Forwards coach MARIO LEDESMA "resigned from his position" at Top 14 Rugby side Montpellier "after a poor run of form." Former Argentine int'l Ledesma "had been at Montpellier since 2012 and had a contract until June 2017" (ESPN, 11/19). ... The Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) confirmed that Astana Continental rider VICTOR OKISHEV "has been suspended after he returned an adverse analytical finding for Anabolic Androgenic Steroids." The positive test "comes from the Asian Championships in May of this season," where Okishev won the U23 time trial. The 20-year-old "has been part of the team since August of 2013" (CYCLING NEWS, 11/19). ... Wales rugby player DAN LYDIATE "is among 12 players to be offered dual contracts by the Welsh Rugby Union." Wales coach WARREN GATLAND said that "the contracts could be signed in the next few weeks with more offers to come." Gatland: "[The contracts] will be sent out to the agents or given to the players today." He "did not say who will be offered deals," but Dragons coach LYN JONES said that "contracts are on offer" to TAULUPE FALETAU, HALLAM AMOS and TYLER MORGAN. The WRU and four regions -- Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets -- "signed a six-year agreement in August after almost two years of disagreements over funding." As part of that deal, the parties announced that "a number of players would be offered central contracts with the costs shared 60/40 between the WRU and the regions" (BBC, 11/18). ... France’s Nordic Ski Team coach NICOLAS MICHAUD resigned from his position on Tuesday. French Ski Federation National Technical Dir FABIEN SAGUEZ will manage the French teams this season (L’EQUIPE, 11/19). ... Former French footballer DIDIER OLLÉ-NICOLLE was relieved of his duties as coach of the Benin national team. Ollé-Nicolle was appointed in March, but "generated bad results, including the heavy defeat" to Morocco (6-1) Thursday (SPORT 24, 11/18). ... Nine-time Le Man 24 Hours winner TOM KRISTENSEN will “retire from racing at the end of this year's World Endurance Championship.” The 47-year-old Dane “made the announcement on Wednesday in his homeland” in the company of Audi Head of Motorsport WOLFGANG ULLRICH, who brought Kristensen to the German marque ahead of the ‘00 season. Kristensen: “I have been told that you know when it's time to stop and I have not had that feeling until now” (AUTOSPORT, 11/19).
