Leaders of Brazil's sporting confederations, "many of whom have been in power for decades, will have their time in office restricted under new legislation enacted on Tuesday," according to Andrew Downie of REUTERS. Brazil's Senate "voted to ratify a bill that limits presidents of sporting confederations who receive public funding to a maximum of two terms in office." The bill also "obliges the federations to publish their annual accounts and include athletes in the decision-making process, amongst other conditions." Although the bill must be signed into law by President Dilma Rousseff, "that is expected to be a formality and some of Brazil's best-known sports figures were jubilant at the law's passage. " Three-time French Open tennis champion Gustavo Kuerten, 1994 football World Cup winners Rai and Mauro Silva as well as Popo, a former world champion boxer who is now a deputy, "were all in the Senate to back the legislation." Rai said, "Sport should be an example of modernity, transparency and professionalism" (REUTERS, 9/17).
