SPORT SPORT | 07 SPORT | 08 Carter says What now for sayonara to Japan cricket in 2020 but no word after postpone- on his future ments due to virus? SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020 Mercedes F1 Athletes banned until 2020 can boss Wolff takes a stake compete at Olympics: AIU chief in Aston Martin REUTERS — LONDON officer, could help protect clean REUTERS — LONDON athletes, as the agency tries to The postponement of the Tokyo ensure no one gets a “free pass” Mercedes Formula One boss Olympics will allow athletes from reduced testing during the Toto Wolff has taken a stake banned until 2020 to qualify for pandemic. in British sportscar maker the Games next year as doping Clothier said that though Aston Martin, whose executive bans are based on time periods current testing limitations give chairman Lawrence Stroll runs and not events, Athletics dopers an opportunity to cheat, the Racing Point F1 team, Integrity Unit (AIU) head Brett agencies should be proactive in according to company filings. Clothier said. identifying athletes prone to A Mercedes F1 spokesman Last month, the Interna- Last month, the cheating while also cracking said Wolff’s move was purely tional Olympic Committee and International Olympic down on the root causes of an investment on the Aus- the Japanese government Committee and the doping. trian’s part and would be agreed to postpone the Tokyo Japanese government “One thing that needs to be diluted by a rights issue Games, due to start in July, to agreed to postpone the understood though is testing for tomorrow from 4.77% to less 2021 because of the impact of Tokyo Games, due to us isn’t just a numbers game,” than 1%. the coronavirus pandemic that start in July, to 2021. he added. “Fully diluted following the has killed over 150,000 people “We use intelligence and pending rights issue, this worldwide. investigation methodologies to investment will represent a World Anti-Doping Agency make sure we are testing the 0.95% stake in the company,” (WADA) bans are designed to and Clothier said stopping ath- tied to particular events.” severe disruption to testing right athletes we need to at the he added. “It is a financial prevent athletes from com- letes whose bans expire this The anomaly could prove to processes around the world,” right time. investment and Toto’s part- peting during an Olympic cycle year from competing in 2021 be a double-edged sword, he said. “While our testing activities nership and executive role would lead to legal however, with Clothier saying “We do testing for over a are reduced at the moment, we with Mercedes are unaffected complications. athletes caught after August this 100 countries round the world are focusing on our priority and by the transaction.” “The standard penalty year would be banned for two and there are different restric- high-risk athletes and making Swiss billionaire Ernesto under the WADA code for Olympic Games -- in Tokyo and tions in each country... and sure we can test them as much Bertarelli has also bought a It’s an unfortunate doping is a four-year ban,” Paris -- since they fall within those restrictions are changing as possible within the limita- 3.38% stake which will be sim- situation but one that Clothier said. “And that’s been the four-year sanction range. day-to-day, week-to-week. tions we have. ilarly diluted. Wolff previously designed that way to tie in with But with social distancing “So our normal testing “We’re hoping that we’ll see had a 16% shareholding in is very clear under the Olympic cycle. protocols and lockdowns in operations are disrupted. We change around the anti-doping former champions Williams but the legal framework “But in this case, of course, place in several countries, are still conducting testing world... where more organisa- sold that after he joined the Mer- it’s an anomaly that the Clothier said the biggest impact where we can but there is a tions invest in intelligence cedes team, where he serves as so the ban is based Olympics have moved so some the pandemic has had on anti- severe disruption, no question.” capabilities so that they can principal and owns 30%. on time and not tied athletes will benefit from that. doping agencies is the lack of The United States Anti- address the root causes of Canadian billionaire Stroll, “It’s an unfortunate situ- regular testing. Doping Agency (USADA) said a doping and the people behind whose son Lance drives for to particular events: ation but one that is very clear “The restrictions on new self-administered doping doping rather than just using Racing Point alongside Brett Clothier under the legal framework so movement that are happening test, where athletes are moni- the tests as a facade or a Mexican Sergio Perez, is close the ban is based on time and not in many countries are having a tored live by a doping control numbers game.” to Wolff. Premier League return date still not CONMEBOL confirms clear, says West Ham Chief Executive Qatar 2022 qualifying AFP — LONDON potential unfairness in some to begin in September squads having a number of West Ham Chief Executive players in self-isolation. AFP — ASUNCION format. That amounts to 18 Karren Brady claims the “Police officers will need to matches, far more than most Premier League’s return date is be at games even if they are South American qualifying other continental federations still unclear despite hopes the behind closed doors as some for the 2022 World Cup in organise. top-flight season can restart in supporters will travel to the Qatar, delayed by the coro- The first two rounds need June. stadium, even if they cannot navirus pandemic, will begin to be rearranged but CON- The Premier League said come in to watch,” she said. in September, the region’s MEBOL said any new dates that wrapping up the remaining “Everyone at the stadium -- governing body CONMEBOL would have to be ratified by 92 fixtures remains their goal, and even behind closed doors said. FIFA. but the on-going coronavirus this is about 300-500 people Last month, CONMEBOL And with the Copa crisis means no fixed schedule -- including security, staff, asked FIFA to delay the start America being postponed can be drawn up yet. A picture shows a mural of Liverpool’s English defender Trent medical officers, players, ref- of the qualification campaign until next year, the opportu- Brady’s West Ham were Alexander-Arnold near Liverpool football club’s stadium erees and media, will have to as the first two rounds of nities to fit in an extra two perilously placed in the English Anfield in Liverpool, yesterday. have temperature checks, fill matches at the end of March rounds of matches appear top flight when football was out health questionnaires and could not be played due to few. suspended, sitting above the observe social distancing. football being suspended on As it is, two rounds of relegation zone on only goal two metres away. “So, how seasons must end by July 31 and “Then there is the issue of the continent over the deadly World Cup qualifiers are due difference with nine games match-fit will players be if the the 2020-21 campaign must injuries. All this is manageable virus. to be played on June 3 and 8, remaining. season commences, as we all start by the first week of Sep- but what if a player gets injured, “For the moment, the 2021, with the Copa now set “Players will have been able hope it will, by mid-June?” tember at the latest. where do we send him? start fixed by (FIFA) for its to begin on June 11. to retain some physical fitness With most clubs having nine Brady questioned how “It can’t be to an NHS (UK celebration is September 4-8 Meanwhile, CONMEBOL at home,” Brady wrote in her games left, it was reported that Premier League clubs could National Health Service) hos- in the format already estab- said that no restart date column in The Sun yesterday. Friday’s meeting of the 20 clubs regularly test players for the pital that is already under lished,” said CONMEBOL. could yet be fixed for its “But if social-distancing discussed finishing the season virus when the same situation pressure and private hospitals All 10 teams are due to flagship club competitions, rules are still in place, physical in a 40-day window. is not yet in place for all NHS are carrying out NHS proce- play each other home and the Copa Libertadores and match-play training will not be There have been claims that workers. dures and not taking in injured away in a round robin Copa Sudamericana. allowed -- you can’t tackle from clubs were told domestic She also highlighted a footballers. So then what?” ‘Big 3’ discussing ways to help lower-level players: Djokovic REUTERS — LONDON futureuture ofof tennis.tennis. havehave federation support or promptedprom the game’s stake- bonus money meant for top HowHow wwee cacann sponsorssponsors and are independentindependent holdershold -- the ATP, WTA, ITF players from season-ending Novak Djokovic (pictured) has contributeontribute and left alone.” and the organisers of the four events like the ATP Finals into been in touch with fellow ATP too helphelp TheThe tennistennis seasonseason waswas GrandGran Slams -- to devise plans the relief fund. Player Council members Roger lowerower suspended in early MarchMarch to providepr some assistance. “If we don’t have any events Federer and Rafa Nadal to rankeda nked due to the pandemic,pandemic, “Players“ hopefully will (also) (in 2020), maybe next year’s I spoke to Roger discuss ways to assist lower- guysuys who leavinleavingg plplayersayers in the contributecont collectively to the Australian Open prize money and Rafa a few days ranked players facing financial arere obvi-obvi- lower tiers who dependdepend relireliefe fund that the ATP (and can be contributed to the fund,” struggles amid the novel coro- ouslyusly solelysolely on tournamenttournament others)othe will distribute using the Serb added.