La Liga side Espanyol President CHEN YANSHENG's visit to Barcelona will include meetings with Barcelona Mayor ADA COLAU and Catalonia President CARLES PUIGDEMONT. The "motive for the visits is to meet the politicians and explain his vision for the club, which is based on two principles: improving the club's finances and strengthening the roster to be able to compete, within three years, in the Champions League" (AS, 4/13). ... Australian rugby league player RYAN MCGOLDRICK "failed to sell himself on auction site eBay as it infringed website rules." The ex-Castleford player is "currently a free agent after a side he signed for in New South Wales folded." However, eBay removed his listing because it "goes against their terms of selling body parts and remains" (BBC, 4/13). ... Former Super Rugby side Blues player KURTIS HAIU died from a "rare form of cancer, aged 31." Haiu played 53 games for the Blues between '06 and '11 and 75 for provincial club Auckland before "retiring because of a rare form of bone cancer" (AAP, 4/13). ... McLaren driver FERNANDO ALONSO "hopes to be racing" at this weekend's Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix but the Spaniard is "taking nothing for granted ahead of a fitness test at the Shanghai circuit." The double world champion "fractured his ribs in a crash at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 20 and the governing FIA’s medical team then ruled him out of the subsequent race in Bahrain." He will "undergo more tests at the Chinese circuit on Thursday before the third round of the 21-race season" (AAP, 4/12). ... The Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) said that Italian cyclist MATTIA GAVAZZI "could face a lifetime ban after he tested positive for cocaine for the third time in his career." Under UCI regulations, a third anti-doping violation "triggers a minimum ban of eight years and a maximum of life" (REUTERS, 4/12). ... Italian cyclist LUCA PAOLINI has been "handed a 18-month ban by the UCI after testing positive for cocaine during last year’s Tour de France." He has the right to appeal the decision but his former team, Katusha, has confirmed that it "will not take him back after nullifying his contract last year" (CYCLING NEWS, 4/13). ... NFL Dallas Cowboys Owner JERRY JONES-backed Blue Star Sports, a Dallas-based software and payments provider for youth sports groups, "has acquired Toronto-based Pointstreak Sports Technologies for an undisclosed sum." The Toronto firm "helps streamline the business operations" for sports clubs and serves customers in 23 countries (DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/13). ... U.K. retailer Sports Direct Founder MIKE ASHLEY "sold his mansion" on Miami Beach's La Gorce Island for $45M. The price equates to $3,815 per square foot (SOUTH FLORIDA BUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/13). ... MARCO POLO DEL NERO has "returned to his job as president of the Brazilian Football Confederation after a three-month leave," even though del Nero "faces charges in the FIFA scandal." Del Nero is "accused of racketeering and money laundering" (AP, 4/12).
