Scheduling "will be among the key welfare issues" the Rugby League Players' Association takes to the National Rugby League on Tuesday in Sydney, including the amount of five-day breaks between games. RLPA CEO Ian Prendergast "will meet with" NRL Head of Football Todd Greenberg and GM of Integrity Nick Weeks. There is a "wide gap" between what players see as a desirable season draw and what the NRL and clubs see as the best financial outcome, "especially with the expanding preseason" (Brisbane COURIER-MAIL, 2/15). ... Amid "mounting speculation" on Pakistan’s participation in next month’s World Twenty20 in India, the country’s Cricket Board on Monday said that "it is not under any pressure" from the Int'l Cricket Council to send its team and a "final decision remains solely dependent on government clearance." The Pakistan Cricket Board is "awaiting government go ahead to travel for the mega-event" starting March 8. The official admitted that if the government does not give its permission to play in India for security reasons, "there was nothing the PCB could do" (PTI, 2/15). ... South Korea's national anti-doping body said Monday that "it will oversee drug testing for all major professional sports starting this year, taking over the reins from the respective leagues." The Korea Anti-Doping Agency said that it will strive for "transparent testing procedures and reasonable degree of punishments." Until now, governing bodies for professional baseball, football, golf, volleyball and basketball "came up with their own doping test protocols and imposed penalties on violators through their own hearings" (KOREA HERALD, 2/15).
