TTENNIS|ENNIS Page 4 RUGBY | Page 7 Djokovic wins Jones eager to Vienna opener see if Umaga to close in on makes the Sampras mark grade vs Italy Wednesday, October 28, 2020 FOOTBALL Rabia l 11, 1442 AH Covid-19-hit GULF TIMES Ronaldo in doubt for Messi clash SPORT Page 2 SPOTLIGHT FOCUS FIFA chief Infantino World 100m champ positive for Coleman banned, Covid-19 could miss Olympics Coleman previously escaped suspension on a technicality ahead of last year’s World Championships AFP suspended. Paris “I think the attempt on December 9th was a purposeful attempt to get me to miss a test,” Coleman said after he orld champion sprinter was charged in June. Christian Coleman is set “Don’t tell me I ‘missed’ a test if you to miss next year’s To- sneak up on my door (parked outside AFP kyo Olympics after being the gate and walked through...there’s Lausanne Wbanned from athletics for two years for no record of anyone coming to my anti-doping violations, the Athletics place) without my knowledge.” Integrity Unit (AIU) announced yes- Coleman said testers had visited IFA president Gianni Infan- terday. when he was out shopping for Christ- tino has contracted corona- The American, who won the men’s mas presents nearby, verifi able by bank virus, the world’s governing 100 metres at last year’s World Cham- statements and receipts. Fbody announced yesterday. pionships in Doha, was provisionally “I was more than ready and available The 50-year-old has mild symp- suspended for three ‘whereabouts fail- for testing and if I had received a phone toms and will remain in isolation for ures’ in June. call I could’ve taken the drug test and a further 10 days. World Athletics’ Disciplinary Tri- carried on with my night,” he said. “All people who came into con- bunal upheld the charge and banned “I was only made aware of this at- tact with the FIFA president during Coleman for two years, backdated to tempted drug test the next day on De- the last few days have been informed 14 May, 2020. The 24-year-old has 30 cember 10th, 2019 by the AIU when accordingly and they are being re- days to appeal the decision at the Court I got this failed attempt report out of quested to take the necessary steps,” of Arbitration for Sport. nowhere.” the body said. He is set to miss next year’s Olympic The report from the doping control “FIFA sincerely wishes President Games in Japan, where he would have offi cer posted by Coleman said the Infantino a speedy recovery,” it add- been among the favourites to win 100m tester had arrived at his apartment and ed. gold. had failed to get a response after “mul- Infantino’s last public appearanc- Coleman, who is also the 60m world tiple, loud knocks were made every 10 es was at FIFA’s Compliance Summit record holder, only ran in the 4x100m minutes” for an hour. which ended on October 16 when all relay heats in his fi rst Olympic appear- A doorbell next to Coleman’s door attendees were present via video. ance in Rio de Janeiro four years ago. was pressed but no ring could be heard. Cases, hospitalisations and deaths The AIU charged Coleman for missed No attempt to reach Coleman by phone from Covid-19 in the body’s base, tests in January and December 2019, as was made, according to the document. Switzerland, have doubled from one well as for a “fi ling failure” last April. “I’ve been contacted by phone liter- week to the next throughout Octo- To prove an anti-doping violation, ally every other time I’ve been tested,” ber. an athlete has to have committed three Coleman said. “Literally. (I don’t know) The country’s government is ex- whereabouts failures within 12 months. why this time was diff erent. He even pected to decide today on new meas- Coleman previously escaped sus- said he couldn’t hear the doorbell so ures to control the spread of the vi- pension on a technicality ahead of last why wouldn’t you call me?” rus. September’s World Championships. Coleman said he was tested two days The spread of the illness has cast Those three whereabouts failures In this file photo taken on June 20, 2019, Christian Coleman of the USA finishes 2nd in the 200m sprint of IAAF Golden later and added: “I’ve been tested mul- doubt over today’s potential meeting were recorded on June 6, 2018, January Spike 2019 Athletics meeting in Ostrava. World champion sprinter Christian Coleman has been banned from athletics tiple times since, even during quaran- between Cristiano Ronaldo and Li- 16, 2019 and April 26, 2019. for two years for anti-doping violations, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced yesterday. tine. onel Messi in the Champions League However, Coleman had successfully “But of course, that doesn’t mat- after the Juventus attacker tested argued that the fi rst missed case should the quarter — April 1, 2018 — meaning required 12-month period. ber 9, 2019, added to the two failures in ter, and the fact that I have never taken positive for the illness earlier this have been backdated to the fi rst day of the three failures fell just outside the But now the missed test on Decem- January and April, have seen Coleman drugs doesn’t matter either.” month. FOOTBALL Barcelona president Bartomeu submits Bayern edge past Lokomotiv Moscow resignation: report Reuters identical assist from Pavard with the Moscow Russians clearly struggling with Bay- ern’s pace down the wings. Kimmich should have done better ayern Munich’s Joshua Kim- when he fi red at a defender from two mich volleyed in a 79th- metres out early in the second half but minute winner yesterday as the midfi elder then made amends 11 Barcelona: Barcelona president Bthey battled past hosts Loko- minutes from the end. Josep Maria Bartomeu has sub- motiv Moscow 2-1 in their Champions With Lokomotiv pressing for a sec- mitted his resignation from the League Group A match to extend their ond goal, he picked up the ball on the club, Spanish newspaper Sport winning run in the competition to 13 edge of the box and with his back to reported yesterday. consecutive games. the goal, fl icked it up, pivoted and vol- Bartomeu has been facing Leon Goretzka headed them in front Bayern Munich’s leyed in the winner. Bayern next visit growing resentment in the last in the 13th minute but they squandered Polish forward Salzburg while Lokomotiv, who have year due to the club’s worsening a string of chances to double their lead Robert lost six of their last seven home games finances and the team’s decline on and also hit the post before Anton Mi- Lewandowski (L) in the Champions League group stage, the pitch, which came to a head ranchuk punished their wastefulness and Lokomotiv host Atletico. with their 8-2 defeat to Bayern following a quick break from Ze Luis. Moscow’s Inter Milan’s Belgian forward Romelu Munich in the Champions League Bayern, winners of fi ve trophies Russian midfielder INTER MILAN HELD Lukaku reacts during his team’s match quarter-finals in August. in 2020, are top of their group on six Vladislav Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku and In- against Shakhtar Donetsk in Kyiv. Bartomeu, who has also been points, after also beating Atletico Ma- Ignatyev vie ter Milan endured a frustrating night widely criticised after talisman drid 4-0 last week in their opener. for the ball. in Kyiv as they were held to a 0-0 draw Inter came closest to scoring, twice forward Lionel Messi requested a The Russians, who have one point, by Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions hitting the woodwork in the fi rst half at transfer following the Champions had the fi rst good chance through Fyo- League. Six days after stunning Real the Olympic Stadium. League humiliation, was facing dor Smolov’s third-minute header but Madrid in Spain despite missing 10 Nicolo Barella hit the crossbar early a vote of no confidence from the Bayern’s Goretzka did better, heading in fi rst-team players due to coronavirus, on and Lukaku then had a free-kick club’s ‘socios’. a perfect Benjamin Pavard cross. Shakhtar were fortunate to take a point turned onto the frame of the goal by He took over from Sandro Rosell Kingsley Coman then struck the foot against the Italians but the result leaves Shakhtar ’keeper Anatoliy Trubin as the in 2014. of the post 10 minutes later after an them in a strong position in Group B. interval approached. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, October 28, 2020 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOCUS Five charged over the ‘Wait and see’: Ronaldo murder of South African football star AFP doubt for Messi showdown Boksburg, South Africa ive men have been Ronaldo, who has no symptoms, has charged with the 2014 murder of South African missed three games including his national football captain FSenzo Meyiwa, court documents side’s 2-0 Champions League win at by the director of public pros- ecutions showed yesterday. Dynamo Kiev last week The 27-year-old goalkeeper and national squad captain was AFP I’ll treat him with the enormous respect gunned down at the home of his Turin, Italy that he deserves.” pop-star girlfriend Kelly Khum- Messi, 33, has featured in four victori- alo, southeast of Johannesburg ous campaigns for Barcelona, while Ro- on the evening of October 26, ristiano Ronaldo remains un- naldo has won the Champions League 2014.