The father of Turkey int'l UMUT BULUT was killed in a bombing in Ankara. KEMAL BULUT was one of at least 37 people "who died on Sunday when a car bomb exploded in the Turkish capital" (BBC, 3/14). ... BILL BEAUMONT "will run unopposed" for chair of World Rugby. Beaumont, a former England player, "is the current chairman at the Rugby Football Union." World Rugby on Monday said that Beaumont "had been nominated by the RFU and was the only candidate." AGUSTIN PICHOT, who played for Argentina, "was nominated by his country's federation to succeed OREGAN HOSKINS as vice chairman." Pichot "is also unopposed" (AP, 3/14). ... Williams F1 announced PAUL DI RESTA "as reserve driver" for the '16 season. The former Force India driver, 29, "will continue to race for Mercedes in the German Touring Car Championship." The move "gives the Scot the chance to revive an F1 career many considered to be over" (BBC, 3/14). ... FEMKE VAN DEN DRIESSCHE has "opted to not defend herself in the upcoming disciplinary hearing for mechanical doping and will also retire from cyclocross with immediate effect." She is due in front of the UCI's Disciplinary Commission on Tuesday, but will offer no defense "with regards to the motor that was found in her spare bike at the U23 Cyclocross World Championships back in January." Reports prior to the disciplinary hearing "had suggested that the UCI was seeking a lifetime ban" and a €50,000 ($55,500) fine for the first case of its kind (CYCLING WEEKLY, 3/14). ... Serie B side Como will dedicate a square in town to Italian striker STEFANO BORGONOVO, who in '13 "passed away at the age of 49 following a long battle with motor neurone disease." The ceremony will take place in front of the Sinigaglia stadium in Como Thursday, the day Borgonovo "would have turned 52 years old." A month later the city of Florence "will follow by dedicating Borgonovo a street in front of the stadio Artemio Franchi." Other towns like Pescare and Milan "want to follow with similar gestures" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 3/13).
SEEKING JUSTICE: RAFAEL NADAL has "stepped up his attack on those who label him a drugs cheat," threatening to sue former French Sport Minister ROSELYNE BACHELOT, who said the Spanish tennis player "failed a drug test." Nadal said that he is seeking "justice" and will have his day in court to silence critics like Bachelot. Nadal: "I gonna sue her, and I gonna sue everyone who gonna comment something similar in the future, because I am tired of that." Bachelot, who served as sports minister from '07-10, has claimed Nadal faked an injury in '12, "when he missed the final six months of the season due to knee problems, in order to hide a positive drug test" (London TELEGRAPH, 3/14).
