Racing New South Wales Chief Steward Ray Murrihy has declared the "controversial and damaging cobalt saga the most complex and time-consuming investigation of his career." He defended the stewards investigation "amid criticism it has been dragging out for many months." Murrihy said that the cobalt case has demonstrated the "efficiencies of thoroughbred racing's investigative units and drug-testing procedures" (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 6/28). ... Giro d'Italia organizer RCS Sport has distanced itself from fellow Grand Tour organizer ASO by stating it is "not against the proposed reforms to men's professional cycling and the WorldTour structure" that have "so angered" the Tour de France organizer. Last week ASO threatened to pull all its races, including the Tour de France, from the '16 WorldTour calendar if the reforms are approved, "sparking a deep divide" between the "most powerful organizer in the sport" and the teams, riders, the Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) and other race organizers, who "all believe some kind of reform is needed" (CYCLING NEWS, 6/26). ... The Australian Football League will decide on Monday whether to sanction Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell for the "injection gesture to Essendon players that drew the ire of Bombers coach James Hird." Mitchell's conduct will be examined by AFL Football Operations Manager Mark Evans and GM of Legal Integrity & Compliance Andrew Dillon at the league's weekly football operations review. After the match Mitchell said that he had made the injecting gesture and accompanying comments "in the heat of the moment," and that he regretted it (THE AGE, 6/28).
