An anti-hooliganism bill "designed to ensure public safety at Russian sporting events by banning violent or abusive fans for up to one year was adopted by the State Duma on Tuesday." The bill, which was introduced last November, "passed through its first reading in the lower house of parliament with 226 votes and one abstention." The bill "now goes to vote in the Federation Council, parliament’s upper house, and, if passed, would go into force 180 days after it’s signed off by President Vladimir Putin" (R-SPORT, 4/9). ... Germany's sailing clubs "have founded the Deutsche Segel-Bundesliga" (German Sailing Bundesliga) in which "18 German sailing clubs compete for the Bundesliga-Pokal" (Bundesliga Cup) and determine the best German sailing club (SCHWÄBISCHE, 4/9). ... The former head of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority "has encouraged the players at the centre of the investigation to source their own independent legal counsel, warning a show of solidarity will result only in some being left 'without a chair'" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 4/11). ... Human Rights Watch said that Bahrain "has been rounding up pro-democracy activists ahead of its controversial staging of the April 21 Formula One Grand Prix, two years after a bloody crackdown." Plainclothes police officers "have arrested 20 people so far in raids in towns around the Gulf state's Sakhir circuit" (AFP, 4/10). ... Athletics South Africa President James Evans said that six ASA board members and Financial Manager Terrence Magogodela "were suspended." ASA VP Hendrick Ramaala, a former elite marathon runner, Shireen Noble, Esther Malema, Pieter Lourens, James Moloi and Qwadiso Ntathu "would all face disciplinary hearings." Evans said that Morgan Matholeni had been appointed as acting ASA GM (SOWETAN LIVE, 4/10).
