Bolt Sets Sights on Breaking Own Record
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SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2013 IOC to weed out drug cheats before Sochi ROME: IOC President Thomas Bach urged national regard to anti-doping with quantity and - even ward to enjoy this Russian hospitality,” the IOC Olympic committees yesterday to weed out drug more important - quality,” said Bach, who was president said. During his half-hour speech, Bach cheats before the Winter Games in Sochi in elected 10 weeks ago to succeed Jacques Rogge. also discussed tweaking the process of bidding for February, warning that a positive test would taint “We will have more targeted tests, based on pro- the Olympics, seeking to cut costs and put fewer the image of an entire team. “Please, speak with files and intelligence we get from national anti- requirements on potential host cities at the start. your national anti-doping agencies. Speak with doping agencies, federations and NOCs.” Bach Earlier this month, voters in Bach’s home country your governments. Speak with your national fed- applauded the initiatives made at last week’s rejected a proposed Munich bid for the 2022 erations,” Bach said in a speech to the European World Anti-Doping Agency conference in South Winter Games, citing financial and environmental Olympic Committees general assembly. “And per- Africa and added that more anti-doping measures concerns. form pre-competition testing and make sure that will be discussed at the next IOC executive board “We have to ask ourselves if we ask too much you, as national Olympic committees, that you meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Dec 10. too early for potential bidders and whether we can be proud of your team in the end. Bach also reiterated that Russian President should not create a more invitational procedure “You can win as many medals as you want in Vladimir Putin had assured him that, despite the to potential bidders that they should inform us the Olympic Games,” Bach added. “But if you have country’s law banning gay “propaganda,” there how they see the Olympic Games fitting into their a doping case by one of your successful athletes, would be no discrimination in Sochi. “He assured local development, into their long-term plan- the image of your (entire) team is tainted ... So it is us once more that the principals of the Olympic ning,” he said. “In this way we could create and in your own interest to arrive in Sochi with clean Charter will apply for all participants and at all the have more creativity in the Olympic bidding pro- athletes.” Bach said pre-competition tests for the venues and that there will be no discrimination cedure. We would have more diversity in the Feb. 7-23 Sochi Games have been increased by 57 whatsoever, that all athletes and participants organization of the games,” Bach added. “We percent and overall tests will be up by 40 percent regardless of their race, sexual orientation, culture would insure that the population is supporting from the last Winter Olympics in Vancouver in or any other form,” Bach said. these games and we could in this way also attract 2010. “I think this was an important re-assurance more bidders worldwide.” Bach met later with “So we really want to make a great effort with from our Russian hosts and we are looking for- Pope Francis. — AP ATHLETICS BOXING Froch, Groves to Bolt sets sights on settle genuine grudge match breaking own record TOKYO: Jamaican sprint star Usain MANCHESTER: The bickering undoubtedly helps promote their Bolt has set his sights on breaking his fight and the sale of pay-per-view television, but Carl Froch insists own 200-metre world record in 2014 his animosity for George Groves is fiercely genuine. The rival British with no competitions to distract his super-middleweights contest Froch’s International Boxing focus. Bolt, who was last week named Federation (IBF) and regular World Boxing Association (WBA) titles in Manchester today, but the unified champion does not expect to IAAF male World Athlete of the Year make peace with Groves afterwards. for a fifth time, captured yet another Londoner Groves, 25, initially angered Froch when he sparred triple gold haul at the world champi- with Mikkel Kessler before the Dane fought the Nottingham boxer onships in Moscow this summer, in May. Since beating Kessler, Froch’s ego has been pricked by defending his 100 and 200m titles Groves’s teasing comments, which he believes are disrespectful. before anchoring the Jamaican team “I’ve got a genuine dislike for George Groves and it’s not just to sell to victory in the 4x100 relay. the fight, so why would I shake his hand after?” Froch said at his But records were off the agenda for training base in Sheffield. Bolt this year despite claiming the “It’s not as extreme as David Haye and Dereck Chisora where a world-leading 200 time in Moscow - a situation got out of control and you think bloody hell I shouldn’t situation the 27-year-old is keen to have done that, let’s sort it out,” he added in a reference to the rectify as he plans his strategy for British heavyweights who, having brawled at a press conference, 2014. “Definitely for this season me eventually settled their differences in the ring. “But with Groves and my coach have decided to focus he’s just one of those people where I don’t want to have anything on running faster because there is no to do with him. I’ll fight him and I’ll never hear from him ever again. championship, so we are definitely “I don’t think much of him. I don’t think he’s very polite. I think targeting the 200 meters,” Bolt said he’s immature, childish, ignorant, arrogant and downright rude during a visit to Tokyo’s Olympic TOKYO: World and Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt (center) poses with sometimes, and you don’t need to be like that.” Froch is Britain’s Stadium yesterday. “We’ll see what Japanese children during a sports event at the National Stadium in Tokyo yes- leading boxer, particularly with former world heavyweight and happens. Hopefully I can stay injury- terday. Some 200 school kids took part in the event with Bolt. — AFP cruiserweight champion David Haye being advised to retire fol- free and everything will go well this lowing a shoulder injury. At 36, Froch has no plans to move into season and I can break the world coach believes he is capable of contin- strive to break the 10-second mark, retirement and claims his motivation and stamina have never record.” uing until the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, pointing to the example of been better. Bolt set the current 200 world mark even if the athlete himself does not Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre as “I’m still boxing because I still want to do it,” Froch said. “I’ve still of 19.19s and the 100 record of 9.58 at share his enthusiasm. “At the begin- the first person of European descent got the desire. My trainer Rob McCracken still keeps me motivated. the world championships in Berlin in ning of the season I had a meeting to achieve the feat. “I’m not money motivated because I’m in a very fortunate position 2009. “It’s all about not getting injured with my coach, and we were talking “For me anything is possible,” said financially and I’ve invested my money wisely and I’ve got interests this season,” said Bolt. “That’s my about how long I can go on in track Bolt. “It takes hard work and dedica- outside of boxing which bring in a very healthy monthly yield. “I’m focus, and then we’re going to try to and field for,” said Bolt. “I was saying tion, talent but also focus. Over the fitter now than I was six or seven years ago. The runs I’m doing push myself and hopefully get the 2017 would be the max and he said I years I learned that Christophe now, I’m hitting better times and my breathing is better.” world record and it will all work out. probably could go to the Tokyo Lemaitre did it and there were many Froch added: “I’m a late developer and I feel at 36 as good as I “We’re going to run a lot more 200 Olympics if I wanted to. I was like ‘it’s others that went under 10 seconds. was when I was 28, 29. I’m sure there will be a stage when I will this season and we’ll see if we can get kind of far.’ “So for me it’s all about making that start to go over the hill in decline but at the minute I’m honestly it done.” Six-time Olympic gold-medal “So it’s something on his mind and first step and deciding that I am going not feeling it. “Everything is monitored and everything is better for winner Bolt earlier this year indicated not on my mind. I want to retire in to work hard to get there and then this fight, and I know that physically heart and lungs wise I feel as that the 2016 Rio Games would be the 2017, but even if I don’t run here I’ll everyone will follow. It’s just about the good as ever, so I keep going.” In his last fight Froch out-pointed swansong to his glittering career at definitely be here because I enjoy time and the work and the focus that Kessler, avenging a defeat three years ago, and he now says he the age of 30, before hinting in watching track and field.