6 Bidders Make List for 2022 Olympics
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SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 , 2013 Photo of the day Double punishment for doping cheats JOHANNESBURG: Global anti-doping body threatening strict punishment, it has been laud- WADA passed far-reaching new rules against ed for “proportionality”-revising punishment to the use of banned performance-enhancers yes- fit the crime in cases like the use of cannabis. terday that doubles punishment for cheats as But the International Association of Athletics the sporting world still reels from cyclist Lance Federations (IAAF) has hit out at this flexibility, Armstrong’s scandal. World sports leaders saying the new rules leave athletes “too many approved rules that ban first-time intentional means of escape”. Four-year sanctions can be dopers from competitive sport for up to four reduced to two if a caught doper denies the years-automatic Olympics disqualification- intention to have used a banned substance-they though some say the measures aren’t tough don’t even have to prove it. Admitting to cheat- enough.”The board... unanimously agreed to ing can also reduce the sentence, or if the ath- approve and to endorse the code,” said outgo- lete’s support personnel take the blame. All this ing World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) presi- will “make cases more procedurally complicat- dent John Fahey at a meeting in Johannesburg. ed, time-consuming and costly than they ought Around 1,000 delegates from the sporting to be,” according to the IAAF. world applauded at the announcement after Others have said a four-year ban can torpedo two years of deliberation. The revised World an athlete’s career, and that such punishment is Anti-Doping Code follows extensive reevalua- not fair for a first transgression. But WADA pres- tion, in a period during which the discovery of ident Fahey has strongly supported the new fallen Tour de France champion Armstrong’s rules on the day the organization elects a new extensive doping highlighted the tough battle leader. “It is firm, but it is fair,” he told delegates. for clean competition. Athletes and sports bod- The new code is the fourth draft after 300 sub- ies had called for stricter punishment for cul- missions that culminated in 4,000 suggested prits, though doping controls struggle to catch changes, ranging from substance to wording. It them. Less than one percent of checks give an gives WADA more teeth to police signatories’ abnormal result, though tests have jumped compliance. from 150,000 a year to 250,000 since WADA was Where previously it could only flag non-com- created in 1999. pliance, it can now order doping controls itself Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de and investigate when countries neglect to probe France titles after using banned blood-boosting doping. Up to now, 176 countries have ratified drug EPO, and global cycling union UCI will the UNESCO convention that contains the code. launch an inquiry early next year to clean up the It becomes law in every country that ratifies it. sport. The third World Anti-Doping Code gov- “That is the fastest and most successful conven- erns competitive sports from athletics to foot- tion in UNESCO’s history,” said WADA’s president ball to cycling, and has been backed by power- Fahey earlier. Governments and sports federa- ful sporting bodies like the International tions together constitute WADA’s foundation Olympic Committee (IOC), world football’s gov- board. They have one year to implement the erning body FIFA, and governments. While code before it takes effect. — AFP Wales aim to turn tide against Pumas CARDIFF: Wales will attempt to halt their stag- have liked in the autumns. Perhaps now is the David Coulthard of Scotland performs in a Red Bull Racing Formula One car on the heli- gering 11-game streak without a win in an end- time to kick on,” the New Zealander added. pad of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on October 30, 2013. of-year Test when they face Argentina at Wales have made five changes, including one Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium today. Wales are positional switch, to the side beaten by the currently enjoying their most successful era Springboks last week. Rhodri Jones, Justin since the glory days of the 1970s, having won Tipuric and new cap Cory Allen are promoted 6 bidders make list three Six Nations titles and reached a World with Lions trio Adam Jones, Dan Lydiate and Cup semi-final in the space of six years. Jonathan Davies all out through injury. Add to that the presence in their side of 10 Allen, 20, shone for Wales Sevens but players in the British and Irish Lions’ decisive remains an unknown quantity despite being for 2022 Olympics third Test win over Australia in July, as well as asked to fill the void left at Cardiff Blues by the half the combined outfit’s management team, departure of Jamie Roberts and he now and home expectations are unsurprisingly high replaces another Lion in Davies. “We’re not sure Five European venues go up against Beijing this weekend. Yet Welsh rugby is characterized what to expect from Cory but sometimes you by fluctuating fortunes that rise and fall like the have throw young guys into the deep end and BERLIN: Six cities, including former Summer the potential hosts will stage some events in valleys of the nation and despite their Six see what happens,” said Gatland. “With Games hosts Beijing and Stockholm, have other areas to accommodate the wide range Nations success, there is something about this Jonathan injured we’re looking for some cover launched bids to host the 2022 Winter of sports and disciplines. While it remains time of year that sees the fortunes of the and it’s a chance for a young guy to develop,” Olympics, the International Olympic too early to pinpoint any front-runners, the national side fall as predictably as the leaves the Lions head coach added. Committee (IOC) said yesterday. Norway capi- fact that Asia is hosting the 2018 Winter from the trees. Wales captain Sam Warburton starts at tal Oslo, which hosted the 1952 Winter Olympics in South Korea’s Pyeongchang Last week’s 24-15 defeat by South Africa blindside flanker, allowing for the return of Olympics, is also among those in the running, and then the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, means Wales have not won on home soil at this Justin Tipuric in the same back-row, along with along with Krakow in Poland, Kazakhstan’s leaves Beijing facing an uphill battle from time of year since 2009 when they beat the No8 Toby Faletau, that started the 30-3 Six Almaty and Ukraine’s Lviv. Beijing hosted the the outset. Pumas 33-16 at the Millennium Stadium. Now Nations title-winning rout of England in March. 2008 Olympics and Stockholm staged the With Munich’s decision last week not to they face the same opponents four years later Dan Biggar also starts ahead of Rhys Priestland. Games in 1912. The deadline for submissions bid, Stockholm and Oslo represent tradi- trying to reverse the trend, having gone down Prop Gethin Jenkins wins his 100th Wales cap passed on Thursday. “I am delighted that six tional European winter nations, while 26-12 to Argentina in Cardiff just over 12 however there will be concerns at the scrum cities are bidding to host the 2022 Olympic Krakow, Lviv and Almaty, who also bid for months ago. “Our focus is always the Six where Rhodri Jones starts his first competitive Winter Games,” IOC President Thomas Bach the 2014 Olympics, are bidding to put their Nations, that is our bread and butter, so some- Test at tight-head and against one of the most said in a statement. name on the global winter sports map. The times we have gone into the (northern hemi- renowned scrums in world rugby.New Pumas “These cities and their supporters clearly IOC will make a shortlist in July before elect- sphere) autumn looking to blood a few players coach Daniel Hourcade, who made four and try a few combinations,” said Wales coach changes from the side beaten 31-12 by England understand the benefits that hosting the ing the winning bid in 2015. Only three Warren Gatland. at Twickenham last weekend, said: “This is only Games can have and the long-lasting legacy cities bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, “It is not a competition but we are conscious my second game and we are getting more con- that a Games can bring to a region.” The while Russia’s Sochi will stage the 2014 edi- that we have not done as well as we would fident with each other as a group.—AFP bids are submitted by one city but several of tion in February. — Reuters.