European 10,000m champion JO PAVEY said that she "would ditch" ALBERTO SALAZAR as her coach if she was British Gold Medalist MO FARAH. Farah "is trained by Salazar, who is at the centre of doping allegations." Salazar denies wrongdoing but Pavey says she would "run a mile" if she was in Farah's position. Pavey: "As an athlete, you don't want to associate yourself with people that have got accusations and allegations against them" (BBC, 6/4). ... The Int'l Cricket Council received Pakistan's nomination of former batsman ZAHEER ABBAS "for the post of president left vacant by the resignation" of Bangladesh's MUSTAFA KAMAL in April. The nomination "will be forwarded to the ICC nominations committee and then to the ICC board for approval" (REUTERS, 6/4). ... India's SUNDARAM RAVI "was on Thursday inducted" into the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires for '15-16. New Zealand's CHRIS GAFFANEY and RAVI "were promoted" from the Int'l Panel to the Elite Panel. They replaced Kiwi BILLY BOWDEN and the retiring STEVE DAVIS (IANS, 6/4). ... French motorcycle rider FRANCK PETRICOLA "has died following an accident during a qualifying session on Wednesday at the Isle of Man TT Races." The 32-year-old "was making his debut at the TT." Petricola "died at Sulby Crossroads, becoming the 141st fatality at the races since they began in 1907" (BBC, 6/4).
FAREWELL FIGO: Former Portugal winger LUÍS FIGO's relationship with Barcelona "has taken another sour turn." He "has been blocked by the club from playing in a combined Juventus and Barcelona legends team to face a World XI on Friday." Figo's inclusion "prompted anger from fans of the club, still unforgiving of his move to Real Madrid in 2000." Barcelona took the issue to UEFA, which "agreed to withdraw Figo from the team" (BBC, 6/4).
