Former Spanish motorcycle racer SITO PONS will be investigated by a court for alleged tax fraud amounting to €445,000 ($492,000), court documents said on Thursday. A judge in a Barcelona court "gave the go-ahead to an official investigation into the tax affairs" of the former Grand Prix rider and two-time 250cc World Champion ('88-89) (THE SPORTS CAMPUS, 7/7). ... Teenage British cyclist GABRIEL EVANS has been given a three-and-a-half year ban for doping. Evans, 19, "was suspended last year after admitting to his use of EPO" and cannot compete again until April '19. UK Anti-Doping CEO NICOLE SAPSTEAD said that Evans had acted "intentionally" but because of his "immaturity" the ban was reduced by six months (BBC, 7/7). ... Korean volleyball coach PARK MAN-BOK "will be inducted into the sport's Hall of Fame." The Korea Volleyball Association said that Park, former head coach of the Peruvian women's national volleyball team, "is among five members of the 2016 International Volleyball Hall of Fame class." The other four inductees are indoor volleyball player NIKOLA GRBIC of Serbia, female indoor volleyball player DANIELLE SCOTT of the U.S., and beach players MISTY MAY-TREANOR of the U.S. and EMANUEL REGO of Brazil (YONHAP, 7/7). ... Former Olympic weightlifting champion SA JAE-HYOUK was "ordered to pay fines on Thursday for assaulting a fellow weightlifter last year." The Chuncheon District Court ordered the 31-year-old to pay a fine of 10M won ($8,600) for "punching HWANG WOO-MAN in the face at a local pub in December" (YONHAP, 7/7). ... Two-time Olympic cycling Gold Medalist ANNA MEARES "will carry the Australian flag at the opening ceremony for the Rio de Janeiro Games on Aug. 5 but has asked her family not to travel to Brazil due to concerns over security and the Zika virus." Meares was announced Wednesday "as the flag bearer and captain of Australia’s expected 410-member team" (AP, 7/6). ... Former Wimbledon champion MARION BARTOLI is "suffering from a virus that forced her withdrawal from an invitational event at the grand slam tournament in London and has her fearing for her life." Bartoli, who has lost 20kg since picking up the virus early this year, said on Thursday that "she could stomach only organic salad and peeled cucumbers." Bartoli: “I fear for my life, I’m afraid one day my heart will stop. ... I am wasting away and I don't know why" (REUTERS, 7/7).
CHELSEA EYEING MESSI: Chelsea will join Man City in the chase for LIONEL MESSI if he "gives any indication he might quit Barcelona." The fee for Messi would "smash" the £100M ($129M) mark and Messi’s father has reportedly met with Chelsea Owner ROMAN ABRAMOVICH. The meeting "is believed to have taken place" on Abramovich’s yacht (THE SUN, 7/6).
