French TV program Stade 2, which has claimed that "hidden motors are being used in the professional peloton," has raised suspicions about a bike change made by LottoNL-Jumbo’s Primoz Roglic shortly before he started -- and won -- the Stage 9 individual time trial at last month’s Giro d’Italia. Roglic was "a surprise second" to Giant-Alpecin’s Tom Dumoulin at the 9.8km Stage 1 time trial in Apeldoorn that opened the race, and a week later won the longer, 40.5km Stage 9 in Tuscany’s Chianti Classico wine-growing area. According to the France Televisions sports magazine show’s latest report, "among the suspicious images" was one of those of a bike ridden by Roglic in Strade Bianche (CYCLING TODAY, 6/20).
IBF TO PUNISH PROS: The Int'l Boxing Federation will "punish pro boxers" who compete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics by "removing them from the sanctioning body's rankings or vacating their titles." The IBF announced its decision Monday, joining the World Boxing Council in an "aggressive campaign by sanctioning bodies to keep prominent pros out of the Olympics." IBF President Daryl Peoples said, "Making this decision was not difficult for us. We felt it was important for the IBF to get involved and take a stance against professional boxers competing against amateurs due to safety concerns, as part of our commitment to this sport is to promote the health and well-being of the boxers" (AP, 6/22).
STAMP OF APPROVAL: India's plans to restructure its football leagues "have got support" from the Asian Football Confederation. AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said, "As we have observed throughout the continent, building a strong and highly competitive local league plays an important role in achieving success in the AFC Champions League. The restructuring in Indian football, with strong guidance by the AIFF and its President Praful Patel, can definitely be the catalyst for club football to thrive and compete among the continent's best" (ESPN, 6/20).
