MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2016 SPORTS Team Sky chief faces questions over mystery package

LONDON: British Sports minister Tracey Wiggins’ therapeutic use exemptions that a “Jiffy bag” containing triamcinolone ments and interviewing all relevant wit- “great interest” as she believes “it is really Crouch on Sunday said Team Sky boss (TUEs) - which are essentially doctor’s was delivered to Team Sky doctor Richard nesses. Brailsford, British Cycling, Cope, important all sports are completely trans- Dave Brailsford faces “some extremely notes to allow athletes to use medicine Freeman, who now works for British Freeman and Wiggins have strongly parent” about their anti-doping practices. important questions” about a mystery that would otherwise be banned by the Cycling, by the then-GB women’s team denied breaking any anti-doping rules “If we want to continue to be success- package that is the subject of a UK Anti- World Anti-Doping Agency - and the manager and academy coach Simon but nobody has revealed the contents of ful in cycling, and to encourage more Doping investigation. package which was delivered to Team Sky Cope at the final stage of the 2011 the package, despite Brailsford and people to participate in cycling, it is Brailsford is one of six witnesses by a British Cycling employee at the end Dauphine Libere. British Cycling saying it was not triamci- important that the witnesses are trans- appearing before the Culture, Media and of a key pre-Tour de France race in 2011. Shortly after this allegation was nolone, which the former Tour de France parent in the answers they give,” Crouch Sport select committee in Westminster Leaked WADA documents revealed in reported, UKAD announced it was investi- champion would not have been allowed said. “Brailsford will be asked some today as part of its long-running inquiry September that Wiggins was granted gating alleged “wrongdoing” at Team Sky to take at that time. extremely important questions and he into sport’s fight against doping. TUEs to use the powerful corticosteroid and cycling’s national governing body, Speaking to BBC 5 Live’s Sportsweek will have to justify himself and his actions, The committee will ask Brailsford triamcinolone before races in 2011, 2012 with its investigators visiting the pair’s programme, Crouch said she would be and it’s not for me as sports minister to about Olympic champion Bradley and 2013. And in October, it was reported headquarters in Manchester, taking docu- following the committee hearing with say otherwise.” — AFP

Lara Gut back to form with World Cup super-G win

VAL D’ISERE: Lara Gut bounced back in so I lost two months of preparation, in the style from two miserable performances to most important moment.” win a World Cup super-G race yesterday for Weirather was .47 seconds up on Gut her third victory of the season and 21st but then faded. “I always lose a lot of time career win. at the bottom in Val d’Isere, I don’t know The defending World Cup overall cham- why,” said Weirather, who is not totally con- pion had failed to finish Friday’s Alpine tent with her form. “It’s really good this sea- combined race and Saturday’s downhill, son in super-G and GS but my downhill dropping valuable points in her quest to isn’t where I want it to be. I don’t know close the gap on current World Cup leader what to do, really.” of the United States. Gut’s other wins this season were in “Today I loved the fact I could ski the super-G in Lake Louise - where Weirather way I wanted. That’s what I’m taking from also finished second - and in the weekend, I found myself again,” Gut Soelden. The Swiss is a far more clinical said. “The last days I was skiing well, but I competitor, winning 21 of her 38 podium didn’t have the feeling. I’m a racer who real- finishes, compared to six in 28 for ly needs to have a good feeling. If I don’t Weirather. While the 25-year-old Gut has a have that feeling, I can’t push.” career haul of five world and Olympic Gut made no mistake this time, power- medals, the 27-year-old Weirather has ing down the Oreiller-Killy course to beat none. Gut is now five points behind Shiffrin skier Tina Weirather by .13 heading into Tuesday’s GS in the nearby seconds and Italian Elena Curtoni by more Alpine resort of Courchevel. Shiffrin than one second. “From the first gate on it skipped the three speed events here in Val worked the way I wanted. It felt awesome, d’Isere, but returns for Courchevel. it felt fast, that’s the way I am,” Gut said. Italian Nadia Fanchini was fourth, just “You saw it yesterday, it was totally differ- like in Saturday’s downhill, and ent.” Gut said she felt much more focused Frenchwoman Tessa Worley placed fifth for after having in-depth discussions with her a career best result in super-G. team. “I opened my heart to my team and It was another good day for Italian rac- tried to describe what I was feeling. They ers after they placed four in the top six in know me better than I know myself,” she downhill. “We are a strong team” Curtoni said. “They showed me that nothing was said. “It’s nice if we can push each other wrong and this morning I was myself again more and more.” It could have even better on the slope.” as Sofia Goggia missed out on a seventh LAS VEGAS: San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey smiles after being named the most valuable player after the Las Vegas Bowl NCAA It was her sixth podium and fourth win podium of the season. college football game against Houston on Saturday, in Las Vegas. San Diego State won 34-10. — AP in Val d’Isere - and an especially important She was leading Gut after the first two one considering her unexpected slump in time splits, but then lost her balance and form. “Yesterday was a good lesson,” said went out. Ilka Stuhec of Slovenia finished a Gut, who had been reluctant to discuss her disappointing seventh behind Austrian Pumphrey breaks NCAA record poor form on Friday and Saturday. Stephanie Venier. “Sometimes I come in front of the media, Stuhec won the Alpine combined and and other people, and put myself in the the downhill to take her season’s tally to as SDSU wins Las Vegas Bowl position of being misunderstood.” four wins, but this time finished 1.75 sec- Curtoni was celebrating her second onds adrift of Gut. American Laurenne career podium. “I’m very happy,” Curtoni Ross, who missed the downhill with flu, LAS VEGAS: Donnel Pumphrey broke the NCAA his career. Game MVP Taylor Lamb passed for scored a touchdown to help Southern said. “I was injured in the middle of August was off form and finished 14th. — AP career rushing record Saturday in his college 119 yards and a touchdown and ran for 126 Mississippi beat Louisiana-Lafayette. Nick finale, running for 115 yards and a touchdown in yards and a score. Kareem Hunt covered 42 Mullens, the Southern Miss all-time leader in San Diego State’s 34-10 victory over Houston in yards on four straight rushes to propel Toledo (9- yards passing and passing touchdowns, finished the Las Vegas Bowl. Pumphrey passed former 4) down the field after the field goal. Damion his distinguished career by throwing for 346 Wisconsin star Ron Dayne’s mark of 6,397 yards Jones-Moore was stopped on third down. yards and two TDs. One of Mullens’ TD tosses on a 15-yard run early in the fourth quarter, with was a 6-yarder to running back Ito Smith, who teammates swarming him on the sideline, and NEW ORLEANS BOWL also rushed for 138 yards and two scores. wrapping up his career in his Nevada hometown SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 28, However, Mullens’ turnovers helped the Ragin’ with 6,405 yards. “It means the world to me,” LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 21 Cajuns keep the game competitive despite the Pumphrey said as his father wiped away tears Allenzae Staggers set New Orleans Bowl Golden Eagles (7-6) outgaining ULL (6-7) 481 before hugging him. Pumphrey’s senior total of records with 11 catches for 230 yards and also yards to 252. —AP 2,133 yards rushing ranks in the top 10 for a FBS player. Ron Smith returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown, Curtis Anderson caught a Veteran Hopkins knocked 28-yard touchdown pass from Christian Chapman, Juwan Washington ran for a touch- down and John Baron kicked two field goals for out of ring in career finale the Aztecs (11-3). They overcame a 10-0 first- quarter deficit against the Cougars (9-4) for their LOS ANGELES: Bernard Hopkins’s bid to add Shumenov by split decision to become the second consecutive bowl win. a last chapter to a storied ring career ended oldest to unify world titles. Saturday with the 51-year-old former world After a two-year layoff, Hopkins looked all champion spent sprawling out of the ring by of his 51 years in the early going, but he said NEW MEXICO BOWL Joe Smith. In a fight that Hopkins vowed he believed he was on his way to turning the VAL D’ISERE: Switzerland’s Lara Gut, center, winner of an alpine ski, women’s World NEW MEXICO 23, TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO 20 would be his last the 27-year-old Smith-who tide. “I know if I hadn’t made a mess and got- Cup super-G, takes a selfie with second placed Liechtenstein’s Tina Weirather, left, Richard McQuarley had two short touchdown wasn’t born when Hopkins launched his ten knocked out of the ring, I would’ve come and third placed Italy’s Elena Curtoni, in Val d’Isere, France, yesterday. — AP runs as New Mexico won a bowl for the second career in 1988 — ended proceedings with a back like I’m known for and would’ve had my time in a half-century, topping Texas-San series of blows that included one of his pun- chin,” Hopkins said after the result saw his Antonio. The Lobos’ only win since taking the ishing right hands. record slip to 55-8-2 with 32 knockouts. 1961 Aviation Bowl had been a 2007 victory over Hopkins, who sagged against the ropes “I had seen him fall, and I kept hitting him Leinster rout Saints as Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl. Lamar Jordan and then through them as Smith landed a until I saw him go out, and I landed that left ran for 81 yards and threw a 34-yard pass to final left, fell backwards, hitting his head and hook to finish the job,” Smith said. “I hit him Connacht, Leicester win Dameon Gamblin that set up McQuarley’s 1-yard twisting an ankle. When Hopkins was unable with four or five clean shots and they were burst for a 23-13 lead in the fourth quarter. The to make it back into the ring within the good shots on the button.” mandatory 20 seconds referee Jack Reiss Although it wasn’t the ending he wanted, PARIS: Triple champions Leinster handed Sportsgrounds crowd held their breath. Lobos (9-4) gave coach Bob Davie his first bowl win - he lost three times at Notre Dame and also called a halt, making it a technical knockout “The Executioner” said he wouldn’t change Northampton a record European Cup “I just tried to block out the pressure,” for Smith at 53 seconds of the eighth round. his mind about retiring for good. “I promised I defeat in a nine-try, 60-13 rout Saturday as said Carty who was his team’s only fit goal- last year with New Mexico in this bowl. Jarveon Williams ran for 125 yards for the Roadrunners “The fighter got hit with a legal punch, wouldn’t,” he said of returning. “You come to Connacht and Leicester kept their quarter- kicker. “It’s a feeling of pride and relief.” went out of the ring and was injured. It’s over,” that point in life where it is final and I’m hap- final hopes alive with dramatic last-minute Wasps took a losing bonus point and still (6-7). They lost in the first bowl appearance in the program’s six-year history. Reiss said. The result was booed by some of py with my life in retirement. kicks. One week ago, Leinster beat the head Pool 2. But they are locked on 13 the 6,513 at the Forum in Los Angeles, and “I belive that the crowd and the fans know Saints 37-10 in their first Pool 4 meeting a points along with four-time champions AUTONATION CURE BOWL Hopkins insisted he was pushed, not for a fact I went out as a soldier, fighting the game marked by Northampton’s England Toulouse and Connacht with only the punched out of the ring. toughest, baddest opponents. skipper Dyan Hartley being red-carded group winners guaranteed a quarter-final ARKANSAS STATE 31, UCF 13 Justice Hansen threw three touchdown pass- “I’m really still in shock,” said Hopkins, “Joe was a tough, heavy-hitting fighter,” after just six minutes. On Saturday, the spot. The English side were ahead at 7-3 whose resume includes some of the biggest Hopkins added of his hand-picked opponent, English side, already struggling in fourth early in the first half thanks to a try from es to Kendall Sanders to help Arkansas State beat UCF. Hansen completed 12 of 26 passes for names of his generation and an astonishing who improved to 23-1 with 19 knockouts. from bottom spot in the Premiership, were scrum-half Joe Simpson after Nathan 20 straight middleweight title defenses The sometime construction worker from stunned again despite briefly leading in Hughes had been held up short of the line. 205 yards, hookiong up with Sanders for touch- down strikes of 12, 75 and 17 yards. The biggest beginning in 1994. New York said he knew it wasn’t the result Dublin when Ken Pisi scored an 80-metre But a Carty penalty followed by a con- Hopkins became the oldest boxer in histo- many came to see. “I came here to do my job,” breakaway try to go 13-5 up. verted try from Danie Poolman, after a plays of the night came from the Red Wolves’ ry to win a major title when defeated Tavoris Smith said. “This is my coming out party, too. I But the 2009, 2011 and 2012 champions scrum against the head, gave Connacht a special teams. They scored on a blocked punt Cloud in 2013. In 2014 he beat Beibut had to finish him.” — AFP were 29-13 ahead by the interval thanks to 13-7 lead at the interval. and produced two turnovers that were turned ’s second try and further scores Wasps clawed back to 13-13 before into touchdowns. The Red Wolves (8-5) sealed from Luke McGrath and Sean O’Brien. After winger Josh Bassett sprinted over for his the victory when they went up 31-13 on the break, , Sean Cronin, team’s second try for an 18-13 lead with Sanders’ 17-yard scoring reception early in the skipper Isa Nacewa (two) and Rory just seven minutes left. However, Connacht fourth quarter. That touchdown was set up after O’Loughlin added further tries as weren’t finished and Carty’s decision to kick UCF returner Chris Johnson mishandled a punt Northampton were humiliated. Nacewa for the corner allowed the home side to and it was recovered by Logan Moragne at the added 15 points with the boot. set-up a line-out drive which carried Dawai Knights 37. The tone for the special teams was The win moved Leinster to 16 points at over for the tying score. set in the first quarter when Johnston White the top of Pool 4, six ahead of Montpellier Toulouse ran in eight tries in a 54-15 broke through the line to block Caleb Houston’s who face fellow French side Castres yester- rout of Italian whipping boys , who punt and B.J. Edmonds fell on the ball in the end day. Northampton remain bottom with just have conceded 224 points in four games. zone to put the Red Wolves ahead 7-0 in the first four points. Leicester needed a last-minute, long-dis- 4 minutes. The Red Wolves took a 17-0 lead over “We were pretty clinical in taking the tance penalty to defeat Munster 18-16. the Knights (6-7) in the first quarter after a UCF opportunities that we created,” said Leicester, the 2001 and 2002 winners, fumbled kickoff return set up Hansen’s 12-yard Leinster coach . Saints boss Jim were 16-15 down with one minute left after touchdown pass to Hansen. Mallinder, who made 10 changes to his hooker had grabbed the team, added: “We’re out of Europe. We were game’s only try for Munster, the 2006 and CAMELLIA BOWL always going to struggle. We knew that 2008 champions. APPALACHIAN STATE 31, TOLEDO 28 before the game.” But with the clock ticking down, Marcus Cox rushed for 143 yards and a touch- Connacht avenged last week’s 32-17 Munster flanker CJ Stander was penalised down and Michael Rubino kicked the go-ahead loss to Wasps when backrow forward and Welsh fly-half Owen Williams coolly 39-yard field goal to lift Appalachian State past Naulia Dawai barrelled over for the try with slotted the winning penalty from 52 Toledo. The Mountaineers (10-3) won the game 81 minutes on the clock. That made it 18-18 metres. Williams kicked all of Leicester’s in Alabama’s capital city on a late field goal for INGLEWOOD: Bernard Hopkins (left) punches Joe Smith Jr. as Smith goes on to win the with fly-half holding his nerve to points with a perfect six from six as the the second straight year, this one with 5:14 left. WBC International Light Heavyweight title in a ninth round TKO at The Forum on Saturday kick the winning conversion for 20-18 from Tigers avenged last weekend’s 38-0 maul- Cox became the ninth FBS player with four in Inglewood, California. — AFP tight on the line as the Galway ing by Munster at Thomond Park.— AFP 1,000-yard seasons and the 22nd to top 5,000 in