SPORTS THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014

McLaren, Red Bull in legal dispute over aero expert

LONDON: McLaren consulted their lawyers yester- They did not say when his leave would formally Tuesday that gave him enough mileage to qualify to be learning the car and the track quite well,” day after champions Red Bull end. Prodromou was McLaren’s head of aerody- for a super licence. said Russell. announced the appointment of an aerodynamics namics until 2006, having joined that team in The 18-year-old reserve, being prepared by Sirotkin’s compatriot Daniil Kvyat, the 19-year- expert their rivals said was contracted to them. 1991, when he followed to Red Bull. Sauber for a possible Formula One future, did old who races for Toro Rosso, was slowest on the Red Bull said Dan Fallows has been appointed McLaren have changed their leadership since 300km and 76 laps - more than a race distance - of timesheets in 1:40.452 with Sunday’s runner-up head of aerodynamics, replacing McLaren-bound Fallows agreed to join, with retaking the Sakhir circuit that hosted the country’s grand Nico Rosberg quickest for dominant Mercedes in Peter Prodromou who is now on ‘gardening leave’. overall control and Eric Boullier appointed racing prix on Sunday. He took it in his stride, posting the 1:35.697 and completing 121 laps. The statement drew a swift response from McLaren, director in place of departed principal Martin eighth fastest time of the 11 drivers present - and Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg was second fastest who announced at their car launch in January that Whitmarsh. best of those who do not have a race seat - with a for Force India with Ferrari’s third Fallows had joined along with Prodromou. The team started the season with a second and time of one minute 39.023 seconds, but he also and Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen fourth in a “Dan Fallows has a legally binding contract with third place in Australia for Danish rookie Kevin felt the pinch. “On my fast lap in the morning I McLaren. McLaren, and the matter is now in the hands of our Magnussen and , pending an appeal made a few mistakes, so I probably lost a second,” McLaren had originally planned for Britain’s lawyers,” said a spokesman for the Woking team. by Red Bull who had Australian said Sirotkin in a team statement. and Belgian to test Red Bull said Fallows had left them last year after disqualified. Red Bull have won the last four con- “In the afternoon we had some difficulties with on Tuesday and Wednesday but decided after working as aerodynamics team leader but had structors’ and drivers’ championships, with my shoes. They were too small, so it was pretty Sunday’s race to keep Magnussen in the car in the returned and was starting his new job with immedi- triumphant in the last nine races painful when I was braking. When we changed the interest of continuity. Both the Dane and team ate effect. of 2013, but have started the season chasing dom- shoes, it was still not the best and difficult to mate Jenson Button failed to finish Sunday’s race. McLaren announced last October that inant Mercedes. McLaren failed to finish on the drive.” Lotus, who have yet to score a point in three races Prodromou would be joining them but Red Bull, podium last year. Sauber’s test engineer Paul Russell said the and did little testing pre-season, suffered more constructors’ champions for the past four years, Meanwhile, Russian teenager Sergey Sirotkin driver had done well in a car he had never driven problems with the Renault power unit and were determined to hold the much sought-after needed bigger shoes as he stepped up for a before on an unfamiliar layout. “He handled it pret- Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado managed only 16 Briton to his contract. Formula One test with Sauber in Bahrain on ty well. The lap times were very good. He seemed laps. — Reuters Pistorius forced to look at ‘exploded’ head of girlfriend

PRETORIA: A South African prosecutor forced Oscar Pistorius yesterday to look at a forensic photograph of the head of his girl- friend Reeva Steenkamp after it was destroyed by a gunshot fired by the Olympic and Paralympic track star. In a dramatic opening to his cross-exam- ination of Pistorius, prosecutor Gerrie Nel made him say that he had killed Steenkamp then later confronted him with the photo- graph showing the side and back of her skull matted with blood and brains. “Take responsibility for what you have done,” Nel said, drawing gasps from the public gallery and causing Pistorius to bury LONDON: Former marathon world record holder Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie, aged 40, his head in his hands in the witness stand, who will be the pacemaker for the elite male runners at the London Marathon, poses for rock from side to side and weep. photographers. The London marathon takes place on Sunday. — AP The double amputee sprinter, once revered across the world for his triumph over adversity, faces life in prison if convict- Gebrselassie worried ed in the Pretoria High Court of the murder of Steenkamp, a 29-year-old law graduate and model. about athletics future PRETORIA: State prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, looks on while cross-examining South African Olympic and His defence hinges on his contention Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius during his trial at the North Gauteng High Court. — AFP that he though he was firing at an intruder when he shot Steenkamp through a toilet LONDON: Surveying the state of the sport he think nobody cares about athletics, who is door in his luxury Pretoria home on dominated for so many years, running great going to sponsor you?” NBK FIFA World Cup VISA Prepaid Card February 14 - Valentine’s Day - 2013. Haile Gebrselassie sees a bleak future. Despite It’s not all about cash, though. Gebrselassie Nel, renowned as one of South Africa’s the super-star status of Usain Bolt, Gebrselassie is also worried that a lack of long-distance brings 2014 World Cup excitement toughest state attorneys, sought to show is deeply concerned about the shortage of events is making athletes aim too early for the 27-year-old was a hot-headed character elite-level events with true global appeal for marathons, which could lead to health ramifi- fans and, just as importantly, sponsors. cations. Fellow Ethiopian Tsegaye Mekonnen who loved to play with guns. KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) presents will enjoy the thrill of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, get- “Athletics has to change a little bit, bring in made his marathon debut in January in Dubai He asked Pistorius, well-known as a the new FIFA World Cup(tm) VISA Prepaid Card in ting one chance to enter draws for every cumula- new ideas, new concepts - otherwise it’s going at just 18 - and won. weapons enthusiast, if he knew what a Kuwait bringing the 2014 FIFA World Cup excite- tive KD 20 spent locally using the card on all pur- to be a just a bit boring to watch,” Gebrselassie “When I heard that age I was very shocked,” “zombie stopper” was, to which the defen- ment to its enthusiastic football customers. NBK is chases. The cardholders can win one of 32 trips for said yesterday. “I don’t know how many people Gebrselassie said. “Can he win again? There’s a dant answered no. the official non-host retail banking partner of the two to attend one of the World Cup matches in are interested in just watching running for two question mark. He’s killing his body; we are 2014 FIFA World Cup(tm) in Kuwait, in association Brazil this year including the final match in associa- After a brief adjournment, the court hours - maybe soccer yes, but running we have breaking his bones by sending him in the with Visa, the official FIFA partner. tion with Visa. NBK FIFA World Cup VISA Prepaid then viewed video footage broadcast to upgrade the situation ... attract more of an wrong competition. The new NBK FIFA World Cup VISA Prepaid Card Cardholders can also triple their chances to win for before the trial by Britain’s Sky News of audience (and give) what they like.” “It’s why the youngsters have to have a is the better alternative to cash for making pur- every cumulative KD 20 spent outside Kuwait or on Pistorius firing a .50 calibre handgun at a While the awe-inspiring performances pro- track, 10K (events), half marathons. For those chases, and is safe to use for online shopping. The international websites. watermelon at a shooting range. duced by Bolt at the last two Olympics have things we have to work hard with the IAAF.” card is accepted locally and worldwide, easy to use, NBK Cards provide an array of benefits that As the melon disintegrates, Pistorius given a major boost to the sport, Gebrselassie Gebrselassie is in London to pace a world- re-loadable and provides NBK customers with a cater to your lifestyle needs, offering special servic- says off-camera: “It’s a lot softer than brains. thinks the Jamaican’s mass-appeal could be record attempt in the marathon on Sunday, variety of features and exclusive benefits that es locally and globally, so that customers can enjoy But (bleep) it’s like a zombie stopper.” Nel masking deeper-lying issues that are not been and Mekonnen is among the strong field, include free travel insurance coverage up to USD convenience and peace of mind whether they’re in then pushed the track star, saying he had addressed. which also includes world record-holder 100,000. Kuwait or abroad. NBK Cards are the safest, most shot the melon because he wanted to see “Many stadiums are full because of him,” Wilson Kipsang and reigning champion NBK’S FIFA World Cup VISA Prepaid Cardholders convenient and rewarding way to pay. what a bullet hitting a person’s head looked Gebrselassie said. “What will happen after Tsegaye Kebede. like. Usain Bolt, who will be the next star? How To highlight the astonishment over “You know that the same happened to many spectators will come not just to watch Mekonnen’s ability to challenge the elite Reeva’s head. It exploded. I’m going to (Bolt)? If you don’t have Usain Bolt in the next marathon runners while still a teenager, the show you,” he said, before projecting the two, three years we will be in trouble.” London Marathon official hosting Wednesday’s forensic photograph of Steenkamp’s head Few figures in the sport have better creden- press conference pushed him to tell everyone on the court monitors. tials to deliver such a brutal assessment than his age. “Eighteen years old,” the Ethiopian con- Steenkamp was hit by three of four hol- Gebrselassie, who built his reputation as one firmed. low-point rounds fired by Pistorius through of the most complete distance runners ever by “When I started this running business I the toilet door. One hit her behind the right setting world records in the 5,000, 10,000, half started with short distance running, but I ear, killing her almost instantly, patholo- marathon and marathon. didn’t have good results on that,” Mekonnen gists had earler told the court. Though not pushing for a role himself, the explained, through a translator, of his decision Pistorius acknowledged responsibility 40-year-old Ethiopian is urging the IAAF lead- to take up marathon running. “I decided to run but said between sobs: “I will not look”. ership to address the lack of major track meets in Dubai. And after I got a good result in Dubai Television stations carrying the feed from beyond those on the Diamond League circuit, I also started intensive training for London. the court apologised to viewers as the and cross-country events where he gained That was my idea.” graphic image was broadcast live. vital experience in the 1990s. Putting aside his concerns about “There is no crisis for soccer, soccer is get- Mekonnen, Gebrselassie was more upbeat “MODEL SPORTSMAN” ting bigger, and other sports are getting big- about the future of the 26-mile road races. With no direct witnesses, Nel’s main task ger,” Gebrselassie said. “Do you think the finan- “Marathon is really wonderful right now,” he is to pick holes in Pistorius’ testimony and cial crisis is just affecting athletics? I don’t said. “When we talk about marathons it’s a cast doubt on his statements about a per- think. We have to attract the audience; we sport for everybody, with many participants. ceived burglar. have to attract the sponsors. If the sponsors Marathon doesn’t need to upgrade.”— AP He opened his questioning by asking Pistorius about his reputation as a global athletics star and strong Christian beliefs before hitting him with the reality of what took place. SPAIN: Team Orica Greenedge’s Australian Michael Matthews (center) celebrates after winning the third “You are a model for sportsmen, dis- stage of the Tour of the Basque Country. — AFP abled and abled bodied sportsmen, all over the world?” Nel asked. “I think I was, My Matthews wins third stage Lady. I made a mistake,” replied Pistorius, answering to Judge Thokozile Masipa. “You killed a person, that’s what you did,” came of Tour of Basque Country the reply. “I made a mistake. My mistake was that I took Reeva’s life,” said Pistorius. MADRID: Australian Michael Matthews sprinted to victo- bring their child, and know that their son or daughter “You killed her. You shot and killed her. ry in the third stage of the Tour of the Basque Country can go all the way to the top if they have the ability and Won’t you take responsibility for that?” Nel yesterday. The Orica-GreenEdge rider edged Kevin Reza dedication,” Cookson said in a UCI statement. “Without said. (Europcar) and Michal Kwiatowski (Omega Pharma-Quick having to lie, without having to cheat, without having to Earlier, Pistorius described his frantic Step) in a bunch sprint to the line to claim the 194.5km do things that will risk their health, without having to attempts to revive Steenkamp after he ride from Urdazbi to Vitoria-Gasteiz in just over five hours. spend the rest of their lives looking over their found her lying on the toilet floor and how There was no change in the general classification as two- shoulder.”“If we cannot do that as a governing body, then she had died in his arms, her blood pouring time former Tour de France champion Alberto Contador we have failed our members and our sport. But we are over his body. (Tinkoff-Saxo) maintained his 14 second lead over fellow not going to fail. We are going to succeed,” he added. The Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) with Kwiatowski commission was created after Briton Cookson ousted “I checked to see if she was breathing 20 seconds further back in third. Irishman Pat McQuaid in the UCI leadership race. and she wasn’t,” he said. “I could feel the Today’s fourth stage could prove decisive as the race McQuaid was in charge for eight years, succeeding blood was running down on me.” After sev- heads into the mountains with two category one climbs Dutchman Hein Verbruggen, in the saddle from 1991 to eral attempts, he managed to carry during the 151km ride from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Arrate. 2005. Steenkamp down stairs where neighbours Meanwhile, an inquiry team probing the role of They have rejected claims from the US Anti-Doping tried to administer first aid before para- cycling’s leaders in the Lance Armstrong doping scandal Agency that while they were in power, the UCI did too lit- medics arrived. will deliver its report by next year, the head of the sport’s tle to stem doping and beat the cheats, notably dis- But Pistorius said he knew that global governing body UCI said yesterday. Brian graced US rider Armstrong. The commission has said its Steenkamp - with whom he said he was Cookson, who won an ugly UCI leadership contest in main goal is to determine how a culture of doping was planning to buy a house - was already September 2013 vowing to right past wrongs, said the perpetuated between 1998 and 2013, and to establish dead. “Reeva, Reeva had already died whilst three-member independent commission of inquiry had who was to blame. It has appealed to riders who were I was holding her, before the ambulance FRANCE: This picture taken with an underwater camera shows Yannick Agnel competing a crucial role and would publish its findings within 12 doped in the past to come forward in exchange for arrived, so I knew there was nothing they during the 200m freestyle final yesterday during the French swimming championships in months. “We have to have a sport where a parent can reduced punishment.—AFP could do for her.” — Reuters Chartres. — AFP