Chinese marathon runner WANG JIALI was handed an eight-year ban by authorities for a "second doping violation." Wang, who won a gold medal at the 2017 China National Games, "tested positive for peptide hormones during an out-of-competition test" by the Chinese Athletic Association in August (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 1/10). ... Former Liverpool goalkeeper TOMMY LAWRENCE died, aged 77. The Scotsman was BILL SHANKLY's "first-choice" keeper during the '60s. Lawrence made 390 appearances for the Anfield club before making the switch to Tranmere Rovers in '71, where he stayed for three years (BBC, 1/10). ... Super League side Widnes Vikings and Papua New Guinea int'l rugby player KATO OTTIO, who died, aged 23, is "believed to have suffered" a severe heat stroke after a training run. The Pacific Int'l Hospital in PNG, where he was treated, said that he "collapsed during a training session, involving road running" (BBC, 1/10). ... French cyclist ROBERT MARCHAND is retiring at the age of 106, a friend of the "bike-mad centenarian" announced. The decision to quit comes a year after "the tenacious sportsman set what was widely billed as a world record for the over-105s category:" he completed 22.528km (14.08 miles) in one hour (REUTERS, 1/10). ... EMILIO GARCÍA SILVERO is "reportedly emerging as a favorite" to be named president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). He is currently UEFA's head of discipline & integrity and was previously a legal adviser for the RFEF (AS, 1/10). ... Red Bull Formula 1 "reject" DANIIL KVYAT joined Ferrari as a development driver, the team announced on Wednesday. The 23-year-old Russian was dropped by Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso last season "after he had previously lost his place at the Red Bull Racing senior team" to MAX VERSTAPPEN (REUTERS, 1/10). ... National Rugby League side Sydney Roosters former player PAUL CARTER was "placed on a good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to supplying cocaine" to former teammate SHAUN KENNY-DOWALL in a Sydney nightclub (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 1/10). ... A former All Blacks sevens player and a Black Fern are among four players that have been banned by New Zealand Rugby "following anti-doping hearings." ZOEY BERRY, RHYS PEDERSEN, GLEN ROBERTSON and BEN QAUQAU-DODDS were all handed bans, NZR announced (NZ HERALD, 1/10).
CRASHING OUT: Former Tottenham Manager ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS was "admitted to hospital" with a back injury after crashing out of the Dakar Rally on Tuesday, ending his first attempt at the cross-continent race. The 40-year-old "motorsport enthusiast" suffered an accident during the fourth stage of the rally when his Toyota Hilux hit a sand dune (London INDEPENDENT, 1/10).
VOODOO CHILD: ManU striker ROMELU LUKAKU plans to "seek legal advice after being left angered" by claims from Everton Owner FARHAD MOSHIRI that he chose to leave the club after receiving a "voodoo message." Moshiri told an Everton shareholders' meeting that Lukaku turned down the offer last summer after his mother had allegedly been on a "pilgrimage to Africa" and received the message he should go to Chelsea. Lukaku's representatives "flatly rejected" Moshiri's claims, insisting the player was a Catholic who did not believe in "voodoo" (London TELEGRAPH, 1/10).
