World No. 1 badminton player LEE CHONG WEI has "been provisionally suspended for an 'apparent' anti-doping violation." The Badminton World Federation (BWF) said he was banned because of "an adverse analytical finding of a sample taken at the World Championships." The 32-year-old Malaysian, who "tested positive for the banned anti-inflammatory agent dexamethasone, faces a two-year ban if guilty of doping" (BBC, 11/11). ... Jockeys JAMES DOYLE and WILLIAM BUICK have been drafted by Godolphin following a "major shake-up by the Dubai-owned operation." Doyle and Buick, both 26, will become "first jockeys to the stable's twin trainers," SAEED BIN SUROUR and CHARLIE APPLEBY, respectively, when their contractual roles begin at the start of the 2015 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan on Jan. 8 (GULF NEWS, 11/11). ... The FA Cup winner's medal won by STANLEY MATTHEWS in the "famous" '53 final has been auctioned for £220,000 ($350,230). JIMMY GREAVES' medal, won for being part of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad, sold for £44,000 ($70,000) in the same London auction. Stanley's medal sold for "nearly four times" its £60,000 ($95,5000) guide price (BBC, 11/11). ... Golfer ADAM SCOTT has called on Australian Open organizers to "let him go head-to-head"
against RORY MCILROY again as he "attempts to atone for last year's late
stumble." Scott said that he would "love to be paired" with world No. 1 McIlroy for "at least the first two days of the Open at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 11/10). ... DIDIER ZOKORA “has turned down the chance to come out of retirement and play for Ivory Coast in their final two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.” Coach HERVE RENARD “had recalled the 33-year-old.” Zokora: "It is with grief in my heart that I write to say that my decision to retire in September stands and I will not change my opinion” (BBC, 11/11). … Seria A side Sampdoria President MASSIMO FERRERO “faces disciplinary action” after the Italian football federation (FIGC) confirmed Monday that it is “probing an alleged racist comment he made about Inter Milan's Indonesian owner.” Ferrero later apologized for the remark, but the 63-year-old will appear before a FIGC court for "offensive and discriminatory public statements on ethnic grounds against the Inter President ERICK THOHIR" (AFP, 11/11). … Former Serie A side Udinese and Fiorentina midfielder MARTIN JORGENSEN, who has played more Serie A matches than any other Dane, “has announced he will retire” when his contract with Danish First Division side AGF Aarhus runs out at the end of this year. Jorgensen said, “I have achieved what I dreamed of as a seven-year-old running around and playing football in Ryomgaard” (REUTERS, 11/11).
EVANS TO TRAIN WITH SHEFFIELD UNITED: League One side Sheffield United will allow convicted rapist CHED EVANS to "train with them following their former player's release from prison." Evans was freed in October "after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room" in '11. Sheffield United "continues to deliberate on any long-term decision" about Evans. He will train with the club "for the first time since his release later this week, a move that will be seen by many as the first step" toward a possible return (BBC, 11/11).
VANESSA MAE BANNED: Violinist VANESSA MAE, who "made her Olympic debut in Sochi this year at the age of 35, has been banned from competitive skiing for four years for fixing races." An Int'l Ski Federation hearing panel "found to its comfortable satisfaction that the results of the four ladies' giant slalom races" that took place on Jan. 18 and 19 at Krvavec "were manipulated" (AP, 11/11).
FINAL GIG: Sports writer PATRICK COLLINS "is to retire after a career stretching back almost 50 years." Collins, now 70, "announced his decision" on Tuesday. His last event as a professional sport-watcher will be on Jan. 31. League Championship side Charlton "is at home to Rotherham that day." He said, joking, "It's one way to go out at the top" (London GUARDIAN, 11/11).
IN FRANCE: French cyclist CHRISTOPHE LE MÉVEL has announced his "retirement from the sport at the age of 34." The former Cofidis rider finished 22nd in this year’s Vuelta a Espana. Despite a proposal from a foreign team, he has decided "to hang up the bike" (FRANCETV SPORT, 11/11). ... French judo champion PRISCILLA GNETO was sentenced to a lengthy suspension by the French Judo Federation after "having to forfeit for a weight problem" at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in late October. Gneto was accused of "weighing a kilo too much and did not attend the official weigh-in." She will not be allowed to compete until Dec. 31 (LE PARISIEN, 11/10). ... French runner LAILA TRABY was arrested Friday in Prades, France, after police found erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that controls red blood cell production, in her Font-Romeu apartment. She has "since been released after taking a drug test." The results should be known by the end of this week. On her Facebook page, Traby denied any involvement and alluded to a “conspiracy” against her (LE MONDE, 11/11).
IN AUSTRALIA: Australian Football League Fans Association President BRIAN CLARKE has quit, "paving the way for
Collingwood cheer squad identity" JEFF 'Joffa' CORFE to return to the
organization. Clarke resigned from his post as president last week, and will "instead focus
his energies on spreading the game internationally." No replacement has "yet been named" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 11/11). ... AFL side Essendon's longest-serving director, KEVIN EGAN, "will depart as the Bombers embark
on an intriguing board election that has seen nine candidates challenge
for two positions at the troubled club." Egan confirmed on
Tuesday he would not "contest the forthcoming election after almost two
decades on the board and the best part of 50 years at Essendon" (THE AGE, 11/11).
