President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia has "never had a state-sponsored doping program," after the association of National Anti-Doping Organizations called for a "temporary blanket ban on Russia" from int'l sport. Putin: "In Russia we never had, don't have, and I hope won't have a state-sponsored doping program. On the contrary, there will only be a fight against doping." He said that the current system was not working. He added that a new doping control system "was being put together" (REUTERS, 3/1).
Australian Rugby League Commission Chair John Grant "strongly defended the code's work in the area of concussion, insisting the game moved quickly when alerted to the situation by the dramas in the NFL." Grant, speaking after he was officially retained as chair, insisted the game would "continue to stay abreast of the latest developments in the area." Grant said, "It's fair to say that the NFL situation has alerted everyone right around the world. But we've taken a view very solidly we needed to move quickly, which we did do. I think like everything, change is difficult for people and it takes time." Asked whether he feared the "floodgates opening in rugby league," Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett said, "There's a lot of research being done now and Newcastle were leading that when I was there. We're not gridiron ... it's a totally different game. We don't use helmets and we don't use them as weapons. I don't have that fear" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 3/2).
The Professional Cyclists Association is "threatening legal action" against the Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) over its "ongoing trial of disc brakes." Fears that the brakes, a "sharp-edged exposed disc," could cause "serious injuries" prompted the CPA to "call for further tests before they are allowed" to be trialed in more races (REUTERS, 2/28).
Cyclist Jess Varnish's lawyers said that British Cycling has "learnt nothing" from its "ongoing controversies," accusing cycling's national governing body of a "complete lack of transparency over its handling of the internal inquiry into her bullying claims." Varnish accused former Technical Dir Shane Sutton of "sexism and bullying" last April, eventually leading to his resignation. An internal inquiry was carried out, which initially "upheld" Varnish's complaint, only for it to emerge in December that Sutton had "been cleared of eight of the nine charges against him" (London TELEGRAPH, 3/1).
A doctor who received a "mystery package" for Bradley Wiggins in '11 has "no record of his medical treatment at the time," MPs heard. In '14, ex-Team Sky medic Richard Freeman "had a laptop containing medical records stolen," the Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee was told. UK Anti-Doping CEO Nicole Sapstead said, "No one has any recognition of what was in the package" (BBC, 3/1).
The Int'l Cricket Council highlighted the key principles of the proposed new constitution for the United States of America Cricket Association. Aimed at unifying the currently fractured cricket community, facilitating USACA's efforts to be reinstated as a member of the ICC and allowing the sport to flourish at all levels for the benefit of the whole sport in the U.S., the constitution has now been sent to USACA for adoption by its membership (ICC).
A record number of local and int'l cricketers have been officially registered for the Caribbean Premier League Player Draft on March 10 in Barbados. In all, 258 players from across the Caribbean and most of the leading cricketing nations are in the frame to secure a place in the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from Aug. 1-Sept. 9, with fixtures and dates to be announced (CPL).
