Russian Tennis Federation (RTF) President SHAMIL TARPISCHEV is "weighing up an appeal against his year-long WTA Tour suspension for making an inappropriate comment" about VENUS and SERENA WILLIAMS. He said, "I am looking at the possibility of filing a lawsuit. If I am going to make such a move then it will be in the U.S. court, where I will be able to find out on what basis the sanctions were applied" (REUTERS, 12/10). ... A South African judge ruled that prosecutors may appeal the acquittal of OSCAR PISTORIUS on murder charges for killing his girlfriend REEVA STEENKAMP. Judge THOKOZILE MASIPA said that the Supreme Court of Appeal should decide whether her acquittal of Pistorius, 28, on the charge of "dolus eventualis," or murder, was correct. She denied prosecutor GERRIE NEL's application to appeal Pistorius's five-year jail sentence, which he described on Tuesday as "shockingly inappropriate" (BLOOMBERG, 12/10). ... Former NBA defensive player of the year and Chinese Basketball Association side Sichuan player METTA WORLD PEACE "will be out
for three to five weeks and his Chinese club is looking for his
replacement." He suffered a "recurrent knee injury which worsened on Sunday when Sichuan lost to Foshan 118-102." Rumors had it that World Peace "was about to be sacked after just
playing 15 games for the CBA newcomer," but Sichuan GM GENG JIE said he was "only out temporarily" (XINHUA, 12/9).
WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE: Top 14 rugby club Toulon player MARTIN CASTROGIOVANNI has been suspended for his "expletive-ridden
attack" on Premiership rugby side Leicester Dir of Rugby RICHARD COCKERILL. Castrogiovanni has been banned for
three days by the club and is "unlikely to feature in the return Champions
Cup clash this Saturday against Leicester" (London TELEGRAPH, 12/9). ... Former Hungary int'l PAL DARDAI will stay on as his country's coach after leading the team to two wins and a draw in Euro 2016 qualifiers. His predecessor ATTILA PINTER was sacked in September over poor results (FIFA). ... SALVADOR DURAN is joining the Amlin Aguri Formula E Team lineup for the first South American race in Punta del Este. The Mexican driver will replace KATHERINE LEGGE and race alongside teammate ANTONIO FELIX DA COSTA (Formula E). ... Former EPL side Newcastle striker FAUSTINO ASPRILLA "has been forced out of his home city in Colombia after being threatened by a gang of armed criminals." Asprilla said that "masked men entered his home in Tulua to demand money." He said, "They threatened me. They told
me to contact their chief because if I didn't they would kill my family
and me" (BBC, 12/10). ... Cycling Olympic Gold Medalist CHRIS HOY “will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at BBC Sports Personality of the Year.” The event, which will be broadcast live at 8pm on BBC One and BBC One HD, has never been held in Scotland before, “so it is only fitting that the Scottish cyclist, who announced his retirement from competitive cycling in 2013, will be handed the prestigious award.” Hoy has six Gold Medals and one Silver from the Olympics and “is also an 11-time world champion” (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 12/10). ... A Beijing court announced that former Chinese FA chief NAN YONG “received a one-year reduction in his prison sentence for good behavior, a positive attitude and repenting his faults.” Nan had been sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison in June ‘12 for accepting bribes “for fixing matches and illegally using his power to benefit others” (CHINA DAILY, 12/9). ... On-loan EPL side West Ham striker MODIBO MAIGA faces a “disciplinary hearing after his unexplained absence from the Metz team for Sunday's Ligue 1 trip to Marseille” (AFP, 12/10).
VOIGT TO STAY ON AT TREK: Former cyclist JENS VOIGT and Trek Factory Racing reached an agreement about the German’s continued involvement with the team. He will remain with the Trek family as a team consultant (Trek Factory Racing).
AMERICAN DREAM: Former National Rugby League player JARRYD HAYNE has appointed U.S. agent JACK BECHTA to "represent him in
the same week he visited two NFL clubs as he continues to chase his
American dream." Hayne's Australian manager WAYNE BEAVIS "flew to the States last month to
meet with six different agents" and decided to "go with Bechta." Among Bechta's 20 current active clients are "first-round draft picks, Pro Bowl selections and high-profile coaches" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 12/10). Hayne met with NFL clubs the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers this week.
He met with defending Super Bowl champion Seattle at its training facility on Tuesday -- "one day after visiting the 49ers." Hayne has "already received a preliminary offer to train and trial with the Detroit Lions" (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 12/10).
