Spanish middle-distance runner MARTA DOMÍNGUEZ was banned for three years Thursday and stripped of her '09 world steeplechase title for "blood doping." The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld appeals by the IAAF and World Anti-Doping Agency that "challenged the Spanish athletics federation's decision last year" to clear Domínguez of irregularities in her biological passport. The CAS panel annulled "all of her competitive results" from Aug. '09 to July '13 (AP, 11/19). ... La Liga side Málaga VP NASSER AL-THANI denied rumors of a "rift between his family and the management at La Rosaleda" over club Sporting Dir MARIO HUSILLOS. It was reported that Al-Thani had, in an effort to "improve the fortunes of the club, ordered the removal of Husillos," but Dir General VICENTE CASADO had not carried out the instruction, leading to what was called an "institutional crisis." Al-Thani tweeted, "Everything that appeared in the media regarding management changes is nothing more than rumors" (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 11/19).
MCCAW CALLS TIME: New Zealand rugby player RICHIE MCCAW has retired from rugby after a "stellar" 14-year int'l career that included leading the All Blacks to "historic back-to-back World Cups at the age of 34." McCaw: "I'm going to be hanging up my boots. ... I'm hugely excited about the future. A couple of things I have in mind. I learnt to fly helicopters in 2009 and that’s going to be my thing from now. It’s something I’m passionate about" (LONDON TIMES, 11/19).
