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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 SPORTS Podolski captains Germany Movistar storm Catalonia Drug-tainted O’Connor on farewell against England time trial to stun rivals back training with Toulon DORTMUND: Lukas Podolski will captain injury-hit Germany on his farewell interna- BANYOLES: Alejandro Valverde’s Movistar stormed to a surprise vic- TOULON: Australian international James O’Connor, suspended by Toulon after he tional appearance in today’s friendly against England, die Mannschaft’s head coach tory in the team time trial at the Tour of Catalonia yesterday, as was busted with cocaine in Paris, returned to training with the Top 14 rugby side yes- Joachim Loew has confirmed. Podolski, 31, will make his 130th and final appearance Team Sky suffered a damaging off day. Valverde’s team-mate Jose terday. The 26-year-old with his trademark peroxide blonde hair was spotted during by wearing the captain’s armband against Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions in Joaquin Rojas leads the overall standings after two stages as he and the team’s training session at the club’s grounds in southern France. French police Dortmund. ‘It’s sensational, you can’t ask for more,’ said Podolski, who will join his seven team-mates gamely sprinted for the win. The Movistar last month charged former All Black Ali Williams, who played for rivals Japan’s Vissel Kobe next season, upon hearing he will captain his country on his team, from Spain, had been far from favourites to win the tricky Racing 92, with buying cocaine and O’Connor with possession of the farewell. ‘My final appearance will be a lovely, but also a sad moment for 41.3km race but beat Tejay van Garderen’s BMC by a slender two drug. The pair were arrested on February 25 outside a nightclub me. ‘I’m pleased I will get a chance to say goodbye to the fans,’ added seconds while putting a punishing 46 seconds into Chris Froome’s near the Champs Elysees in possession of 2.4 grams (0.08 ounces) the Galatasaray striker, who made his international debut in 2004. Sky team. “We worked very hard and had planned it all, checking of the substance. O’Connor was fined for “use” of the drug, while However, world champions Germany are missing a host of first out the route etc,” Valverde said after the race. “We put some impor- Williams is due to appear in court charged with “buying drugs”. The choice players. ‘As well as our captain Manuel Neuer, Mario Gomez, tant time into some key rivals,” he told Eurosport. A drawn-looking pair will appear before a disciplinary commission of the French Mesut Ozil and Julian Draxler are also injured,’ Loew told a press Froome told Eurosport: “This was not the stage we had been plan- National Rugby League (LNR) on March 29. O’Connor, who can conference in Dortmund. With both attacking midfielders Draxler of ning.” The three-time Tour de France winner and team-mate Geraint play wing or fullback, appeared 44 times for Australia Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal’s Ozil out, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos is most likely to fill the role. With Gomez, 31, missing, RB Thomas have a climb stage with three category-one mountain between 2008 and 2013. He made his debut at Leipzig’s Timo Werner, 21, is set to make his debut having ascents tomorrow in which to grapple back into contention in the 18, the second youngest Wallaby in hit 14 goals in the Bundesliga so far this season. — AFP seven stage Tour. — AFP Australian rugby history. — AFP KOTC tournament begins tomorrow By Abdellatif Sharaa nament to be held at Sheikh Sabah al- Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex start- KUWAIT: Kuwait Shooting Sport Club ing Thursday March 23, in the Olympic 10m began its preparations for the start of air pistol and rifle, 50m pistol and rifle as Kuwait Oil Tankers Company (KOTC) tour- well as Olympic archery for men, women and juniors. Secretary General of Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federations Obaid Al-Osaimi said the KOTC tournament is one of the distin- guished events that is one of the distin- guished events that is on the KSSC sched- ule, as the company officials are keen on supporting Kuwait shooters and shooting for many years. He said a large number is expected to participate from the club, National Guard, Sheikh Saad Olympic Shooting Academy, in addition to shooters from Sabahiya and Jahra Club branches. Al-Osaimi thanked KOTC officials on behalf of KSSC board of directors for their Obaid Al-Osaimi support and wished the company all success. OLYMPICS 2028 Games not an option for Paris, says bid chief BOSTON: In this April 21, 2014 file photo, Meb Keflezighi leads Josphat Boit along the course of the 118th Boston Marathon in Boston. LONDON: Paris Olympic bid officials have against awarding the 2024 Games and Keflezighi said he’ll hang up his racing shoes for good after running the April 17, 2017, Boston Marathon and the TCS New York ityC Marathon in ruled out any possibility of the French capi- 2028 at the same time. He said last week November. — AP tal hosting the 2028 Games and say it is the IOC Executive Board had agreed to set 2024 or nothing. up a working group to explore potential ATHLETICS Three-times Olympic canoeing champi- changes to the process and report back in on and bid co-chairman Tony Estanguet July. The 2024 host city will be awarded at a told Reuters on Tuesday that Paris was not vote in Lima, Peru, in September. US marathon star Keflezighi opposed to the 2024 and 2028 host cities Officials from both bid cities have said being decided at the same session later this they are not looking beyond 2024. year in a break with past procedures. Estanguet said Paris would have no prob- is racing toward retirement But he made clear that Paris, which last lem with both Games being decided at hosted the Games in 1924 and is going once provided Los Angeles was given 2028. head-to-head with Los Angeles after other “We are ready for this option, and we BOSTON: Meb Keflezighi helped the running world American man in 28 years to medal in the to wild chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” “Every day for 365 bids withdrew, was only an option for the welcome this process,” he said. “If the IOC reclaim the Boston Marathon with a sensational marathon. He won New York in 2009 - the first US days I was visualizing how I could do something Olympics that follow four years on from can find a solution with LA, that’s great. American victory the year after the deadly 2013 champion there in 27 years. Meb memes material- meaningful on Boylston Street,” he said. “You could- Tokyo 2020. “(2028) is not an option for us,” “But I can only say that Paris is only pos- bombings. ized overnight: Meb on Mount Rushmore, Meb at n’t script it any better than that. It was the most said the International Olympic Committee sible for 2024. We cannot accept 2028.” Now he’s nearing the end of the road, and he the moon landing, Meb as the Statue of Liberty. gratifying moment of my life.” (IOC) member. “Our project is only feasible He said Paris has 95 percent of venues couldn’t be happier. Keflezighi says he’ll hang up US marathon record-holder Deena Kastor calls Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray and guaranteed for 2024...the land to build already in place, with only the aquatics cen- his racing shoes for good after running next Keflezighi “one of the best tactical US distance says Keflezighi - the only Olympic medalist who’s the Olympic and Paralympic village is only tre remaining to be constructed. month’s Boston Marathon and the TCS New York runners in history.” “He hangs on patiently when won New York and Boston - will forever be part of available for 2024. “This is the fourth bid by With photographs of abandoned and City Marathon in November. By then, he’ll have the pack erratically surges. He attacks when oth- running’s pantheon. “Meb is a true hero in our Paris and we believe it is now or never. This decaying venues from last year’s Rio de racked up 26 marathons and he’ll be 42. ers seem vulnerable,” she said. “If there is one sport,” he said. “Not because of his many victories is the last chance to see Paris bidding for Janeiro Games already doing the rounds, Considering the metric equivalent of the classic thing you can always be sure of, it’s that he gave or because of all the medals he’s won, but more so the Games. Afterwards, I think Paris and Estanguet promised that there would be 26.2-mile distance is 42.2 kilometers, it feels to his best, his all.” because of the standards he lives by - his unselfish France will do different things.” no ‘white elephants’ left after a Paris Games. Keflezighi like the universe is saying it’s time to call and philanthropic generosity, his humbleness, his Bid officials said there was an agree- He said the city would also be a safe it a career. “People say, ‘Why stop? You’re still at a OVERWHELMINGLY IMPORTANT positive attitude, and his compassion and caring ment that the land earmarked for the vil- option for the IOC, both in terms of the high level.’ But it takes a lot out of you,” the four- Keflezighi finished just out of the medals at the for those who are less fortunate.” lage would be handed over to developers organisation and security despite a series time Olympian told The Associated Press.