Foreign Leaders Slow to Commit to Rio Opening
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SPORTS SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2016 African discus champ out of Rio for doping JOHANNESBURG: African discus Hogan’s doping ban was embar- world ahead of the Olympics. gender-test scandal led to her being champion Victor Hogan was dropped rassing for Athletics South Africa after South Africa will send 137 athletes sidelined for nearly a year by the IAAF. from South Africa’s Olympic team on it announced last week that all its to the Rio de Janeiro Games, with its She won silver medals at the 2011 Thursday after he failed a doping test events this season were free of doping. team headlined by medal contenders world championships and 2012 and was banned for two years. South ASA said on Thursday that Hogan was Caster Semenya, Wayde van Niekerk, London Olympics. Van Niekerk is the African anti-doping agency chief exec- axed from the Olympic team. Hogan is and Chad le Clos. Semenya has been in world champion in the 400 meters. utive Khalid Galant said in a text mes- a three-time African champion and dominant form this season in the 800 Le Clos won gold in the 200-meter sage to the Associated Press that retained his title at the continental meters and appears the outright butterfly and silver in the 100 butter- Hogan tested positive for methylhexa- championships last month in Durban, favorite for gold at Rio. She will con- fly at the London Games. He’s set to neamine at the national champi- South Africa, two months after the centrate solely on the 800 at the renew his Olympic rivalry with onships in April, when he threw a per- failed test. ASA must now consider if Olympics, the South African Olympic Michael Phelps in Rio. South Africa sonal best of 67.62 meters. His B sam- Hogan, who turns 27 this month, Committee said, after Semenya sug- also has a strong chance of a medal in ple also tested positive, and Hogan’s should be stripped of any titles, Galant gested she might double up and also rugby sevens. Nine-time major winner sanction was decided on Tuesday. said. Hogan was 13th at last year’s compete in the 400. She’s qualified for Gary Player, who is 80, will be the Hogan did not contest the findings, world championships and fifth in the both. Semenya was the 2009 world coach of the South African Olympic Galant said in the message. 2013 words. He was ranked No. 6 in the champion at the age of 18 before a golf team. — AP Local hero Singh bullish ahead of Asia showdown NEW DELHI: Indian Olympic hero Vijender Singh set his sights on challenging for boxing’s super mid- dleweight world title yesterday on the eve of his showdown with Australia’s Kerry Hope for Asian supremacy. Singh, who became the first Indian to ever win a boxing medal by taking home bronze from the 2008 Olympics, is so far unbeaten in his six bouts since turning professional last year. But he faces his toughest challenge yet on Saturday night in the Indian capital New Delhi when he takes on Hope for the vacant title of WBO Asia-Pacific Super Middleweight champion. Hailing from the next-door state of Haryana, the 30-year-old can expect raucous support from a packed house at Delhi’s Thagaraj stadium when he takes on the experienced left-hander Hope. A bullish Singh, who has won all of his bouts as a pro by knock- out, told reporters that he not only expected to be crowned champion of Asia but that Saturday’s fight would pave the way for a tilt at the world title. “It will BRASILIA: Brazil’s acting President Michel Temer, left, talks with Brazilian Olympic Committee President Carlos Nuzman open the door for world title bouts... It’s one more as his Chief of Staff Eliseu Padilha stands between them, as they hold a ceremony for their country’s Olympic athletes at step towards the world title,” Singh told reporters Planalto presidential palace. — AP after the official weigh-in. It will be Singh’s first bout in Delhi for six years and marks a return to the same city where he enjoyed Foreign leaders slow to medal success in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. “I can’t wait for tomorrow,” said Singh. Hope will be no pushover however, having racked up 23 wins from 30 commit to Rio opening bouts and he has been on the professional circuit for over a decade. “Been there, done that. The pressure is on this guy. I know what it’s like being in your home- RIO DE JANEIRO: Many top foreign leaders No numbers Maracana Stadium. First Lady Michelle town,” the 34-year-old Hope said about the home have been slow to commit to attending the An early prediction that 100 heads of Obama represented the US at London’s favorite. — AFP opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro state or government could be on hand at opening ceremony in 2012. Olympics amid Brazil’s political turmoil and the Aug 5 ceremony has not been repeated China, one of Brazil’s main trade part- a stream of bad news engulfing South for weeks. The Brazilian foreign ministry ners, did not reply to AP’s request for infor- America’s first games. Top politicians who declined to offer numbers, and said a list mation. Brazilian media say China will send do show up could face a diplomatic would be published just the before the Vice Premier Liu Yandong, who is in charge quandary when the games open in three games open. Organizing committee of education and sports. She ranks far weeks. President Dilma Rousseff has been spokesman Mario Andrada said he did not below President Xi Jinping and Premier Li suspended and faces an impeachment trial, know how many leaders would attend. The Keqiang. Beijing is host to the 2022 Winter which could conclude days after the Brazilian news website UOL puts the num- Olympics. Olympics end. She has said she hopes to ber at 45 and lists United Nations Secretary- Even Argentina, Brazil’s main partner in attend, meaning she would join interim General Ban-ki Moon as a confirmed guest. the region, has yet to confirm the presence president Michel Temer as the main faces France is an exception. France’s of President Mauricio Macri, although its of the host nation. embassy in Brasilia told AP that President embassy in Brasilia says he is expected to “If you are a top world leader, whose Francois Hollande will attend the opening come. Japan has also not confirmed its del- hand would you shake in the middle of ceremony. Paris is a candidate to host the egation. However, Japan would seem likely such uncertainty?” Maristella Basso, a pro- 2024 games. Italy’s embassy also con- to send a top-ranking representative with fessor of international law at the University firmed that Prime Minister Matteo Renzi Tokyo the next host of the Summer Games. of Sao Paulo, told The Associated Press. “It would attend. Rome is another 2024 candi- Britain, which held the last Summer is a bizarre situation. The best that foreign date. The United States embassy did not Olympics, has just changed its prime minis- NEW DELHI: Indian Boxer Vijender Singh (L) and leaders can do is to send a letter and stay say if President Barack Obama would ter and its representative is in doubt. Australian Boxer Kerry Hope pose after the official home to avoid any embarrassment. It won’t attend. Brazilian media has reported that Russia is another question mark. Many weigh-in for the WBO Asia Pacific Super be a party occasion for Brazil anyway, look Secretary of State John Kerry is the Russian athletes have been caught up in a Middleweight title. — AFP at the mess.” American official most likely to be at giant doping scandal. — AP .