Paralympian OSCAR PISTORIUS "was fined for unpaid taxes after being forced to declare his assets during his bail hearing." The tax authorities fined Pistorius £69,169 ($104,000), "which he duly paid." Pistorius's agent PEET VAN ZYL said, "I am not aware of any of that. As far as I know his taxes were up to date. I didn't see anything from the South African Revenue Service to suggest otherwise" (GUARDIAN, 5/26). ... Hungarian prosecutors said that notorious Singaporean alleged match-fixer wanted around the world, DAN TAN, "was charged in absentia along with 44 others suspected of manipulating football matches" (AFP, 5/25). ... Cricket Australia has fined CHRIS LYNN for a breach under the Code of Behaviour. Lynn pleaded guilty to breaching Rule 6: Unbecoming behaviour relating to posts he made on Twitter last week (CA). ... Essendon FC caretaker CEO RAY GUNSTON "has been shortlisted for the top job at racing's broadcasting network TVN." Gunston "is one of the leading candidates for the TVN position," which is believed to carry an annual salary of A$800,000 ($770,000) (THE AGE, 5/28). ... Former Spanish national gymnastics coach JESÚS CARBALLO has "roundly and emphatically denied" sexually abusing former gymnast GLORIA VISERAS when she was a minor. Carballo: "I have felt defenseless. The damage that this has done to me is irreparable, it's like an amputation. This stain is indelible" (EL PAIS, 5/25). ... Former Netherlands volleyball player INGRID VISSER, missing since May 14, and her boyfriend, LODEWIJK SEVERIN, "were found dead Monday morning in an orchard" in Murcia, Spain. The "autopsies have not yet confirmed the identities of the bodies or the cause of death," but the National Police are "virtually certain that they are the Dutch couple" (EFE, 5/27). ... National Rugby League Canterbury could become the first NRL club "to appoint a woman" CEO. Netball New Zealand CEO RAELENE CASTLE "has emerged as a leading contender" to replace outgoing boss TODD GREENBERG. The Bulldogs "are down to a handful of candidates for the role" with Castle, Brumbies boss ANDREW FAGAN and Rugby Union Players' Association CEO GREG HARRIS "also believed to be in contention" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 5/28). ... Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN will attend the SportAccord convention in St. Petersburg, Russia "underlying his drive to restore the country as a major sports power" (MOSCOW TIMES, 5/27). ... Cricketer SACHIN TENDULKAR "announced his retirement from the cash-rich" Indian Premier League. Tendulkar: "I think this is the right time to stop playing IPL. I am 40. I have to face the reality" (PTI, 5/27).
FOOTBALL NAMES: Former ManU player BRIAN GREENHOFF has died at age 60. Greenhoff "dragged the club back from its dark days of relegation" in '74, regaining a hint of former glories with promotion, an FA Cup Final appearance and then vitory in the final the following three seasons (SOCCER WITHOUT LIMITS, 5/25). ... JOSE MOURINHO, who "has agreed a four-year contract to manage Chelsea for a second time," will become the "highest-paid manager in the competition's history," pocketing more than £8.5M ($12.8M) after tax from a £50M ($75.5M)-plus deal. While Mourinho's contract "is still to be formally signed, the plan is to do so soon after his final match as Real Madrid manager on June 1" (SUNDAY TIMES, 5/26). ... Real Madrid President FLORENTINO PÉREZ "is preparing his election campaign, waiting to know whether he will have competition, in which he will probably announce a new role for ZINEDINE ZIDANE." The question is "if Zidane will be Athletic Dir or first assistant." Pérez was seen in his offices for two hours with Zidane, "perhaps discussing the signings the club will prepare for the next season if Pérez is reelected" (AS, 5/27). ... Premier League side Everton "will have to pay a big transfer fee for ROBERTO MARTINEZ -- as the Wigan boss heads for the exit door." Everton Chair BILL KENWRIGHT is "preparing for a cash wrangle" with Wigan Chair DAVE WHELAN as Martinez "has no fixed compensation figure in his contract." Martinez will tell Whelan early this week that "he wants to move," but the veteran chairman won’t allow him to go without a fight -- or a pay-off. Whelan may want as much as £5M ($7.55M) for Martinez. Whelan "paid Swansea handsomely" for Martinez (DAILY MIRROR, 5/26).
CRICKET COMMISSION: Former India captain RAVI SHASTRI and board treasurer AJAY SHIRKE are "likely to be among" the three-member commission set up by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to investigate Chennai Super Kings CEO GURUNATH MEIYAPPAN's "alleged involvement in the spot-fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League." The other member on the commission will be a retired judge of a high court (IANS, 5/27).
CROWDED IOC RACE: The race for the IOC presidency "is getting crowded," with Switzerland's DENIS OSWALD becoming the fifth declared candidate. Oswald joins a group of candidates that already includes IOC VPs THOMAS BACH, of Germany, and NG SER MIANG, of Singapore, RICHARD CARRION, of Puerto Rico and C.K. WU, of Taiwan. Former pole vaulter SERGEI BUBKA, of Ukraine, is "expected to announce his bid next week" (AP, 5/26).
