Sports Wednesday, September 9, 2020 15 Warholm misses out on 400m hurdles world record Sport Integrity “We are starting to get used to it, this is our third meet and I think we’re very good at Week kicks off doing the right decisions and being smart considering the QNA virus,” he said. “I have a plan Geneva about going to Rome for the Diamond League (on Septem- The first edition of the Sport ber 17) but time will show.” Integrity Week kicked off on Elsewhere in Ostrava, Monday with the participation two-time Olympic triple jump of 100 speakers representing champion Christian Taylor five continents. cleared a world-leading 17.46 The initiative proposed Dafne Schippers of Netherlands metres in his final jump, beat- and organised by the Sport In- after winning the women’s 150m. ing Fabrice Zango Hugues by tegrity Global Alliance (SIGA), Faith Kipyegon of Kenya celebrates after winning the women’s 1500m four centimetres. the worlds largest sport integ- event in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on Tuesday. (AFP) course, but it’s part of the game.” In men’s pole vault, Ernest rity coalition, headquartered But he admitted he had to John Obiena from the Philip- in Geneva. Golden Spike meet in the But the two-time world adjust his pace in the final turn pines stole the show from the The Sport Integrity Week International Center for Sports Czech city of Ostrava. champion flagged comingof the race. “There is nothing likes of Renaud Lavillenie, agenda includes 50 digital Security (ICSS) chairman and Karsten Warholm of Norway The 24-year-old is in elec- through for victory at the line, dramatic about it, I needed to Sam Kendricks and Thiago events, including discussion Sport Integrity Global Alliance competes to win the men’s 400m tric form and in Stockholm clocking 47.62sec. do a switch and maybe that Braz, taking the honours for sessions (webinars). The first (SIGA) vice-chairman Mohammed hurdles of the IAAF Golden Spike two weeks ago came within “It’s always nice to get a was what cost me a good time 5.74 metres. edition of the global initiative bin Hanzab delivered an opening 2020 Athletics meeting in Ostrava, 0.09 seconds of Kevin Young’s win,” the 24-year-old Norwe- today,” said Warholm. Britain’s Laura Muir will be held on a digital platform speech at the first edition of the Czech Republic, on Tuesday. (AFP) long-standing world record gian told reporters. “Today I “Everything that ruins the clocked 1min 58.84sec on 800 that includes live broadcasts Sport Integrity Week. of 46.78sec which the Ameri- was a bit surprised by the time rhythm is bad for the sake of metres for the world’s second and interactive discussions on AFP can set at the 1992 Barcelona to be honest, I actually thought time of course.” best time of the season. SIGAs YouTube channel. SIGA CEO Emanuel Mac- Ostrava (Czech Republic) Olympics. it was faster.” Warholm only agreed to And Kenyan reigning The event aims to promote edo de Medeiros in a typical A false start did not help “But this is sport and... run at Ostrava last week after Olympic champion Faith the adoption and implemen- tub-thumping address said Norway’s Karsten War- matters in Ostrava, where you’ve got to take whatever weighing carefully the pros Kipyegon ran 1,500 metres in tation of the highest integ- the sports and their stakehold- holm failed in his bid to set a Warholm blasted off to his you get,” Warholm said, refus- and cons of competing in the 3min 59.05sec, becoming the rity standards at all levels and ers must “stand united and new world record in the men’s usual fast start at the second ing to blame the false start. eastern Czech steel hub during second woman this year to go across all areas of sport. strong in the resolve to over- 400m hurdles at Tuesday’s time of calling. “You don’t want this of the coronavirus pandemic. under four minutes. It will bring together all come this crisis”. He said that relevant key stakeholders, sports “must feel the passion senior industry leaders and the catalyst of socio-economic top experts, and provide a progression. There is no sec- Dabo and Busby after Doha privileged opportunity to ond chance. Sport owns the How a random act of kindness

changed the lives of two athletes raise global awareness about problems but it must also own the most critical challenges the solutions.” facing sport and the wider One of this solutions he Worldathletics.org In November 2019, Dabo virus exploded in Aruba. He industry, facilitate collective encouraged sports to use is and Busby flew to Monaco was later diagnosed with bi- action and pave the way to SIGAs standard independent raima Dabo thought where the Bissau-Guinean polar depression and spent the necessary reforms at the ratings valuations (SIRVs) that he did the obvious received the International more than three months in a center of SIGAs mission. have been launched to give Bwhen he stopped to Fair Play Award at the World clinic for treatment. In his opening speech, sports an integrity audit and help Jonathan Busby on the Athletics Awards. “I am just doing my best SIGA chairman Franco Frat- valuation as governing bodies tracks a year ago in Doha. right now to keep positive. I tini hailed the organization of seek, in many cases, to regain It was the opening heat Busby after Doha am living at a friend’s house such unprecedent event in the or retain trust in their sports. of the men’s 5000m at the If Dabo has been living the right now, just trying to get world which will address over The sessions and discus- World Athletics Champion- dream since Doha, the man myself back together.” five day fighting corruption sions of the Sport Integrity ships Doha 2019. The race he helped has been living the and how to protect integrity. Week comprises five axes: had been won by Ethiopia’s complete opposite. Friendship for life He noted that SIGA has sports governance anti-cor- Selemon Barega and every For Busby, the crippling Busby and Dabo have be- succeeded in organising this ruption and international runner had crossed the line pain he experienced that day come fast friends, even with event across all continents of cooperation, financial integ- finish line except Dabo, rep- on the track heralded a chal- the distance and language the world despite the reper- rity transparency and sustain- resenting Guinea-Bissau, and lenging period to come. barrier between them. Busby cussions of the coronavirus ability, integrity and betting Jonathan Busby from Aruba. “In Doha it was a combi- speaks no Portuguese and pandemic, with wide partici- in sports, developing youth Dabo was overtaking nation of dehydration plus Dabo no English, so how pation from the public and capabilities and protecting Busby when he observed that injury,” says Busby. When he have they managed to stay in private sectors, civil society children in sports, managing the Aruban was in real pain returned home, he continued touch? organisations and leading per- sports media and technology. and wasn’t going to make it, to race with disappointing re- “I downloaded a transla- sonalities in the world. The launch of the first edi- so he stopped to help. sults. tor on my phone and when Over the coming days, tion the Sport Integrity Week “This was someone who “After Doha I participated he says something I put it in Frattini, the event will witness witnessed wide participation needed help,” says Dabo in in four races but I didn’t per- there, so the language has sessions with the participation from different countries of Portuguese, “so I went to help, form optimal. Normally I win never been a barrier,” says of jurists, public prosecutors, the world, especially from the nothing more. It was normal.” races in the Caribbean but Busby. “From the moment specialists in all sectors, offi- youth segment, as registration Except the world disa- people started beating me, I we had in Doha, Jonathan is cials and civil society organiza- to participate and attend the greed with Dabo; it was not got tired easily and the races like a brother,” says Dabo. tions, all of whom will discuss, sessions in the Webinar sys- an entirely ordinary thing to were not like how it used to “The Covid situation add- under the umbrella of SIGA, tem remained open even min- sacrifice one’s race to help a go. So I had to take a break.” ed stress to Jonathan’s life but organised crimes that affect utes before the official opening rival over the finish line. The The 34-year-old long dis- we have talked about it and sport, and the manipulation of of the event. Many partici- pair received a standing ova- tance runner says he’s been slowly things are getting bet- match results. pants from the Qatar appeared tion as they crossed the finish trying to pinpoint the exact ter and now I am not so wor- Despite all the obstacles, to be among the participants. line together at the Khalifa problem with little success. ried. I hope the worst is over. we are now on a platform The activities of the sec- International Stadium in “I’ve had x-rays on my hip “I was really looking for- through which we can ex- ond day of the event will Doha, but that was nothing Braima Suncar Dabo (right) helps Jonathan Busby of Aruba to and my back, but they saw ward to visiting him in April change views and talk about continue tomorrow, with compared to what followed. the finish of the their heat in the 5000m during the IAAF World nothing. I am still very stiff when Aruba’s government atypical crimes and find solu- Chairman of the Interna- That singular act of rare Athletics Championships Doha 2019 at the Khalifa International right now in my abductors.” sent me an invitation but tions to breaches of the law tional Center for Sports Se- sporting kindness hit head- Stadium. (TNN file photo) He received a lot of atten- with all of Covid -19 going on and the global sports mafia curity and Vice-Chairman lines all over the world. The tion after Doha, but all of it in the world, it was not pos- targeting young athletes and of the Sport Integrity Global story appeared on TV, news- Doha, something he did not it was normal. It is only when wasn’t positive. sible to travel to Aruba. Jona- their victims from small clubs Alliance (SIGA), Moham- papers and was lauded on- quite understand. I returned to Portugal that “At first I could see very than is a very nice guy, very in particular, he added. med bin Hanzab, delivering line and on social media net- “What happened in my friends helped me under- positive messages from humble, so it’s a friendship The discussions during an opening speech. works. A clip of the moment life after that was like a stand why it was such a big around the world. But then I for life.” the event will also address The Qatari presence is also has, to date, had more than nightmare,” says the 27-year- deal. saw some negative messages Athletics will be back racism, which is one of the highlighted in the participation seven million views across old with a big laugh. “When “After that, I felt grati- that affected me. I was strug- in action in Doha soon this misfortunes of football, and of CEO of Qatar Stars League World Athletics’ platforms. I saw the attention that peo- tude that people showed me gling with them.” month when the Suhaim will seek to strengthen coop- and Vice Chairman of the FIFA Dabo was hailed for great ple gave me in Doha, at first love and cared about me and To make things worse, Bin Hamad Stadium hosts eration between the public Referees Committee, Hani sportsmanship and became I was afraid. I did not under- I felt blessed and I am very Busby lost two jobs and his the Wanda Doha Diamond and private sectors and inter- Ballan, at a panel discussion the subject of media frenzy in stand why because I thought thankful to everyone.” home, and then the corona- League on September 25. national community organi- on the Impact of COVID-19 on zations, he noted. the integrity in sports. out-gun Nuggets; Celtics push NBA champion to brink

AFP quarter that featured nine eight assists for Denver and the opening period with a 25- points, four rebounds and Miami lead changes. It was tied up Murray scored 14. 11 lead. seven assists, Jayson Tatum at 101-101 with less than five There was no suspense The Raptors never recov- delivered 18 points and 10 re- Paul George scored 32 points minutes remaining and the in the ’ 111-89 ered from the early body blow. bounds, and re- and the Los Angeles Clippers Clippers closed it out with a blowout victory over the To- The Celtics’ 37 points in serve Brad Wanamaker scored turned up the heat defensively 12-6 scoring run. ronto Raptors, which pushed the second quarter were two 15 apiece and Marcus Smart Monday in a 113-107 victory “The game came down to the reigning NBA champions more than the Raptors man- chipped in 12 for the Celtics. over the for one of the two teams was going to the brink of elimination in aged in all of the first half. Boston coach Brad Stevens a 2-1 lead in the NBA Western to play some defense,” Clip- the Eastern Conference semi- They trailed 62-35 at half- kept his starters in for much of Conference semi-finals. pers coach said. finals. time, and despite a notice- the fourth quarter, comfort- Kawhi Leonard added “For three and a half quar- The Celtics, who had lost able uptick of energy to start ably keeping the lead in dou- 23 points, 14 rebounds and ters both teams were basically two straight as the Raptors the third, there was too much ble digits. six assists for the Clippers, scoring and the last six min- clawed their way back into the ground to make up. Playoff Results coming up big on both ends utes it was our defense.” best-of-seven series, took a “The job isn’t done,” said Eastern Conference: Semi- of the floor as Los Angeles Leonard contributed a 3-2 lead and can clinch a place Jaylen Brown, who led all scor- finals:Boston Celtics 111 powered to the finish in the breathtaking block, reaching in the conference finals with a ers with 27 points. He grabbed Toronto Raptors 89 (Boston see-saw battle. to deny Jamal Murray’s dunk win on Wednesday. six rebounds and made three lead series 3-2) Denver, blown out in game attempt with his fingertips at They dominated defen- of Boston’s five steals. “We’ve Western Conference: Semi- Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket during the one but coming off a convinc- the rim with 1:47 left to play. sively to hold the Raptors to got to come out and play with finals:L A Clippers 113 Denver second quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Three of the ing game-two victory, led 78- Nikola Jokic scored 32 20 percent shooting in the the same intensity.” Nuggets 107 (LA Clippers lead Western Conference 2nd Round NBA Playoffs on Tuesday. (Getty/AFP) 68 midway through a third points with 12 rebounds and first quarter, emerging from added 21 series 2-1).