The Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) "is to trial mixed-gender events in a behind closed doors experiment later this week" in response to a request from the IOC. The IOC is pushing int'l federations for more gender equality and IOC President Thomas Bach "has encouraged the UCI to experiment with mixed relays." UCI President Brian Cookson revealed that "test events will take place in Switzerland this week, with young international riders taking part in a mixed team sprint and mixed madison event." It "is also investigating the possibility of a mixed time-trial relay on the road" (London GUARDIAN, 3/17). ... Western Australia is "no longer considering legal action over Cricket Australia's approval for Victoria to host the Sheffield Shield final in Hobart." The Western Australian Cricket Association argued that "the final should be played in Perth at the WACA Ground because Victoria's inability to host a match in their state, with the MCG unavailable due to the World Cup, was tantamount to relinquishing hosting rights gained from finishing top of the shield table." CA, which last year permitted NSW to play the final in Canberra when the SCG was unavailable because of a Major League Baseball game, said that "the decision was partly based on the extenuating circumstances caused by the World Cup" (THE AGE, 3/17). ... Senior Queensland medical officials "called for a ban on boxing in Australia following a local fighter's death after losing a title fight over the weekend." Braydon Smith, 23, "congratulated Filipino John Moralde for claiming a unanimous points decision win in their WBC Asian Boxing Council continental featherweight title bout in Toowoomba on Saturday but collapsed after returning to his dressing room." The law student "was put into an induced coma but never regained consciousness and his life support was turned off at a Brisbane hospital on Monday." Australian Medical Association Queensland President Shaun Rudd said that "the fighter's death showed why boxing should be banned nationally" (REUTERS, 3/17).
