee team was selected by Chiengjiek, who will compete in the men’s Kosovo because she wants to show the world “it is decision to keep Russians away. He blamed compete in Rio after the IOC shied away from the International Olympic Committee in 400 metres told AFP. not just a little country with a history of war. I want the country’s sports authorities for their “pas- a blanket ban and called on international June to compete under the Olympic flag as In recent weeks, clashes between gov- to show the good side, where young people do sive approach” to the problem. sports federations to determine Russians’ eli- the world struggles with its biggest ernment troops loyal to President Salva sport, show they can win and be creative.” Kosovo His son, who competed at the youth level gibility. That sparked fierce criticism from migrant crisis since World War II. Kiir’s and former rebels allied with arch-rival declared its independence in 2008 a decade after and the 2009 world championships for some anti-doping agencies and athletes out- Apart from the South Sudanese there Riek Machar have left 300 dead. a war in the former Serbian province between Germany before a falling-out with the federa- side Russia. Litvinov-who missed the cut for are Syrian swimmers Yusra Mardini and “We hope our leaders will use our partic- Serb forces and ethnic Albanian fighters. More tion there saw him change his allegiance, has Russia’s 2012 Olympic team-says that his Rami Anis, Ethiopian marathon runner ipation at the Olympics to bring peace to than 100 countries now recognise Kosovo as a rejected the popular notion in Russia that the choice to compete without performance- Yonas Kinde and judokas Yolande Bukasa our people, since sport has long been con- country, but not Serbia, which opposed its mem- ban is a Western conspiracy aimed at eliminat- enhancing drugs had seen him lag behind Mabika and Popole Misenga, who come sidered a unifying factor,” Chiengjiek bership of the IOC as well as major sporting feder- ing strong competitors. other competitors. from Democratic Republic of the Congo added. The athletes are training at Ngong, ations such as football’s FIFA and UEFA. “The pharmaceutical path doesn’t interest and live in Brazil. some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the More than 70 countries and territories compet- GREAT DEPRESSION me,” he said. “I’m interested in the training The three men and two women from capital, following intensive two-week ses- ing at the Olympics have yet to win a medal but “I don’t have a negative attitude towards process, in competing against myself.” Litvinov South Sudan-Chiengjiek, Yiech Pur Biel, sions running alongside elite Kenyan ath- Kosovo “deeply hopes” for success at its first try, the West,” he told AFP after a consolation track shrugged at the prospect of competing at the Paulo Amotun Lokoro, Anjelina Nadai letes. Piech Bur Biel sought shelter with his Kosovo Olympic Committee head Besim Hasani and field in Moscow held for the banned ath- Olympics in 2020 when he will be 34. Lohalith and Rose Nathike Lokonyen-were mother and older brother in the Kakuma told AFP. “Our adherence into the IOC has been letes. “You have to look for the problem with- “I didn’t make it to the 2012 London Games picked in September at trials held at the camp in 2002 aged seven. He believes that the tip of an iceberg in the internationalisation of in yourself first. There is no smoke without because of my own stupidity, now I’m not sprawling Kakuma refugee camp in north- Olympic success could offer a chance to Kosovo’s athletes,” Hasani said. Being in Rio will be fire.” Litvinov Sr., who won silver at the going because of others’ stupidity,” he said. ern Kenya. find his father. “I may not be a good runner “a new chapter” for Kosovo’s sport, he added. Moscow Olympics, had his sights set on gold “Maybe for Tokyo there will be other kinds of “The team has been training well in now,” the 21-year-old said, modestly, “but it Musa Hajdari, an 800 metres runner, highlight- for Los Angeles, having won his first world stupidity that won’t allow me to go.” He said Ngong and I hope they perform well in Rio,” is my duty to go back and bring up others ed the upbeat mood of those going to Rio. title one year ahead of the Games. he will keep training, no matter the uncertain- said the athletes’ Olympic co-ordinator in my country,” to an Olympic level. He “It is a special feeling one cannot describe in The Soviet boycott devastated him. “A ties ahead. His father has little advice about Tegla Loroupe, referring to the town south- wants to inspire the next generation of ath- words. This is an utmost point that one athlete can great depression swept over me,” Litvinov Sr. the future but pledged he will be there to west of Nairobi where they have been letes to represent South Sudan.—AFP experience on the international arena. “I have said. “It took me a whole year to return to my tweak his son’s technique. never lost hope that I would see this day,” added normal self.” Although he returned to win gold “I try to be more of a coach than a father,” the 28-year-old, talking of the days when ethnic at the boycott-free 1988 Seoul Games- Litvinov Sr. said. “I don’t give him advice on Albanian athletes were excluded from internation- Olympics in which Litvinov said the sports life. Just on the hammer throw.” —AFP al sport. Shooter Urata Rama said appearing at the Olympics was more than a dream “due to the poli- tics that were interrupting sport activities. “Obviously going to Olympics is the biggest dream an athlete can have. We in Kosovo now can finally enjoy and experience that,” added the 30- year-old. Kuka-who will coach Kelmendi and another judoka, Nora Gjakova, in Rio-has a special reason to be happy. The six-time national champi- on should have taken part in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, but Serbia blocked Kosovo. “First ever Olympic Games for Kosovo ... Proud of my judokas who achieved Olympic quotas for our country,” he recently twitted. Hasani estimated that Kosovo would score a “huge victory already at the very opening of the Games” when Kelmendi leads the team into the Olympic arena “in front of the eyes of three billion people around the globe seated in MOSCOW: Russia’s Sergey Litvinov competes in the men’s hammer throw final at a track front of TV screens.” NGONG: International Olympics Committee (IOC) 2016 olympics refugees team and field meet called “Stars of 2016” in Moscow on Friday. Russia’s athletics federation “The message will be clear: Kosovo is equal to members run along a dirt road at a high altitude training camp, at the foot of the holds a competition event for the athletes who have been banned from the Rio Olympics the world. “It is a moment worth living it,” he Ngong’ hills, approximately 35km southeast of Nairobi, on Friday, in preparation for over evidence of state-sponsored doping and mass corruption in the sport. — AFP declared. —AFP the 2016 Rio Olympic games. — AFP