All 14 German Hockey League (DEL) clubs "have applied for a license for the '15-16 season." The league confirmed that all teams submitted the €100,000 ($114,000) bank guarantee by deadline. The clubs "now have until May 24 to submit all other documents for the licensing process." The final decisions "will be announced in the summer" (SID, 2/17). ... The National Rugby League "has moved another step closer to having four sideline officials per game, with the trial to have one final hit-out this weekend before it is considered for permanent implementation." Having reviewed three trials with varying numbers of match officials, referees boss Tony Archer "wants to take one last look at the model that uses four touch judges" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 2/17). ... More than 100 government officials in Shenyang in northeast China "were involved in bogus compensation claims" worth more than $300M when the city hosted the national sports games.
Anti-corruption investigators "have found that officials colluded with home owners in the area to make false compensation claims" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 2/17).
GREYHOUND SCANDAL: Greyhound trainers "who used live animals to train their dogs face jail and life bans from the sport as two major inquiries are launched into the barbaric practice." The future of Australia’s A$315M ($246M) greyhound racing industry is “at risk” with 70 people across three states implicated in the scandal. The Racing Integrity Commissioner and Victoria’s chief vet announced on Tuesday they "would each probe incidents of live baiting using piglets, rabbits and possums" (HERALD SUN, 2/17). Amid calls for the sport to be shut down in the wake of the "shocking TV expose" of live baiting, Friday's Greyhound of the Year awards at The Star "have been postponed" because, in the words of Greyhound Racing NSW CEO Brent Hogan, "the industry has nothing to celebrate" (SMH, 2/17).
