TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2014 SPORTS

Dhoni blamed for England debacle Tiernan-Locke’s Neymar set to feature in Suarez’s Barca debut MADRID: Brazilian striker Neymar has been given the all clear to play his first game since suffering a NEW DELHI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captain- doping ban upheld broken vertebra in his back during the World Cup when cy has come under increasing scrutiny with Barcelona play Mexican side Club Leon yesterday. The many former cricketers blaming him for LONDON: UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has upheld former Team Sky rider Jonathan Tiernan-Locke’s two-year ban after irregularities were found 22-year-old could get his first experience of playing India’s 3-1 test series defeat in England. A in his , the organisation announced yesterday. alongside new teammate Luis Suarez as the debate erupted on Dhoni’s future as Tiernan-Locke withdrew from racing in September after being ques- Uruguayan is expected to make his Barca test captain after India was bowled out tioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) over a discrepancy in debut after being cleared to play in friendly for a measly 94 and lost by an innings his blood data. He blamed the finding on an “alcoholic binge” and sub- matches last week by the Court of Arbitration sequent dehydration but the UKAD said he had used “a prohibited for Sport, despite serving a four-month ban and 244 runs at the Oval in the final from competitive games. Neymar missed out test of a five-game series. The innings substance (an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent) and/or prohibited method (blood doping) to boost his levels of haemoglobin”. “This was on his country’s ultimately disastrous 7-1 semi- lasted only 29.2 overs in what was a based on expert opinion on the conclusions drawn from a blood sam- final defeat to Germany on home soil after suffer- second successive loss inside three ple taken on 22 September 2012 under the UCI Athlete Biological ing the injury when he was clattered by Juan days for India. Dhoni, who survived the Passport (ABP) programme,” the UKAD added. “This sample was Camilo Zuniga towards the end of Brazil’s 2-1 quar- axe after India suffered 4-0 losses in assessed against four further samples taken to build a profile of the rid- ter-final win over Colombia. However, the injury both England and Australia in 2011, has er’s blood.” The UKAD said Tiernan-Locke, 29, had failed to sufficiently could have been much worse as Neymar revealed that now lost 14 away tests. Former India cap- explain the abnormal values, which were taken before he joined Team had the impact of Zuniga’s knee on his back been cen- Sky. The rider was previously stripped of his 2012 title timetres higher he could have been left paralysed. tain Dilip Vengsarkar and former New and 2012 world championship results, and was sacked by Team Sky. Lionel Messi is also likely to get his first outing since his Zealand batsman Martin Crowe were “This is the first Athlete Biological Passport case handled by UK Anti- Argentina side lost the World Cup final to Germany on among those to criticize Dhoni’s leadership on Doping, handed down under the rules by the UCI,” UKAD legal director Monday as Barca finalise their pre-season build up to the start the England tour. —AP Graham Arthur said in a statement. — of the La Liga campaign when they host Elche on Sunday. —AFP US vulnerable without big names: Prigioni

BELGRADE: Hosts Spain and several other dream of becoming a household name. teams are capable of defeating a United “There, that’s me,” he said proudly as he States side missing their biggest names at showed off a photo of himself as a 10-year- the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 basketball World Cup, old ballboy at the 1990 World Cup in New York Knicks playmaker Pablo Prigioni Argentina, huddled in a corner as told Reuters. Yugoslavia beat the Soviet Union in the The 37-year-old Argentina point guard, final in Buenos Aires”I was there every day who joined the Knicks in 2012 from and watched all the games. Spanish side Caja Laboral, also announced “I am closer to the end of my career than that he would be quitting the international the beginning but I will carry on for a few stage after the 24-nation tournament in more years and the World Cup will not be order to focus on his NBA career. my last tournament for Argentina,” said 34- “Spain and a few other teams now have year-old power forward Scola. a chance of beating the United States,” said Prigioni at the warm-up event in Belgrade Great experience where Argentina were soundly beaten by Prigioni has decided to hang up his host nation Serbia and Puerto Rico. Argentina jersey after the World Cup to stay “It will be interesting to see how they in shape for the most demanding basket- will adjust now they are missing their ball environment there is. biggest names.” “The World Cup will be my last tourna- LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo ment for the national team because I want Anthony, Kevin Love and Blake Griffin have to focus entirely on the NBA next season,” all rejected invitations to play as the he said. Americans prepare to defend the World “Playing in the NBA is a great experience Cup they won in Istanbul in 2010. and one that came out of the blue because Prigioni’s Argentina team mate Luis I didn’t expect the opportunity so late in Scola, now plying his trade with the Indiana my career. “I try to enjoy every day, it’s the Pacers after five seasons at the Houston best place to play basketball and a very JIANGSU: Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte competes to win the women’s 50m breaststroke final swimming competition at the 2014 Youth Rockets and one at the Phoenix Suns, nice thing in the twilight of a player’s believes the title holders remain strong career.” Like the US and several other teams Olympic Games in Nanjing, in eastern China’s Jiangsu province yesterday. More than 3,700 competitors aged 15 to 18 were expected favourites. Argentina will also be at less than full to participate in the games, with many hoping to build towards a place at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. —AFP “The United States are always a good strength as guard Manu Ginobili, who won team no matter who plays and Spain will his fourth NBA title with the San Antonio obviously be contenders too as the host Spurs in June, will miss out along with nation,” Scola told Reuters. Milwaukee Bucks forward Carlos Delfino. World record holder Meilutyte “We are a work in progress but I believe Prigioni said his country may find it diffi- we are a good team too capable of making cult to advance to the latter stages of the an impact. My expectations are high but World Cup without the influential duo. wins gold at Youth Games we have to improve because we won’t beat “It will be very tough for us without anybody if we play like we did in Belgrade.” Ginobili and Delfino but we will have to Having been a key player in Argentina’s adjust and play without them,” he added. NANJING: Big things are expected of world photo finish gave the Briton the win, New teams after yesterday’s games. Fiji, one of the shock triumph at the 2004 Olympics and “We have to believe in our young players record holder and Olympic champion Ruta Zealand filed a protest, which proved unsuc- favourites for the men’s title, lost twice yester- their runners-up finish in the 2002 World and find a way to compete with the Meilutyte at the Youth Olympic Games in cessful. day, to France and Argentina. Cup, Scola reminisced about his boyhood resources we have.” —Reuters Nanjing and the Lithuanian did not disappoint “It was quite tense but I’m glad it went this China’s women beat Tunisia 34-0 and the yesterday, cruising to gold in the women’s 50 way in the end,” Dijkstra said. “It was such a United States 29-7 yesterday, while Australia meters breaststroke final. good race, and Danny’s such a good athlete. I’m thrashed the Americans 38-0 and routed Spain The 17-year-old, who won 100m breaststroke really pleased with the result and that I’ve got 41-0. Malaysia ‘nude games’ gold at the London Games two years ago and this gold medal now.” Rattanaphon Pakkaratha won the women’s holds the 50m world record, cruised home in a Some 3,800 athletes are taking part in the 53 kg weightlifting title to earn Thailand’s first time of 30.14 seconds ahead of German Julia second edition of the Youth Games, which gold of the Games, which kicked-off on Sunday organiser apologises Willers (31.78) and Hungary’s Anna Sztankovics debuted in Singapore four years ago. The without Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria after (31.84) Games, which close on Aug. 28, are open to ath- they withdrew because of the Ebola outbreak in Also on Day 2 of competition in China, letes aged 14-18. Africa. KUALA LUMPUR: The organiser of a who lives in neighbouring Singapore. Ukraine’s Pavlo Korostylov blocked out the The IOC had banned three west African ath- nudist sports festival has apologised for Five more Malaysians are in police cus- crowd noise and music, not to mention the Different class letes from competing in combat sports and holding the event, which triggered out- tody, while two others have been pressure of performing in front of International One of the highest profile athletes in Nanjing pool events in China as a precaution after the rage in Muslim-majority Malaysia and led released after their statements were tak- Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas is Lithuania’s Meilutyte, who was in a different world’s worst outbreak of Ebola, which has to the arrest of eight people. en, police said. Bach, to win gold in the men’s 10m air pistol. class to her 50m breaststroke rivals yesterday. claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people in A video of the May gathering, called “We are still looking for another seven Among the 19 gold medals up for grabs on Meilutyte, who set a world record of 29.48 in the region. the “Nude Sport Games 2014”, first people, including from Myanmar and the Monday, Britain’s Ben Dijkstra won the men’s the event at the world championships in IOC President Bach said on Saturday that fol- appeared on social media earlier this Philippines,” Penang district police chief triathlon title but had to wait more than an hour Barcelona last year, is also entered in the 100m lowing the move, taken after discussion with month and went viral. Lai Fah Hin told AFP. for his win to be confirmed. breaststroke in Nanjing, as well as the 100m the World Health Organisation, the govern- It showed naked participants Police are investigating participants Dijkstra and New Zealand’s Daniel Hoy freestyle and 200m individual medley. ments of Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone had engaged in a range of activities including for acts of public obscenity and “insulting crossed the line together after almost an hour In rugby sevens, Argentina’s men and opted against allowing their athletes to com- body painting, dancing, relay races and the modesty” of others, charges that of swimming, cycling and running and when a Australia’s women remain the only unbeaten pete in the 13-day multi-sport event. —Reuters various other contests on a secluded could result in five years in prison. The Penang beach. gathering has been condemned by Co-organiser Albert Yam, who is in Muslim conservatives and non-Muslims police custody, has publicly apologised alike, and triggered heated online for the “naturist event” in an open letter exchanges between critics and support- to the government of the state of ers of the nudists. Penang, the New Straits Times reported In the video, a naked woman is seen Monday. riding horseback on a man, while in “We will not do it again and please another, a nude woman crawls over three accept our deepest apologies for our unclad men lying next to each other in misconduct, which has caused embar- the sand. About 60 percent of Malaysia’s rassment to the country,” he said. nearly 30 million people are Muslim eth- Yam, who is in his 40s, is a Malaysian nic Malays. —AFP 15-year-old Windle wins men’s 10m title

KNOXVILLE: Jordan Windle is a national pened to be available. “That was the only champion diver before he’s old enough to one that was open that I could get into be a licensed driver. Windle, who doesn’t because it was a little late getting into one,” turn 16 until November, convincingly won Windle said. “I just thought it was a very the men’s 10-meter title with interesting sport, so I just did it from there 527.8 points Sunday to cap the final day on.” of the US national diving championships. Although Windle earned four gold Windle exceeded 90 points on each of his medals and one silver at the junior national first three dives. championships this month, Sunday marked He started his day by earning 103.6 his best day yet as a diver. Windle won the points on a forward 4 1/2-somersault tuck. 10-meter championship by nearly an 85- That was the only 100-point dive by any- point margin over Mark Anderson, who one in the six-day event. “It definitely had 442.9 points. Zachary Cooper was third boosted my confidence,” Windle said. “From with 426.55. there on, my coach was really excited for Windle wasn’t the only diver with reason me and just told me to have fun and stuff. to celebrate. Ariel Rittenhouse of Santa That’s what I did through the whole event.” Cruz, California, closed a productive week This is the latest chapter in Windle’s by winning the women’s 3-meter competi- compelling rise. Windle was born in tion with 350.45 points. Laura Ryan was Cambodia and was placed in an orphanage second with 336.75 points and Elisabeth as a baby after his parents died. He was Dawson was third with 328.5. adopted as an 18-month-old and moved to Rittenhouse, a 2008 Olympian, had the United States. He now lives in teamed with Amanda Burke of Morrisville, North Carolina. Southampton, Pennsylvania, to win the 3- Windle started diving at age 7. When meter synchronized title a day earlier. school ended his family wanted to him to Rittenhouse also placed second in the 1- JIANGSU: Denmark’s Emil Deleuran Hansen (L), New Zealand’s Daniel Hoy (C) and Britain’s Ben Dijkstra compete the men’s triathlon at go to summer camp. A diving camp hap- meter Wednesday. —AP the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, in eastern China’s Jiangsu province yesterday. —AFP