J.League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima announced that "the suspension of defender KAZUHIKO CHIBA for a banned stimulant has been lifted." The 31-year-old received a provisional suspension at the end of October after a test by the Japan Anti-Doping Agency revealed the presence of methylhexanamine, a stimulant banned by WADA (KYODO, 12/22). ... The body of former National Rugby League player "CHAD ROBINSON has been found in a car in Sydney's north west almost a month after he went missing." Electricity workers found a body, believed to be the 36-year-old, in a car at the intersection of Marieba and Porters roads at Kenthurst around 12:30pm Thursday. Robinson was last seen at his Kellyville home on Nov. 26 (THE AUSTRALIAN, 12/22). ... Greek football side Panathinaikos Chair GIANNIS ALAFOUZOS, "a bitter and vocal opponent" of Olympiakos Owner VAGGELLIS MARINAKIS, "has been sentenced to a year in jail for violating Greece's Privacy Act." He was sentenced alongside KYRIAKOS THOMAIDIS, a journalist and host of the TV show "Trial on SKAI," by the Piraeus Criminal Court. The complaint was brought by Marinakis (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 12/22). ... Former South Africa cricketer ALVIRO PETERSEN has been "banned for two years after admitting attempting to cover up a match-fixing scandal." Cricket South Africa withdrew charges of match fixing against Petersen, but the 36-year-old has "admitted 13 charges" relating to the investigation that saw ex-Proteas player GULAM BODI banned for 20 years (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 12/22). ... Former Scottish Premiership side Rangers Owner CRAIG WHYTE has "pleaded not guilty to two charges, including one of fraud, in relation to his purchase of the club” in ’11. Whyte’s lawyer entered the plea during a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday. The 45-year-old “faces charges of fraud and a second allegation under the Companies Act” (BBC, 12/22).
THREAT OF SUSPENSION: Liverpool defender JOËL MATIP and West Bromwich Albion's ALLAN NYOM "have been threatened with suspension from club football in the New Year after opting out of Cameroon's plans for the Africa Cup of Nations." The Cameroon FA claims it will "consider invoking" a FIFA regulation preventing players from representing their clubs for the duration of an int'l tournament if they fail to play for their country when requested. Matip, aged 25, was named in Cameroon's initial 35-man squad for the tournament in Gabon, which runs from Jan. 14-Feb. 5. But he has told Cameroon he does not wish to take part "because of previous issues with the national team's technical staff." Nyom was also included in the provisional 35 but has withdrawn claiming "he wants to prioritise his club career" (LONDON TIMES, 12/21).
