The "majority of La Liga presidents have signed a document in support of JOSÉ MARÍA DEL NIDO, former president of Sevilla, calling him to be spared from going to jail after being convicted for his role in the so-called Minutas case." The "aim of the initiative is that Del Nido is granted a pardon." The document has also been signed by Spanish Football Federation President ÁNGEL MARÍA VILLAR, Spanish Football League (LFP) President JAVIER TEBAS, 17 La Liga club presidents and 16 Spanish second division presidents (AS, 1/23). ... UAE Arabian Gulf League side Baniyas defender THAMER MOHAMMED "has been banned for three months after failing a drugs test." Samples taken from Mohammed on Nov. 24 showed traces of sibutramine, "effectively an anti-obesity drug that is banned by governing bodies in almost all professional sports" (THE NATIONAL, 1/23).
EARLY EXIT: Increasing tension between the Basketball ACT board and staff led to CEO TONY JACKSON's "decision to quit just two years into his tenure." Basketball ACT "is set announce record participation numbers and the biggest surplus in its history at its coming AGM," but the failure to re-sign LAUREN JACKSON to Australian Women's Basketball League side Canberra Capitals "and division of opinion over the sport's strategic direction contributed to Jackson's departure." Jackson "will stay on as boss of Basketball ACT for three more months" (CANBERRA TIMES, 1/24).
