The Russian Ice Hockey Federation said on Friday that it replaced its men's U18 ice hockey squad with the U17s for this month's world championships "amid concerns the players could test positive for meldonium." The RIHF announced in a statement that players at the national training camp took meldonium under an official program "but stopped in the autumn" when it was announced the drug would be placed on WADA's banned list from Jan. 1. The RIHF said, "The Russian Ice Hockey Federation has made the decision, in conjunction with the Sports Ministry to change the roster of the U-18 side in order to protect their rights." The U.S. will host the world championships from April 14-24 in Grand Forks, North Dakota (REUTERS, 4/8).
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| Brad Haddin |
Cricket Australia will "launch a review into its failed World Twenty20 campaign" but former Test vice-captain Brad Haddin does not believe the country "needs to change its approach to the game's shortest format." Australia, the world's No. 1 Test and one-day nation, "failed to progress from the group stage for the second time in a row despite boasting some of the best Twenty20 players in the world." While CA's goal is for Australia to be No. 1 in all three forms of the game, "the interests of the national Twenty20 side have tended to be placed behind the Test and ODIs teams," which are considered "more important." But with Australia to host the next World T20, in '20, "the pressure will be on for an improved showing on home soil" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 4/9).
Incoming Japan rugby head coach Jamie Joseph wants more Brave Blossom internationals "to return home and play for the fledgling Super Rugby outfit the Sunwolves" ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The Sunwolves "are the only side without a win in Super Rugby." Joseph: "Next year one of my goals is to attract all the Japanese national players around the world back home and play for the Sunwolves. I think it is important for our preparation for the World Cup" (REUTERS, 4/10).
