IInnssttaanntt UUppddaattee ISSUE 38 MAY / JUNE 2012 To: ALL WSF MEMBER NATIONAL FEDERATIONS cc: WSF Regional Vice-Presidents, WSF Committee Members, WSA, PSA, Accredited Companies FROM HEADQUARTERS ANTI-DOPING. The issue of doping Supporting the bid there will be World Champion Nick is always with us; and while squash Matthew and Canadian based Pakistani Maria Toor has an enviable record in this regard Pakay, who will participate in the media round table we have had failures too. As you will and the convention demonstration. read further down, two players have We have already been fortunate to receive some very received bans as a result of positive generous donations to help with the costs of tests for so-called ‘social’ drugs. mounting a fully rounded bid, and have also received The fact that they are not performance enhancing some gifts in kind. John Roberds of Odyssey Print in but are still banned by WADA (World Anti-Doping Tulsa, USA sent over a supply of Back the Bid tin Agency) simply highlights the need for all member stickers; while Susan Pallikal kindly printed player bid federations, coaches and players themselves to be flashes. To them and everybody else backing the bid fully versed on what is permitted. in so many ways sincere thanks. Testing doesn’t only take place at events; many countries have out of competition testing, as does Andrew Shelley WSF. For several of the top Tour players, not only ___________________________________________ might they be subject to testing at events, but a MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TO QATAR number also have the onerous responsibility of The 2012 Men’s World Squash Championship will be providing their whereabouts for one hour a day, held in Doha in December. The $300,000 event, the every day. They complete this on-line, most choosing second richest in the sport's history, will take place at breakfast time at home or the hotel they may be at. the Qatari capital's Khalifa International Tennis & They have to be diligent over this, and the same Squash Complex from 7-14 December. applies to all competition players. Qatar will be hosting the event for the third time, We cannot stress highly enough that players need to having previously staged it in 1998 and 2004. be sure/check every substance/medication that they use. Even simple treatments such as cold remedies "We are delighted to be able to confirm that Qatar can have substances in them that would cause failure will host the 2012 PSA World Championship," said of a drugs test and so put a squash career on the PSA Chief Operating Officer Lee Beachill. "We have line. been in discussions with the Qatar Squash Federation for several months and it was the event dates that National federation can give guidance, and here is a took some extra time to confirm - but we are thrilled useful site for self-checking: www.globaldro.org/ to finally confirm that our flagship event will once OLYMPIC GAMES. On the Olympic bid front our again be going to Qatar. efforts to secure a place continue at a fast pace. The "QSF have been a huge support to PSA over many bid brochure has been published – presenting the years, hosting smaller Challenger events as well as main features of the squash case in booklet form to their annual World Series event, the Qatar Classic," the Olympic movement. added former world number one Beachill. "We would Arrangements are in hand for like to thank Nabeel Ali Bin Ali and his team for their the production of the continued enthusiasm and vision and we are presentation video that will confident that this year's PSA feature when we meet the World Championship will be a IOC Programme Commission spectacular occasion." at the end of the year. This month sees the WSF, led by England's Nick Matthew is the President Ramachandran, at reigning PSA World Champion the SportAccord Convention after becoming the first in Canada where there will be meetings with the IOC, player for 15 years to plus other opportunities to present our case at a successfully defend the title media round table and in the convention hall too. last November in Rotterdam. WSF AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME GOES TO proposed visit from such esteemed squash MALAWI AND NAMIBIA personalities, it will further boost the sport in the country. "There is a lot of excitement regarding the proposed WSF ambassadors visit and this is a sure way to generate public interest in our sport locally. It will be the first time Namibia gets an opportunity to host WSF officials and we are looking forward to it." Malaysia's record six-time world squash champion WSF Chief Executive Andrew Shelley added: "Squash Nicol David will lead this year's WSF Ambassador in Africa is a success story, and with the wonderful Programme visit to Malawi and Namibia, from 7-13 support from the players and instructors we can play June, accompanied by Egypt's our part, alongside the work of the national former world junior champion federations, in offering a little stimulus with the visit. Mohamed El Shorbagy. For the players to meet the media as well as the The Ambassador Programme squash communities, and for the coaching and international promotional referee fraternities to have the opportunity to learn initiative was launched by the and disseminate information and ideas - that is what World Squash Federation last these visits are all about, and we look forward to this year - taking two of the next Ambassadors visit with great relish." world's leading players, plus ___________________________________________ an international coach and REFEREE REMINDER referee to Latvia to highlight the appeal of Squash to the Last October a notice was sent (see below), public and media in the Baltic country. concerning referee hand signals being phased out and Referee Decision Cards or electronic consoles While the players integrated with the local squash now mandatory for many events and used at others community, providing clinics and exhibition matches where possible. in the capital Riga, coaching and refereeing workshops attracted interested parties both from While more member nations and events are using Latvia and neighbouring countries. cards and thus preventing players targeting individual referees for example, along with PSA and WSA we The 2012 WSF Ambassador would like all event hosts to be prepared so that they Programme will visit have cards available for events. These can be locally Lilongwe, the capital and sourced as long as they conform to the standard size, largest city of Malawi, before specifications and colours, otherwise can be ordered moving onto the Republic of via the WSF website. Namibia capital Windhoek. Here is the direct link to the Referee Decision Card In Lilongwe, the players will page: www.worldsquash.org/ws/?page_id=4938. be joined by South Africa national coach Richard Castle Please give yourselves time for ordered cards to be and WSF Referee Mike delivered and to ensure that the referees are given Collins, also from South Africa, who will conduct two- time to become comfortable using them where they day coaching and refereeing workshops respectively haven’t previously. for attendees who are likely to attend from several Referee Hand Signals To Be Phased Out countries across southern Africa. 14 October 2011. Jimmy Kawaye, President of Squash Malawi, From the start of 2012, the PSA and WISPA World anticipates a variety of benefits from the visit: "It will Tours - along with WSF World Championships - are generate a number of positive developments, such as mandating that referee decision cards and electronic inspiring young players to choosing the sport of consoles are used at major events, rather than hand squash; motivating the senior players into signals. competitive squash; improving the coaching and The events covered initially will be PSA World refereeing skills for the country; increasing Series, WISPA World Series & Gold, and all WSF awareness of the developmental effect the sport of World Championships. While there will be squash; generating interest from the corporate world exceptions – where it is discretionary rather than to provide funding for tournaments; and increasing mandatory, as notified, e.g. qualification rounds – funding from the National Sports Council and Malawi the joint intention is that the use of hand signals Olympic Committee for supporting the youth used by the three referees to communicate their development programme." decisions will be entirely replaced by the standard Namibian Squash Association (NSA) Chairperson size/colour four-spoke referee decision cards and Adrianne Lambert is equally upbeat about the approved electronic systems. forthcoming visit: "The opportunity to host The cards prevent players seeing the decision of ambassadors from the World Squash Federation individual referees, while the electronic console adds (WSF) will be a great honour for the Namibian a new dimension to both the decision and its display Squash Association. Squash in Namibia is for spectator and broadcast audiences on all-glass experiencing unprecedented growth and with the show courts. 2020 VISION – SQUASH’S OLYMPIC BID SQUASH SURGES IN AUSTRALIA BROCHURE IS PUBLISHED In the latest step in our campaign to have Squash included in the programme for the 2020 Olympic Games, the WSF has launched a Bid Brochure. The 48-page full colour publication underscores Squash as an innovative and growing sport with a global reach across all five continents. "I am delighted that this brochure has captured the essence of our sport in a striking way," said WSF President N Ramachandran. A new four million (Australian) dollar squash centre "It highlights our sport as highly dynamic, definitely close to completion in Darwin is yet another example athletic, global, growing and innovative too; and we of squash's resilience and growth in Australia.