Argentina national football team coach GERARDO MARTINO said that LIONEL MESSI "is unlikely to be one of a maximum three over-age players" on Argentina's football team for the Rio Olympics. Martino said that a decision on Messi and the Olympics has not been made, but he does not "see Messi's inclusion feasible" at least in part because the U23 national team is stacked with attackers (NBC, 12/30). ... Cyclist CHRIS FROOME has been named in the Queen's New Year honor's list "with the double Tour de France champion set to receive an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)." Froome won his second Tour de France title in '15, along with a stage victory, "and overall wins at the Criterium du Dauphine and Ruta del Sol." Froome was named alongside British Cycling President BOB HOWDEN and two volunteers in the honors list "for their services to cycling" (CYCLING NEWS, 12/31). ... Spain's sports council said that it has "suspended steeplechaser ANGEL MULLERA for two years for doping." The document said that the 31-year-old is "excluded from all relations as a high-level athlete" on a doping offense (AP, 12/29). ... Sussex County Cricket Club "announced the death of fast bowler" MATT HOBDEN aged 22. The club said that it was "deeply shocked and saddened" to learn of his passing. The cause of death "is not known." Sussex said, "Matthew was an exciting young cricketer with a big future ahead of him in the game" (SKY NEWS, 1/3). ... Former League 1 side Wigan Athletic defender STEVE GOHOURI "has died" aged 34. Gohouri made 42 appearances for Wigan between '10 and '12 and also won 12 caps for Ivory Coast. On Dec. 12, Gohouri was "reported missing after attending the Christmas party of his German club TSV Steinbach." He was "meant to visit his family in Paris but never arrived." German police confirmed that "his body had been found in the River Rhine in the western city of Krefeld" (BBC, 1/2). ... The Polish Athletics Federation announced that former Olympic long jump champion ELZBIETA KRZESINSKA, winner of Gold at the 1956 Melbourne Games, died aged 81. Born in Warsaw, Krzesinska set a world record in Budapest in 1956 with a jump of 6.35m. She "took the Olympic Gold in Melbourne that year with the same mark" (AFP, 12/30).
JAPAN JOB: STUART LANCASTER "will not be filling the post of Japan head coach" recently vacated by EDDIE JONES. The former England coach was "considering an offer to take charge of the surprise package of the recent World Cup with a four-year deal encompassing Japan 2019 on the table." However, the Press Association reported that "while a preliminary enquiry over Lancaster's availability was made early last month, the 46-year-old will not be taking any position at the Japanese Rugby Football Union." Another ex-All Black, JAMIE JOSEPH, "is favourite to take over the Japan team" (PA, 1/1).
NO DETAILS: Tuesday marks the second anniversary of former Formula 1 world champion MICHAEL SCHUMACHER's skiing accident in the French Alps, and the Schumacher family and his manager SABINE KEHM have released "virtually no details on his condition over the months and years." It comes as Schumacher's former manager WILLI WEBBER "has accused wife CORINNA of banning him from visiting the former F1 legend." Weber posted his concerns on Facebook on Christmas day, describing how he was "suffering" at the hands of the Schumacher family due to their "failure to keep in close contact." Privacy "was always important for Schumacher in his racing days," and according to his media lawyer FELIX DAMM, the public "has no right to information after his accident" (HERALD SUN, 12/28).
