A spokesperson for Chelsea Owner ROMAN ABRAMOVICH "denied a news report" on Monday that the Russian billionaire "had been arrested" in the U.S. Spokesperson JOHN MANN said, "It's not true. He is in the U.S. but he has not been arrested or detained" (REUTERS, 3/25). ... Olympic sprinter MICHAEL JOHNSON has warned fellow sprinter MO FARAH "he risks ruining his reputation" by running only half the London Marathon for "a monster pay-off" believed to be £750,000 ($1.1M). Johnson believes "the cash-driven decision to run the race could alienate him from his fans" (DAILY MAIL, 3/25). ... Former New Zealand national rugby team player JERRY COLLINS said that he was "running from a gang of Brazilian workers who hated foreign rugby players shortly before his arrest in Japan." Collins, 32, was "arrested for carrying two knives in an upmarket department store in the city of Hamamatsu on March 17, and has been held in jail since" (STUFF, 3/26). ... Badminton Association of Malaysia President MOHD NADZMI MOHD SALLEH has "withdrawed from the Badminton World Federation" presidential election in May (XINHUA, 3/25).
OFF THE PITCH: FC Barcelona coach TITO VILANOVA has returned home after two months in N.Y. where he underwent cancer treatment (SPORT, 3/25). ... Bundesliga VfL Wolfsburg player MAKOTO HASEBE will donate €1.8M ($2.32M) to children affected by the Fukushima tsunami and nuclear disaster in '11. The 29-year-old Japanese said, "The people in Fukushima need a perspective for the future. And children are our future" (BILD, 3/24). ... Arsenal striker LUKAS PODOLSKI "plans to buy a private suite at the RheinEngergie Stadium," which is the home of his former club FC Cologne. Stadium Managing Dir Hans Rütten said, "Yes, we are currently talking to Lukas Podolski. He wants to buy a private suite." The suites at the stadium cost between €100,000-€150,000 ($129,000-$193.000) per season (EXPRESS, 3/23). ... ManU's RIO FERDINAND visited Aspire Academy following his commentary stint with Al-Jazeera Sports Channel. Ferdinand was "welcomed at the academy" by Dir General IVAN BRAVO (THE PENINSULA, 3/25).
THE AWARD GOES TO...: England golfer ZANE SCOTLAND has been appointed as global brand ambassador for the "golf in DUBAi" (GULF NEWS, 3/25). ... Thailand weightlifting President BUSSABA YODBANGTOEY has been awarded one of the IOC Women and Sport Trophy Award for '13, "the highest recognition for any woman in sport." Bussaba is "the first female Thai recipient of the award" and was recognized for "great contributions" to the sport (BANGKOK POST, 3/25). ... Qatar Women's Sport Committee President AHLAM SALEM MUBARAK AL MANA "has been selected" as another recipient of the '13 IOC Women and Sport Trophy Awards (THE PENINSULA, 3/25).
