Spain's Athletics Discipline Committee decided to "absolve runner MARTA DOMÍNGUEZ of the IAAF's accusations that she violated anti-doping regulations." This "puts an end to an eight-month process" (EFE, 3/20). ... U.S. Anti-doping Agency CEO TRAVIS TYGART said that USAIN BOLT "is being failed by Jamaican athletics chiefs." Jamaican athletics "has recently come under global pressure to revamp its under-fire drugs testing regime following a number of high-profile cases." Tygart believes that the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association’s lack of action "only serves to condemn stars like Bolt to doubts and scrutiny of his stunning sprint record." Tygart said, "It’s really unfair to question athletes’ performances just because of an inspiration story or whatever it may be, there’s a legal process for that. That said, it happens unfortunately, and I think it’s really unfair to those athletes that it does happen" (London DAILY MAIL, 3/20). ... DAVID BECKHAM "has taken part in a two-week expedition through Brazil’s Amazon rainforest" for a TV documentary. The former England captain "was accompanied by three friends and a film-maker" for the program, which will be broadcast by the BBC in June, ahead of the World Cup in Brazil (IANS, 3/20). ... German Olympic combined champion MARIA HÖEFL-RIESCH "ended her Alpine skiing career on Thursday," quitting a month after adding a third Gold Medal to her collection. The four-time Olympic medalist said that "she initially thought of skiing for one more season" after winning Gold and Silver at the Sochi Winter Games (REUTERS, 3/20). ... The Badminton Association of Malaysia has "been forced to switch to Plan B" after DATUK MISBUN SIDEK turned down its offer to become the coaching director of the national team. Plan B is "basically reverting" to its original coaching structure "of appointing one chief coach each for the singles and doubles departments" (THE STAR, 3/20).
