Croatian tennis player MARAN CILIC "has been banned for nine months after testing positive for the stimulant nikethamide" at the BMW Open in Munich earlier this year. The Int'l Tennis Federation said in a statement that 24-year-old had "ingested the nikethamide inadvertently as a result of taking Coramine glucose tablets, and did not intend to enhance his performance in doing so." The suspension "has been backdated to May 1," allowing Cilic to return to the circuit on Jan. 31 (LONDON TIMES, 9/16). ... U.S. singer and actress CHER "claims to have rejected an invitation to perform" at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Although she was asked to participate in February's official Opening Ceremonies, the singer said she "immediately" refused out of solidarity with Russia's gay community (GUARDIAN, 9/16). ... Red Bull driver MARK WEBBER said that "he decided to call time on his Formula One career at the end of the current season because he was lacking motivation to continue in the sport." Webber: "I've been on the edge with F1, motivation-wise, for the past couple of years. You have to be driven. You turn yourself around each winter and the fire in the belly is not quite what it was when you were 24" (London TELEGRAPH, 9/16). ... German pay-TV channel Sky Sport News HD has appointed KAROLIN OLTERSDORF as a new presenter. The 27-year-old, "who recently worked for the Deutsche Anleger Fernsehen, started her new position on Tuesday." In addition, LAURA LUTZ and OLIVER SEQUENZ "will join the channel's editorial staff" (DWDL, 9/16).
CANCER CRUSADER: Cancer survivor and Grand Prix Chair RON WALKER is "crusading to help other Australians finally get access to life-saving drugs." Walker has been personally lobbying his mate -- Prime Minister-elect TONY ABBOTT -- "to improve access to new-generation cancer therapies caught up in red tape" (HERALD SUN, 9/17). ... Former Argentine int'l PABLO AIMAR signed a contract with Malaysian club Johor Darul Takzim on Saturday, "making him one of the biggest foreign names to join a Malaysian football team." Aimar signed for two years, with an option to extend for another three. He is the "highest-ever paid foreign player to have ever graced Malaysian football" (AFP, 9/14). ... Korea volleyball side Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders said that "it will take the case of its former player" KIM YEON-KOUNG to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, unless the Int'l Volleyball Federation (FIVB) "accepts its appeal." Heungkuk's announcement follows the FIVB ruling in Kim's favor on Sept. 6, "allowing the 25-year-old to play for her Turkish club Fenerbahce" (KOREA TIMES, 9/13). ... Banned fast bowler S. SREESANTH claimed "innocence in a letter" to the Board of Control for Cricket in India's disciplinary committee, and said that "his confession to Police in the spot-fixing saga was under duress." Sreesanth: "Under the threat of arrest of my close relatives a statement was forcibly taken in the manner directed by the police" (PTI, 9/16). ... Serie A side AC Milan's KAKÁ has decided to "suspend his salary" while he recovers from an "injury that he expects to sideline him for two or three weeks." In a video on AC Milan's website, Kaká said that all he wants from his team while he recovers is "love and support" so that he can recuperate as quickly as possible (EFE, 9/16). ... English businessman RICHARD BRANSON and the Virgin Kitesurf Armada of 318 kitesurfers "broke a world record for the largest number of kitesurfers to complete a one-mile course and raised money for a collection of charities," including Virgin Unite, Snow-Camp and the RNLI (TVC).
NOTABLE DEATHS: EPL Crystal Palace President PETER MORLEY "has died." Morley "died in his sleep" Saturday night. He was appointed chairman during the club's administration in the late '90s and in '00 "accepted the role" of club president (CROYDON GUARDIAN, 9/16). ... UIM F2 powerboat racing pilot PAOLO ZANTELLI "was killed on Sunday as two powerboats collided" near Milan, Italy. The 48-year-old pilot "remained underwater, probably unconscious, for some time after his powerboat hit another one and capsized at the Idroscalo, an artificial lake near Milan, during a grand prix race" (XINHUA, 9/16).
