CYCLING | Page 6 MMOTOGPOTOGP | Page 7 Froome Rossi storms to time pressures To Advertise here trial win, cuts Marquez in Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 Quintana lead home race Saturday, September 10, 2016 FOOTBALL Dhul-Hijja 8, 1437 AH Barca trio reunited, GULF TIMES star player Ronaldo returns for Real SPORT Page 4 ATHLETICS Belgium receive 2008 relay gold aft er Russia stripped AFP and IAAF Diamond League’s annual ath- Brussels letics fi nale. “It shows what can be achieved and we will endeavour to ensure these processes he Belgian relay quartet of Kim are generally accelerated in the future.” Gevaert, Elodie Ouedraogo, Nigeria were upgraded to silver and Hanna Marien and Olivia Bor- Brazil bronze in the medal re-shuffl e. Tlee yesterday belatedly received Valerie Adams was trumped by Ameri- gold medals from the 2008 Olympics af- can rival Michelle Carter in the Diamond ter a Russian sprinter tested positive for League fi nal in Brussels on Thursday, but drugs. the Kiwi shot putter fi nished the season Belgium were upgraded to gold after atop the discipline’s standings. the International Olympic Committee Olympic champion Carter threw a best (IOC) stripped Russia of its gold medal of 19.98 metres in the competition which in the women’s 4x100m relay after Yulia was held in Brussels’ central square Chermoshanskaya tested positive for the (Grand Place) on Thursday, with the main steroids stanozolol and turinabol in a re- programme set for the more usual setting analysis of her doping samples. of King Baudouin Stadium yesterday. “Congratulations to Belgium,” said Three-time world champion and Sebastian Coe, president of the Inter- twice Olympic gold medallist Adams national Association of Athletics Fed- fi nished second behind Carter with a erations (IAAF), as the Belgians received best of 19.57m, but ended atop the Dia- their medals from ex-IOC chief Jacques mond Race, meaning she leaves $40,000 Rogge at a packed King Baudouin Sta- (35,460 euros) and a diamond for the dium. better. “The medal reallocation process has “I’d love to see more events like this,” been expedited to ensure that the rightful said Adams. “The crowd were amazing (From L) Belgium’s Kim Gevaerts, Elodie Ouedraogo, Hanna Marien and Olivia Borlee pose with their gold medals during the Memorial Van Damme Diamond Beijing 2008 Olympic relay gold medal- and it was great to win my fi fth Diamond League meeting in Brussels yesterday. The Belgium women’s 4x100m relay team were yesterday declared winners of the event at the Beijing Olympic Games lists were properly honoured at Belgium’s Race.” in 2008 after Russia were stripped of their title following a retroactive positive dope test. FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT Blatter and two others facing FIFA World’s eyes on probe over salaries Reuters line with top offi cials from professional Zurich sports leagues around the world. Soccer’s global governing body is at- tempting to recover from the worst graft ormer FIFA president Sepp scandal in its history which has seen Manchester as Blatter and ex-secretary general 42 people, including former FIFA ex- Jerome Valcke, already banned ecutive committee members, indicted Ffrom football for ethics viola- in the United States since May last year. tions, are facing a fresh investigation, Criminal investigations are also under this time over the salaries and bonuses way in Switzerland, where FIFA has its they received in offi ce. headquarters. FIFA’s ethics committee said its in- FIFA said in June that an internal in- vestigators had opened formal pro- vestigation revealed that the three of- United, City clash ceedings against both men, along with fi cials had received 79mn Swiss francs former fi nance director Markus Kattner, ($81mn) in compensation over fi ve Any United, City derby is guaranteed to be an explosive aff air for possible ethics violations which in- years, calling them “massive payouts”. cluded “bribery and corruption”. The FIFA’s lawyers Quinn Emanuel, which suspected violations were “in the con- conducted the investigation, said the AFP celona to replace the exiled Joe Hart, text of salaries and bonuses paid to Mr evidence revealed a co-ordinated ef- London or stick with stand-in Willy Caballero. Blatter, Mr Valcke and Mr Kattner as fort by the three to “enrich themselves “I’ve played in derby games in Ger- well as other provisions included in the through annual salary increases, World many but this should be a great match contracts of these three individuals,” it Cup bonuses and other incentives.” he eyes of the world will be and one I’m really looking forward to, said. They are also suspected of having The sums received by the trio in- on Manchester this weekend especially because Pep Guardiola is breached rules on general conduct, loy- cluded 23mn Swiss francs in “special as Jose Mourinho and Pep taking on Jose Mourinho,” Sane said. alty, confl icts of interest and “off ering bonuses” for the 2010 World Cup in TGuardiola bring their bit- Aguero’s absence will make it even and accepting gifts and other benefi ts.” South Africa, while Blatter and Valcke ter feud to the Premier League for the harder for City to break a defence Blatter, Valcke and Kattner could not got a total of 14mn francs in bonuses for fi rst time. marshalled by Ivory Coast centre- immediately be reached for comment. the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and 15.5mn Any derby between Manchester back Eric Bailly, who has caught the They have previously denied wrongdo- francs for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, United and Manchester City is guar- eye of United goalkeeper David de Gea ing. Blatter has said his earnings were in the fi rm said. anteed to be an explosive aff air, but since his pre-season move from Vil- the presence of sworn enemies Mour- larreal. inho and Guardiola should ensure the “Bailly was a great signing, he’s BASKETBALL animosity levels are higher than usual come in and surprised us all very on Saturday. quickly.” De Gea said. With City top of the table and “I remember when I fi rst came to United just behind them in third af- England and, trust me, it can be hard Iran beat Qatar in ter both won their fi rst three league early on but he’s fl ying. games, there was already more than “He is physical, strong, technically local bragging rights at stake in a confi dent and super-fast.” FIBA Asia Challenge showdown between two sure-fi re title At the Emirates Stadium, Arse- contenders. nal manager Arsene Wenger could FIBA taris just couldn’t get anything going. Even City midfi elder Fernandinho’s give debuts to deadline day signings Tehran Naturalized player Boney Watson was boast that “this game is big, man. It’s Shkodran Mustafi , a £35mn Germany limited to 7 points and no players out- a game that stops the city” doesn’t do Formidable foes: Mourinho and Guardiola defender from Valencia, and Lucas side of Hassan Mohamed and Moham- justice to a fi xture reported to be the Perez, a £17mn Spanish forward from osts Iran took full advantage ed Mohamed scored in double-digits. richest match in football history with their players signals the resumption he goes into the derby at a signifi cant Deportivo La Coruna, as the Gunners of a lacklustre Qatar to open As expected, Iranian giant Hamed over £600mn ($790mn, 708mn eu- of a complicated relationship that has disadvantage following City striker face Southampton. their account at the 2016 Haddadi asserted himself early and often ros) of world-class talent on parade. turned increasingly ugly since they Sergio Aguero’s three-match ban for “He is uncomfortable to play FIBA Asia Challenge with a in this encounter. The former NBA play- Yet, despite the presence of Paul fi rst met at Barcelona two decades elbowing West Ham United’s Win- against. He has everything a striker H80-73 win in Tehran, yesterday. With er scored 11 of his game-high 15 points Pogba, David Silva, Zlatan Ibrahi- ago. ston Reid. needs,” Mustafi said in defence of the this victory, Iran take the early lead in in the fi rst half as the hosts took a 47-22 movic and a host of other stars, it’s the Mourinho’s constant jibes at Bar- Leroy Sane could deputise for unheralded Perez, whose arrival was Group C. lead to the locker rooms at the break. action on the Old Traff ord touchline celona boss Guardiola during his time Aguero, who had already scored six greeted with indiff erence by Arsenal Right off the bat, Iran asserted their Iran played to expectations in their that will be must-see TV for millions at Real Madrid undoubtedly got un- times this season, after the Germany fans hoping for a higher-profi le re- supremacy on both ends of the fl oor. fi rst match of the competition, ex- around the world as United manager der the Spaniard’s skin, but the Por- winger returned from the hamstring cruit. Team Melli outplayed Qatar in the fi rst ploiting their edge in size and famili- Mourinho and City boss Guardiola tuguese coach’s record of just three injury that delayed his debut after his Chelsea, in second place with a quarter to take a big 28-7 lead, and they arity to completely outclass Qatar. Al lock horns for the fi rst time in three wins in their 16 meetings is a signifi - £37mn ($48mn, 43mn euros) move 100% record, travel to Swansea City never looked back since.