Cycling Australia will meet this week "to discuss what action it will take" after former road racer Matt White admitted involvement in the Lance Armstrong doping conspiracy. The 38-year-old said that he was "part of a strategy" when he rode on the Armstrong-led U.S. Postal Services team from '01-03. He told CA on Saturday that he was "standing down from his position" as professional men's road coordinator (AFP, 10/14). ... The German Beko Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) "will expand its youth development program." Starting this season, the league will adopt the concept of a youth program that was started a year ago at Alba Berlin. In addition, the Brose Baskets Bamberg, EWE Baskets Oldenburg and Bayern Munich will also participate. The BBL presented the new academy together with players from all four clubs in Munich. BBL CEO Jan Pommer said through this new program the league "wants to attract children of different age groups for basketball" (DPA, 10/8). ... The prospect of a full-time Australian Rugby League coach "will be put to the ARL Commission during discussions" as to whether Tim Sheens will coach the Kangaroos to next year's World Cup. The ARLC will confirm by the end of the year whether Sheens "will continue his successful stint as the national coach next year" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 10/15).
UAE WANTS APOLOGY: The UAE Football Association has "demanded an official apology" from the Asian Football Confederation for the "disrespect" shown toward the national team in an article on the AFC official website. The post read about the performance of the team in its previous eight Asian Cup finals appearances and translated the team's nickname "Al Abyad" as "Sand Monkeys." The team's nickname translates correctly to "The Whites" (THE NATIONAL, 10/14)
MEET AND GREET: National Olympic Committee of Cambodia President and Tourism Minister Thong Khon called officials from all affiliated sports federations for a meeting "with the aim of drawing up a shortlist of disciplines," which would receive special training schedules both at home and abroad in the lead up to next year's Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar. The NOCC also plans to encourage foreign-based athletes to compete for Cambodia as well as pursuing relationships with other nations to set up training camps overseas (PHNOM PENH POST, 10/11).
