Established 1961 T 25 S p o r t s Sunday, November 24, 2019 Russia picks new athletics chief as doping crisis deepens We represent athletes and they should not suffer: Yulia MOSCOW: Yulia Tarasenko was appointed as is to “protect the athletes and their coaches, so that interim president of Russia’s athletics body yester- they keep preparing for the Olympic Games and day following the suspension of previous head compete there.” Dmitry Shlyakhtin by World Athletics. Tarasenko, “In what status is a different issue,” he said. Some the RUSAF sports director and head of the athlet- vocal Russian athletes have expressed frustration ics federation of St. Petersburg, immediately with the federation and accused authorities of hurt- saught to reassure Russian athletes she would fight ing clean athletes by feet-dragging on needed their corner. reforms. “We’re not in a very joyful mood, the situation is “Our athletics is in agony. We have lost four years. very difficult in the federation, but we think there is a Clean athletes are still vulnerable and unsure chance to fight for the federation,” she said. “We whether they will get a chance to compete,” three- represent athletes and they should not suffer,” the time high-jump world champion Maria Lasitskene new acting president Tarasenko told journalists. wrote in a ripping Instagram appeal to the Russian Tarasenko was picked from three candidates after sports minister Friday. Dmitry Shlyakhtin resigned from the post of RUSAF Lasitskene, who has called on Shlyakhtin to step president. Russian athletics’ crisis deepened follow- down repeatedly over the past months, told TASS ing Thursday’s ruling by the Athletics Integrity Unit agency yesterday that the new athletics chief of global governing body World Athletics, which Tarasenko is not a solution. “Shlyakhtin was suspended Russia’s reinstatement process and changed to Shlyakhtin,” she said. “Tarasenko is accused RUSAF of obstructing a probe into high- Shlyakhtin’s appointee and should immediately quit jumper Danil Lysenko. the federation.” It is now considering expelling RUSAF and sus- Lasitskene said yesterday’s decision would only pending the provision allowing Russian to compete deepen the crisis and the federation should have as neutral athletes, but for the moment awaits a deci- instead picked a new face with a clear anti-doping sion by the world anti-doping agency on December stance and no connection to previous management. 9 on whether to label Russia non-compliant. “Congratulations to all who pushed for this Head coach of Russia’s athletics Yury appointment. Great job guys, the operation to liqui- MOSCOW: Acting president of Russia’s Athletics Federation (ARAF) Yulia Tarasenko speaks to media in Borzakovsky said yesterday that RUSAF’s main goal date Russian athletics is almost finished.” —AFP the Russian Olympic committee in Moscow yesterday. —AFP after the competition. “I want to work Japan’s hard in the (Grand Prix) finals by tak- ing advantage of a lot of energy I received here” from his fans, he added. Hanyu wins Hanyu booked his place at December’s Classy Cooney Grand Prix Finals in Turin, a showdown NHK Trophy by top skaters after the six-round helps Ulster to Grand Prix series. SAPPORO: Two-time Olympic champi- Double world champion Nathan on Yuzuru Hanyu clinched his fourth Chen of the US and Russian Alexander Clermont win NHK Trophy yesterday, grabbing a tick- Samarin have already qualified. On the BELFAST: Scrum-half John Cooney guided Ulster et for next month’s Grand Prix Finals. women’s side, Russian young star to a 18-13 victory over Clermont in Pool 3 of the The Japanese figure skating star Alena Kostornaia won her first NHK European Champions Cup in testing conditions in smashed an overall score of 305.05 Trophy title. Belfast on Friday. Ireland back-rower Jordi Murphy points at the men’s competition, marking The 16-year-old landed clean jumps and Cooney scored either side of the half as the his second straight Grand Prix victory to score an overall score of 240.00 French side found it difficult to settle into the fixture this season. points, sealing her second Grand Prix due to the weather and a hostile home following. France’s Kevin Aymoz came to second triumph this season. With her victory, “This one is for the purists today with those with 250.02 points as Roman Sadovsky Russia swept the women’s competition conditions,” uncapped Cooney told BT Sport. “One of Canada was in third with 247.50 of the season’s Grand Prix series. of our mantras is fight for every inch, it’s something points. Carrying his comfortable lead at Defending champion Rika Kihira of we’ve worked on for the last few years and you can the short programme, Hanyu opened Japan was in second place with 231.84 see it by the way we played for 80 minutes,” he with a quadruple loop and nailed a points, wowing the home crowd. added. Ulster coach Dan McFarland made four Reigning Olympic and world champion superb quadruple Salchow at the free SAPPORO: Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu performs during the Men Short Program at the changes to the side who beat Bath in England last Alina Zagitova placed third with programme. Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2019/2020 NHK Trophy in Sapporo. - AFP weekend in their opening match in the competition He fluffed a combination jump but 217.99 points, coming back from this season including starting South African winger kept his nerve delivering clean triple fourth at the short. Louis Ludik. axels and displaying gorgeous steps With yesterday’s results, Kostornaia, Earlier in the day, French ice dance Asked about qualifying for the Grand The visitor’s Frank Azema switched half-backs and spins. As he completed his per- Kihira and Zagitova qualified for the duo Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Prix Finals, Cizeron said: “We are really, as Scotland’s Greig Laidlaw and Australian Jake formance in style, Hanyu bowed deeply finals. “I want to produce results that I Cizeron won their first NHK Trophy title really happy to be able to go to the final. McIntyre came in for experienced Morgan Parra to his fans as they in turn tossed his can be satisfied with” when she com- with a record 226.61 points. “We were We are going to do our best.” Reigning and Camille Lopez after hammering Harlequins last Winnie the Pooh stuffed toys, his mas- petes in the finals, Kostornaia said. very focused on not doing any mistake world champions Sui Wenjing and Han Saturday. cot, onto the ice. Kihira said: “I want to aim at a perfect and skating well with emotion,” Cong of China easily won the pairs title McFarland’s side claimed an early 3-0 advantage “I was nervous,” Hanyu admitted performance in the Grand Prix Finals.” Papadakis said. with 226.96 points. —AFP as scrum-half Cooney kicked the first of his two penalties. The hosts dominated the opening half an hour controlling possession in the driving rain and people in our community by promoting the impor- unpredictable wind. KIB title sponsor tance of sport, physical fitness and healthy lifestyles Ireland back-rower Jordi Murphy crossed at the to create a healthier, more productive community.” back of a driving maul and Cooney slotted the con- Najia further noted that KIB’s sponsorship of this version for a 10-0 lead in front of a raucous of Kuwait Marathon year’s Kuwait Marathon under the slogan “Run for Ravenhill crowd. Life”, comes in line with its overall vision of being a Azema’s men were on the scoreboard after 32 2019 under slogan true “Bank for Life”. The Bank’s sponsorship comes as minutes as Laidlaw kicked his first penalty goal of part of its belief in this unique event and its ability to the season but his side trailed 10-3. Cooney and attract people from all across the country. Laidlaw traded penalties either side of the half and ‘Run for Life’ Additionally, KIB actively seeks to play an active and the Irish province led 13-6 with 20 minutes to go. positive role in spreading health awareness, including Conney crossed as he chipped over Raka, took KUWAIT: Kuwait International Bank (KIB) encouraging people to play sports and boost their two football-like touches, and slid on the wet sur- announced its title sponsorship of Kuwait Marathon physical well-being, as well as taking care of their face to score his second try in as many European 2019, a landmark local sporting event organized by diets and adopting healthier lifestyles in general. games after 62 minutes. Despite his missed conver- Circuit. Set to take place on December 21 at the Moreover, Najia noted that in addition to sponsor- sion the home side led 18-6 and Laidlaw was newly built Sheikh Jaber Causeway, the event will be ing this race, KIB will also be present at a private subbed off for Parra. the first of its kind to take place on the bridge. booth dedicated to the Bank, offering a number of fun The impact of ex-France international Parra was Online registration is open on www.thekuwait- activities for contestants as well as their families. seen immediately as his control behind a dominant marathon.com, where the last date to register will be On his part, Bader AlBanna, Co-founder of Circuit Clermont rolling maul led to referee JP Doyle sig- on December 1, 2019. said, “We are thrilled to be organizing the Kuwait nalling for a penalty try to cut the advantage to 18- The Marathon will include four categories open to Marathon, the first event to take place on the Sheikh 13 with 12 minutes to play.