A tribunal on Monday "started hearings into spot-fixing charges" against five cricketers who "could face life bans if found guilty." The tribunal convened by the Pakistan Cricket Board is headed by Justice Asghar Haider. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Bari and former PCB Chair Tauqir Zia are also members. Sharjeel Khan is "one of five players provisionally suspended in the case." Khalid Latif, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed are also facing charges (AFP, 5/15).
Eleni Glouftsis will become the Australian Football League's "first ever female field umpire after earning her debut this weekend." The league confirmed Glouftsis will be one of the three field umpires for the Essendon-West Coast clash at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Glouftsis has been "close to selection for a number of weeks after her impressive form" in the Victorian Football League (HERALD SUN, 5/15).
French officials are claiming their "controversial new weight allowance for female jockeys is already showing signs of being a success," based on the early results of the Flat-racing season. Officials said that women have ridden "twice as many winners as at the equivalent stage last year." A formal review of the allowance will take place "at the end of May." Under the new French system, applying to 90% of races, horses ridden by women have 2kg deducted from the weight they would otherwise have carried, with the "intention of encouraging owners and trainers to make more use of female jockeys" (London GUARDIAN, 5/15).
