25 Sports Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Rita Jeptoo urges athletes to take responsibility after serving doping ban Athletes must know what medicine they take

ELDORET: Disgraced champion Rita Jeptoo has “as part of a scheme or plan.” CAS said the evidence resumed training after serving a four-year doping ban and included Jeptoo’s long relationship with her doctor, that urged fellow Kenyan athletes to be more vigilant about her EPO use was “consistent with her competition calen- what goes into their bodies so that they avoid suffering the dar”. It added that her conduct was “deceptive and same fate. obstructive” throughout the proceedings. Jeptoo was dis- The 38-year-old was initially suspended for two years qualified from all races she had taken part in since April 17, by Athletics after she tested positive for the banned 2014, including first place finishes at the and blood-booster EPO in 2014. The ban was subsequently . doubled to four years in 2016 after the global governing Jeptoo said the presence of EPO in her system was body of the sport (IAAF) successfully argued that the most probably because she was given a drip in a original punishment was too lenient to the Court of Kenyan hospital after a road accident. She also said her Arbitration for Sport. blood was drawn for “cleaning” then returned back to “I have resumed training. As per the rules, I have under- her body in Italy. gone mandatory dope testing. I hope to make a full come- In 2016 her Italian manager, Federico Rosa, had faced back soon,” Jeptoo, whose ban ended in October 2018, accusations in Kenya of administering banned substances told Reuters in an interview in Eldoret, some 350km north to Jeptoo. But the accusations proved to be unfounded west of Kenya’s capital Nairobi. when CAS ruled that she hid visits to her doctor from her She said athletes caught in anti-doping violations “are coach and manager. either complicit or very ignorant of the rules of the game”. She now admits: “I should have known better.” Rosa cut “We were naive then and had very little knowledge on ties with Jeptoo after she failed the doping test. Jeptoo lost matters doping,” she said. several lucrative sponsorship deals and a jackpot in one “Athletes must know what medicine they take because series of competitions. they are ultimately responsible for what goes in their body. “I was hurting, hiding my tears for the sake of my son.” They cannot blame anybody for their actions and inac- she said. “My manager, my husband disowned me. Athletes tions.” Kenya, a powerhouse in long-distance running, has called a press conference to disown me. Had it not been had a number of athletes banned in recent years after they for my mental strength, I would have died.” She blamed failed drugs tests. “jealous people around me” for her troubles, adding that In 2016 CAS said it was obvious Jeptoo had used EPO she has now forgiven her detractors. — Reuters File photo shows Rita Jeptoo of Kenya celebrates after winning the title.

Qatar lends China team 2,000 table tennis balls

MUMBAI: China’s table tennis federation thanked its Qatari counterpart yesterday for providing training facilities and equipment, including 2,000 balls, to its national team, who are training in Doha to avoid the coronavirus outbreak at home. More than 42,000 people have been infected by the flu-like virus in mainland China, with authorities confirming more than 1,000 deaths. Almost 30 mem- bers of the Chinese squad have been training at Doha’s Aspire Academy Arena since the conclusion of the German Open in Magdeburg earlier this month. With several countries imposing travel bans due to Qatar Police team with the cup. Dar Kulaib team of Bahrain claimed second place. the outbreak, the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) sought a training facility for its players away for Sport Dr Saqeer Al-Mulla, Deputy from home. It received invitations from Germany, Qatar Police Chairman of the organizing Austria and Japan among others but chose Doha as Committee Mohammad Al-Nisif and several of their top players are set to participate in the other officials. Qatar Open from March 3-8. crowned “We didn’t expect that they could prepare the ven- AL-SALEEM AMONG THE BEST ue, tables and facilities for us within such a short peri- Gulf Clubs Cups for best skills in the tournament od of time,” CTTA President Liu Guoliang said in a were handed, as the best setter was statement released by the Internatioal Table Tennis champions Mahmoud Hussan from Dar Kulaib, best Federation. position 2 player Yosuf Aghalf from “The tables that we are using for training are those Qatar Police, best position 3 Othman that will be used at the Qatar Open. “QTTA has even given us all 2,000 that they had in storage for us to By Abdellatif Sharaa Adelwahid from Qatar, best second position 3 player Amer Al-Salem from train. It might be a common situation in China but it’s very heart-warming, especially during this particular KUWAIT: Qatar’s Police club won the Kuwait, best position 4 player Jo Nitto period and we really appreciate all this help from our 37th Gulf Clubs Volleyball Championship from Police, best second position 4 international friends.” that concluded on Monday evening by player Mohammad Yaqoub from Dar Asian powerhouse China has won 28 out of 32 defeating Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal Club 3- Kulaib and the best Libro Hussein golds awarded since the sport became an Olympic 0 in the fifth and final round with the Abdallah from Dar Kulaib and the best sport in 1988 and QTTA chief Khalil Al-Mohannadi scores of (25-19, 25-23, 25-21). all round player Walter Enriki from said he wanted to make sure the world’s best would be Kuwait team ended in third place after Qatar Police. playing at the Qatar event. losing to Dar Kulaib of Bahrain 3-0 dur- “When I heard about the coronavirus in China, our ing the final match, and the scores were ALL ARE WINNERS worry was that the Chinese national team would not (14-25, 22-25, 21-25), as Dar Kulaib took Deputy Chairman of the Higher be able to play at the Qatar Open,” he said. “For me it second place. Organizing Committee (HOC), and Kuwait volleyball team took the third spot. is not the Qatar Open and not the World Qatar’s Police collected 15 points from Director General of Volleyball in Kuwait Championships without China.” — Reuters 5 wins, and was crowned for the first Club Mohammad Al-Nisif said the time as Gulf Clubs Champion. Championship was successful technically ence in experience and playing with oth- teams and gained more experience, and Ten clubs were declared champions as Kuwait hosted all GCC countries, er teams deprived us from that”. promised fans better levels and results in since the championship started in 1982. adding all were winners by bringing all He said “hosts always have ambition coming events. Bahrain’s Al-Muharraq Club won the Gulf countries together because sports to compete for the title, but our loss to He added, “we are satisfied with third China, Hong Kong championship 10 times, Kuwait’s Al- gather us, and we congratulate the Qatar Police put that hope aside early, and our place, as we faced tough competitors in Qadisiya 7 times, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahly Police team for winning the title with achievement is a true achievement that a tournament that has high technical lev- 5 times, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal 4 times, outstanding performance and Dar Kulaib we should utilize in the future, and work el, although we suffered many injuries to miss Asian Qatar’s Al-Rayan 3 times, Bahrain’s Al- in second place, Kuwait in third. He on preparing upcoming players like during preparations. Najma 3 times, while Qatar’s Al-Araby, added “Kuwait succeeded in hosting the Abdelaziz Najim and Athby Malek. team event due Bahrain’s Al-Naser, UAE’s Al-Jazeera and championship during a short period, and Baleid was satisfied relatively with WE EXPECTED TO WIN Dar Khulaib won it one each. we thank all working committees, partic- Kuwait’s performance despite the differ- Police Club coach Damian Aredondo to coronavirus Chairman of the GCC volleyball ularly the media for its efforts to present ence in experience which affected the said his players were confident during organizing committee handed the cup the competition. team all during the tournament”. the championship that won of high stan- to Qatar’s Police Club captain in the dard. He said “we had tough competition MUMBAI: China and Hong Kong have had to withdraw presence of Deputy President of RELATIVELY SATISFIED TOUGH COMPETITORS during the 10 days with fierce players. from this week’s Badminton Asia Team Championships in International and Asian Volleyball Kuwait’s coach Khalid Baleid said Kuwait Club player Sultan Khalaf said We expected to win the first title in our Manila due to the coronavirus outbreak, organisers said federations, Essa Hamza, Kuwait Club “third place is an achievement, we are he, as well as his teammates, benefited history, though we had to work very hard yesterday. More than 42,000 people have been infected Director General of Public Authority looking for a better result but the differ- from playing against the strongest Gulf for it, and we succeeded. by the flu-like virus in mainland China, with authorities confirming more than 1,000 deaths. The Philippines has temporarily banned all travellers from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan due to the 1200 meters, the horse “Ezzallah” of outbreak, leaving organisers scrambling to try to arrange Flash Memory Al-Mulla stable and ridden by Jockey visas for players and officials for the Feb. 11-16 event. Esso won the cup in 1.15.2 minutes. “However, the decision to impose the 14 days quaran- While the horse “Daham” of Al- tine period for all travellers coming from China, Hong Kong wins horse Mutairi, ridden by Jockey Abdallah Al- and Macau has to be respected in view of the health and Zarhan won the Arab Horse Center Cup safety of the Philippines government for its people,” racing cup for the original Arab horses of local Badminton Asia said in a statement. production won the race in 2.4.2 min- “It is in this respect that the above event will not see utes in the fourth run for 1,400 meters. the teams from China and Hong Kong competing. The KUWAIT: The Horse “Flash Memory” of In the third run for the cup present- India’s Women Team withdrawal was owing to concerns Al-Mutairi stable and ridden by Jockey ed by the Arab Horse Center for Mixed shown by the parents and players.” Faisal Al-Farmawi won the cup of Late Arab-Egyptian horses for 1,600 India will, however, send its men’s team after they Sheikh Abdallah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah meters, the horse “Sari Al-Adiyat”, won agreed to travel to Manila. during the sixth run of the mixed horses the Al-Thafiri stable, ridden by Jockey The tournament will lose much of its sheen with the for 2,600 meters, within the competitions Faisal Al-Farmawi won first place in withdrawal of China, which has been the dominant force in of the 15th Gathering of Horse Racing at 2.7.1 minutes. badminton for decades. The coronavirus epidemic has had the Hunting and Equestrian Club in 2 In the first run for beginners for 1,600 a major impact on the sports calendar in Asia. minutes 54 seconds. Sheikh Abdallah meters, the horse “Regent” for Al- The outbreak has seen Olympic qualifying tourna- Khalid Fahad Al-Ahmad, Secretary Suroor Club, ridden by Jockey Raafat, ments for boxing, basketball and women’s soccer post- General and Head of the Higher won first place in 1.43.3 minutes, while poned, rescheduled or moved from China, while bad- Committee for horse racing Sheikh the horse “Al-Ghali Nasser” by “Nayef minton, motor sports, hockey and tennis events have Sabah Fahad Al-Nasser handed the win- Al-Dabous Sons”, ridden by Jockey also been affected. The world indoor athletics champi- ner’s cup to Al-Mutairi stable. Zarati won first place of the second run onships, which were due to be held in Nanjing from In the fifth run of mixed horses for for second class horse for 1,400 meters. March 15-18, was arguably the biggest event to be affected by the outbreak. — Reuters