The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Doping ruling will not tarnish London Games, Coe says Posted: 07 Oct 2011 08:20 AM PDT  Coe, nonetheless, reiterated today his support for life bans for proven dopers. — Reuters pic Yesterday's ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) so-called Osaka Rule cleared the way for dozens of past doping offenders to compete at next year's Games. The IOC's controversial Rule 45, introduced in 2008, banned athletes from competing at the next Games if they had been suspended for six months or longer for doping. While underlining his support for life bans for proven dopers, double 1,500m Olympic champion Coe said the CAS's decision would not damage the integrity of the London Games. "First of all I have no worries about the reputation of the Games as we have a zero-tolerance policy to drug abuse in sport and during the Games we will provide all the infrastructure the IOC needs to carry out its testing process in the competition," Coe told reporters at the conclusion of the IOC's penultimate Coordination Commission visit. The CAS ruling means that American LaShawn Merritt, the Olympic 400m champion, is free to defend his title in London despite serving a 21-month ban for positive doping tests in 2009 and 2010. The British Olympic Association (BOA) said yesterday it would not change its by-law which bans its own athletes from the Olympics for life if they have served a suspension for doping. The CAS ruling means that American LaShawn Merritt, the Olympic 400m champion, is free to defend his title in London. — Reuters pic It argues that its by-law is an eligibility ruling rather than a sanction and Coe, and the IOC, offered support to the BOA's strong stance today. "I always believe it's appropriate for an autonomous sporting organisation to lay down whatever by-laws it thinks it needs in order to maintain the integrity of sport," Coe said. "My view has not changed and I would of course go for a life ban (for those convicted of doping)." Denis Oswald, leading the IOC Coordination Commission's three-day visit to inspect London's preparations, reiterated the IOC's support for the BOA. "It's clearly stated in the Olympic charter that each National Olympic Committee (NOC) has the right on eligibility of their own athletes and we fully respect the NOC's right to establish the eligibility of who they feel appropriate to compete," he said. "The IOC has a zero-tolerance policy regarding doping and we had adopted the Osaka Rule as a way to strengthen our fight against doping so therefore we are disappointed that CAS didn't follow our reasonings. "But this is not the final word in this respect and we will work with WADA and see how in the long term we can implement the rule." Oswald said 6,000 athletes would be tested during the Games next July and August and every participant would be tested at least twice in the build-up to the competition. "We see no reason to worry that it will not be the cleanest possible Games," he said. — Reuters |
| McIlroy shares five-way lead at Korea Open Posted: 07 Oct 2011 06:43 AM PDT  McIlroy finished third at the tournament in 2009. — Reuters file pic The mop-haired Northern Irishman was tied for a three-shot lead with Korea's defending champion Y.E. Yang, his compatriot Mo Joong-kyung, Australia's Bronson La'Cassie and American Rickie Fowler after the second round. McIlroy, who finished third at the tournament in 2009, followed up his opening round 68 with a two-under 69 at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club. McIlroy, who followed back-to-back third-place finishes at the European Masters and Dutch Open with a runner-up spot at last week's Dunhill Links Championship, believes he is well poised to end the wait. "It was a good round. I felt it could have been lower, but I played solid golf and holed some nice putts," the 22-year old said after hitting five birdies and three bogeys in the day. "It's a good start to the tournament and I have put myself in a good position going into the weekend." Korean Mo set the course on fire with five birdies and an eagle for a five-under 66 that gave him a share of the overnight lead at a two-day total of 137. "I've been hitting the ball well lately and the putter came round this week, so I am pretty comfortable with my game," Mo said. "I've been having a pretty good year and winning a Korea Open is every Korean's dream. It would be nice, but there are two days to go." Yang, the first Asian born man to win a major at the 2009 US PGA Championship, carded a round of one-under 70 to remain in the hunt for a third Korea Open title. "In the morning it was very cold, so on the front nine I did not play well and I was not able to record a lot of birdies," he told reporters. "But on the back nine I felt better, although I regret not being able to score better." — Reuters |
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