Former ManU Marketing Dir PETER DRAPER has joined La Liga side Valencia as "a fundamental pillar in the club's marketing strategy to generate new revenue." He will advise the club on its marketing strategies. Draper worked for ManU from '99-06. He currently owns a communications consulting firm called Loose Lips Ltd. that will assist Valencia (LAS PROVINCIAS, 3/8). ... Real Madrid keeper KEYLOR NAVAS will receive a visit from the president of his home country, GUILERMO SOLÍS, on March 18 in a meeting with the "objective of of linking Real Madrid and the Central American country." Navas and Solís will meet with Real Madrid President FLORENTINO PÉREZ, "with whom they are expected to create sports programs directed at poor areas in Costa Rica." Solís' visit to Spain "will also include a meeting" with Spanish President MARIANO RAJOY (MARCA, 3/7). ... Former Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) president PAT MCQUAID has "launched a pre-emptive defence of his tenure at the helm of cycling's world governing body" as the sport "braces itself" for the publication of the Cycling Independent Reform Commission report on doping. The UCI, which "commissioned the report and may have redacted sections," was due to publish it on Sunday. Current UCI President BRIAN COOKSON has already "warned fans to expect extremely 'uncomfortable reading,'" adding that "when you open a can of worms, you find a lot of worms." Among the topics the panel will have investigated are allegations that McQuaid and his predecessor, HEIN VERBRUGGEN, "abused their positions and were complicit in covering up positive tests," notably in relation to LANCE ARMSTRONG (London TELEGRAPH, 3/7). ... V8 Supercar champions JAMIE WHINCUP and CRAIG LOWNDES will have a new teammate next season, with Red Bull Racing signing driver SHANE VAN GISBERGEN. The team announced Friday the Kiwi will "leave Tekno Autosports to race a third entry for Triple Eight Race Engineering" on a three-year deal starting in '16 (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/6).
