Murcia Football Federation President JOSÉ MIGUEL MONJE CARRILLO said that he will be a candidate if current Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President ÁNGEL MARÍA VILLAR is barred from running for re-election, while maintaining that he expects an investigation into Villar's running of the RFEF "to come to nothing." The Spanish government is investigating whether the RFEF "disregarded its own rules to give third-tier Recreativo de Huelva a license to compete despite being technically bankrupt" and owing €11M in taxes, while a direct €200,000 loan to the Andalusian club "is also being looked at" (ESPN, 1/27). ... Australian cricketer ELLYSE PERRY was "crowned on Wednesday night as Cricket Australia's women's player of the year at the Allan Border Medal function in Melbourne." Perry "spearhead the Southern Stars' Ashes campaign" in '15. Perry "starred across a seven-match, multi-format series." The all-rounder "scored 264 runs at an average of 33 and took 16 wickets at 13.43" (HERALD SUN, 1/27). ... Cycling team Caja Rural-Seguros RGA dropped newly signed rider ALBERTO GALLEGO after the Spaniard "popped positive earlier this month." Gallego reportedly tested positive for stanozolol, a banned anabolic steroid, on Jan. 3, and Caja Rural officials confirmed he was "provisionally suspended." The 25-year-old penned a two-year deal to join Caja Seguros after "posting solid results in the amateur ranks and raced pro two seasons with Portuguese outfits" (VELO NEWS, 1/26).
RADCLIFFE DEMANDS APOLOGY: Marathon runner PAULA RADCLIFFE called on an MP to apologize for "linking her to doping allegations" and criticized a parliamentary inquiry into cheating as a "set-up." She accused U.K. Culture Media & Sport Select Committee Chair JESSE NORMAN of "permanently tarnishing her reputation." Norman said that an apology was "unnecessary." He "denied that he had identified Radcliffe" by referring to suspicions of blood doping involving "potentially the winners or medallists at the London marathon, potentially British athletes." Norman: "Since I wasn’t naming Paula, no apology is required. ... What I had not realized is that Ms. Radcliffe had been pursued by people in and outside the sport on this issue, and I’m afraid that may be why the link was made, but it had nothing to do with me" (LONDON TIMES, 1/27).
