TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 SPORTS Coe promises to fight Nestle to save kids programme

PORTLAND: The IAAF will not let Nestle by former IAAF president Lamine Diack ally removing the opportunity for thou- tion at the time and he promised in the will keep talking to them.” He said he walk away from an agreement that ben- covered up organised doping and black- sands of young people, millions of Portland interview to continue to fight had spent a lot of time the past two efits millions of young people and train- mailed athletes while senior officials young people across 15 different coun- for the programme. months speaking to global partners, tak- ers without a fight, athletics chief looked the other way. Diack is under for- tries, and in the space of one year “I am still slightly bemused by the ing them through the reform agenda he Sebastian Coe told Reuters. mal investigation in France on suspicion removing the ability to coach and train decision given that their issue is about has initiated to bring trust back to the The Swiss food giant said last month of corruption and money-laundering three-four thousand coaches and train- reputation, yet at the height of the sport. “We take it very seriously and in a it would end its partnership with the linked to concealing positive drug tests, ers.” Nestle said in its February statement Lance Armstrong issue they re-signed large part, overwhelmingly in large part, International Association of Athletics in concert with Russian officials. Coe dis- that it believed the allegations against with the Tour de France. You were left they (sponsors) actually normally con- Federations (IAAF) Kids Athletics pro- puted Nestle’s move. “We saw no justifi- the IAAF “could negatively impact our being a little confused by their motives,” cluded they want to be part of the gramme because of widespread allega- cation in the way they went about their reputation and image and (we) will he said. The BBC has reported German change process,” said Coe, who became tions of corruption and bribery in the termination,” he said in an interview at therefore terminate our existing agree- sportswear company Adidas AG will also president of the IAAF in August. “I have sport. An independent commission of the IAAF world indoor championships ment with the IAAF, established in 2012.” end its sponsorship deal with the IAAF said, help us do this. You are world-class the World Anti-Doping Agency said in a that ended on Sunday. “They were not a almost four years early. businesses. You’ve had your own difficult report that “corruption was embedded” global partner,” the former British STRONG REACTION Coe told Reuters though, “Adidas is times too in your own histories, now at the IAAF. The report said a clique run Olympic champion said. “This was actu- Coe reacted strongly to the termina- staying with us through 2016 and we help us shape this.” — Reuters

Ethiopians shake off doping concerns to strike gold PORTLAND: Ethiopia, one of five countries Ethiopian-born Swede Abeba Aregawi, a under the watchful eye of the IAAF over former world indoor champion, also has concern for their drug-testing systems, been banned for a positive doping test. dominated the long races to finish second “Doping is not good news for athletes,” at the world indoor championships that said Dibaba, who outran countrywoman ended on Sunday. Meseret Defar for the 3,000m title. Yomif Led by world record holder Genzeba Kejelcha gave Ethiopia their other gold of Dibaba, the African nation swept the top the day, defeating American Ryan Hill and two spots in the women’s 3,000 metres and Kenyan Augustine Choge in the men’s claimed gold in the men’s 3,000m on 3,000m. Sunday. On Saturday, Dutch runner Sifan Hassan, The strong showing came a day after who was born in Ethiopia, led former coun- Ethiopian-born athletes took the first four trywomen Dawit Seyaum, Gudaf Tsegay places in the women’s 1,500m. and Axumawit Embaye in the women’s “I think it is the altitude and hard train- 1,500m. “It is so sad that people use that,” ing,” Dibaba told Reuters when asked why Hassan said of the Ethiopian doping prob- Ethiopian men and women are so impres- lem. sive in the distance events. Kenya, usually a powerhouse in the mid- Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Ukraine and dle distance race, won only two medals in Belarus have been identified by IAAF presi- the championships. Choge said he hoped dent Sebastian Coe as countries in need of his nation soon passed anti-doping legisla- “critical care” because of their drug-test sys- tion. “They really need to pull up their socks tems. so the corruption will be killed forever,” he “Ethiopia and Morocco-as a matter of told Reuters. urgency-need a robust testing program put More than 40 Kenyan athletes including in place,” Coe said. “Kenya, Ukraine and top marathoner Rita Jeptoo have been Belarus need to get compliant by the end banned for doping in the past three years of the year.” and three athletics officials have been sus- The countries are in no immediate dan- pended over corruption allegations. ger of being banned from athletics and “It’s a fairly corrupt time to be in the missing the Olympics, Coe said. But six sport because of everything that is going Ethiopian athletes are being investigated on but I can only control what I can do,” for doping, officials have said. said British runner Tom Farrell. — Reuters PORTLAND: United States’ , center, celebrates after he won the men’s long jump final during the World Indoor Athletics Championships, Sunday, in Portland, Ore. China’s Huang Changzhou, left, finished third, and Australia’s Fabrice Lapierre, right, finished sec- Sibling rivalry spurs ond. — AFP Dibaba toward Rio Games US dominates on final PORTLAND: Genzebe Dibaba has set her emulate her at the Olympics.” On Sunday, sights on emulating her big sister’s Olympic Dibaba’s victory was never in doubt at the exploits after making a successful defence of Oregon Convention Center. Dibaba powered her 3,000m crown at the World Indoor home around 50 meters clear of her nearest day of world indoors Championships here Sunday. rival, compatriot Meseret Defar, clocking a time The 25-year-old Ethiopian distance runner of 8min 47.43sec. of the has become accustomed to living in the shad- United States took the bronze. It was a third PORTLAND: The United States won five gold ow of elder sibling Tirunesh, the three-time consecutive world indoors gold medal for medals as the host nation dominated the final Olympic gold medallist and five-time world Dibaba, who won the 1,500m crown in 2012 day of the World Indoor Athletics champion. and the 3,000m title two years ago in Sopot, Championships on Sunday to complete their But Dibaba said Sunday she is targeting an Poland. Dibaba said she was disappointed that best ever showing in the event. American ath- Olympic gold medal of her own in Rio in the schedule had not allowed her to attempt a letes won gold in the men’s and women’s August after another dominant indoor display. 1,500m and 3,000m double in Portland. “I’m 4x400m relays, the men’s 1,500m, the men’s long Dibaba laughed off comparisons with her sis- very happy with this performance. I ran a lot of jump and women’s as the first major ter, emphasizing that her achievements so far it alone, I was feeling very strong,” she said. championships since Russia was banned from were modest in comparison. “I am a little disappointed that I was unable came to a close. The four-day “I can’t say that I’m greater than her. There’s to double with the 1,500 meters because the event wrapped up before a sell-out crowd of a lot that she’s done,” Dibaba said. “I don’t have 3,000 meters ended up being a straight final, 7,191 at the Oregon Convention Center, with the any Olympic medals, and I’ve only got one and I would have liked to have tried both. I did host nation finishing on top of the medal table Outdoor World Championships medal. “I just run alone after the first kilometer, and it was with 13 golds, six silver and four bronze. have to keep working harder, and hopefully easy and I felt very comfortable.”—AFP Ethiopia-whose athletics federation was warned earlier this month they could be banned unless they improve its anti-doping regime-fin- ished second in the medal after winning two Eagles’ daughter golds on the final day. Ethiopian star Genzebe Dibaba successfully defended her 3,000m crown, a third consecutive gold medal at the Cunningham soars world indoor championships after her victories in the 1,500m in 2012 and 3,000m two years ago PORTLAND: Teenage prodigy Vashti Cunningham said she is now targeting a in Sopot, Poland. Dibaba powered home around Cunningham confirmed her emergence as place on the US Olympic team later this 50 meters clear of her nearest rival, compatriot the newest star of US track and field after year, even if she was still pinching herself at Meseret Defar, clocking a time of 8min 47.43sec, soaring to gold in the women’s high jump the win. “I did not think that I would be with Shannon Rowbury of the United States tak- at the World Indoor Championships here here right now at 18 years old,” ing bronze. Sunday. Cunningham said. “It means a lot to be the Earlier, Dibaba’s compatriot Yomif Kejelcha The 18-year-old daughter of legendary world champion this young. won the men’s 3,000m, coming home in 7:57.21 Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Randall “I’m very happy to add on to the medals to deny Ryan Hill of the United States, who took Cunningham only secured a place in that my team has been accepting through- silver. Kenya’s Augustine Choge won bronze. Portland at the 11th hour after being grant- out this whole meet, and that I can give ed a special invitation by the organisers. back to my country. Hopefully this is a long ‘DOPING NO GOOD’ That invitation came after Cunningham, a career for me. Dibaba meanwhile frowned when asked Las Vegas high school student, broke the “I do hope to be on the Olympic team, about the drugs scourge swirling around track US and world junior indoor record at last and I will be working as hard as I can to be and field since revelations of systemic doping in weekend’s US Indoor trials with a leap of on that medal stand.” Cunningham was Russia which led to the country’s suspension. 1.99m. pushed towards a career in track and field “Doping is not good news for our sport, dop- On Sunday the fresh-faced teenager by her famous father, who also excelled at ing is no good for athletes,” said Dibaba, before showed remarkable composure in the high jump. reflecting on her win. “I’m so happy, it’s my third biggest competition of her life, comfortably “I’m surprised at her progress on the one world indoor medal already. It was easy for me clearing her first four heights at the first hand, but I also know she has the genetics,” because the field was not that strong.” PORTLAND: In this photo made with a fish-eye lens, the United States’ 4x400-meter women’s attempt. Cunningham senior said in a recent inter- Sunday’s action also confirmed the emer- relay team of (from left) , , Quanera Hayes, and Natasha Her final clearance of 1.96m was good view with British newspaper The Guardian. gence of a rising star in track and field, with Hastings, hold flags after they won the 4x400-meters women’s relay during the World Indoor enough for gold on countback ahead of “God has really blessed her. My wife American teenager Vashti Cunningham taking Athletics Championships, Sunday, in Portland, Ore. — AP Spain’s Ruth Beitia and Poland’s Kamila Felicity was a ballet dancer so she has the gold in the women’s high jump. ahead to regain trust but this has been a pretty but it hasn’t stopped this from being a fantastic Licwinko. strength in her jumping too.” —AFP Cunningham, still only 18, won gold with a good start,” Coe told AFP. athletic experience for spectators and athletes leap of 1.96m ahead of Ruth Beitia of Spain in Reflecting on the absence of Russian athletes, alike. It shows you that the sport is still very second place and Poland’s Kamila Licwinko in Coe added: “It’s a sad moment for our sport ... strong.” —AFP third. Cunningham-the daughter of legendary Philadelphia Eagles quarterback -only competed in Portland after ATHLETICS WORLD INDOOR MEDALS receiving a special invitation from track and field’s governing body, the International PORTLAND: Medals table from 2016 World Indoor Athletics Championships (gold, silver, bronze, Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). total) that concluded yesterday: However the high school student showed no signs of being overawed by the occasion as she United States 13 6 4 23 Great Britain 0 1 2 3 comfortably cleared the first four heights with Ethiopia 2 2 1 5 Poland 0 1 2 3 her first attempt on each. France 1 1 2 4 Romania 0 1 1 2 American distance runner Matthew Jamaica 1 1 1 3 Australia 0 1 0 1 Centrowitz, a silver medallist at the 2013 World Burundi 1 1 0 2 Championships in Moscow, drew one of the Bahamas 0 1 0 1 Netherlands 1 1 0 2 biggest cheers of the day with victory in the Spain 0 1 0 1 Czech Republic 1 1 0 2 1,500m, winning in 3:44.22 ahead of Czech Hungary 0 1 0 1 New Zealand 1 0 2 3 Jakub Holusa and Nicholas Willis of New Qatar 0 1 0 1 China 1 0 1 2 Zealand. Serbia 0 1 0 1 IAAF officials meanwhile reported a total Bahrain 1 0 0 1 attendance of 39,283 over four days of competi- Canada 1 0 0 1 Greece 0 0 2 2 tion, with several sessions selling out. IAAF Italy 1 0 0 1 Kenya 0 0 2 2 President Sebastian Coe said the attendances Venezuela 1 0 0 1 Trinidad&Tobago0 0 2 2 PORTLAND: United States’ Vashti Cunningham hold the U.S. flag after she won the showed athletics was on the road to recovery Germany 0 2 1 3 Barbados 0 0 1 1 women’s high jump final during the World Indoor Athletics Championships, Sunday, after months of scandal. Ukraine 0 2 1 3 Croatia 0 0 1 1 in Portland, Oregon. Cunningham won the event.—AP “Nobody is denying the challenges that lie