New Zealand rugby player SONNY BILL WILLIAMS is "belatedly putting up his hand to help New Zealand's World Cup defence." Just hours after a disappointed Kiwi coach STEPHEN KEARNEY revealed that "other commitments" had ruled Williams out of his 24-man squad named on Tuesday, the All Blacks player "phoned him to say he wanted to play in the tournament" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 10/8). ... The Badminton Association of India on Monday said it has set up an independent three-member panel to hear player JWALA GUTTA's case "against the life ban proposed against her by its disciplinary committee." The panel "will have to give a decision within a month, till when Jwala will not be considered for national or international selection" (IANS, 10/7). ... Lawyers for Australian Football League side Brisbane "have scuttled a bid" by AFL Hall of fame legend LEIGH MATTHEWS to challenge Chair ANGUS JOHNSON at a members vote. Matthews and fellow challenger, Fitzroy great ROSS THORNTON, "are life members but have not been a full members of the club for long enough according to the club’s constitution." Springfield Land Corp Deputy Chair BOB SHARPLESS "has been recruited onto the board as a special appointment and looks certain to assume the chairmanship" (Brisbane COURIER-MAIL, 10/8). ... English cricketer KEVIN PIETERSEN was on Tuesday "awarded undisclosed libel damages over an advertisement that suggested he had tampered with his bat during this year’s Ashes series against Australia." The advertisement for opticians Specsavers showed a picture of the batsman alongside the statement: “‘Bat tampering’ in the Ashes? Apparently Hot Spot should’ve gone to Specsavers” (AFP, 10/8). ... FANDI AHMAD "has been lined up to take charge" as coach of Singapore side LionsXII when the team defends its Malaysian Super League title next season. Football Association of Singapore's council members "will be meeting Fandi over the next few days to work out a deal" (STRAITS TIMES, 10/8). ... Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) President JOSÉ LUIS SÁEZ "indicated his possible retirement in 2018 after organizing the FIBA World Championship for Women that year." Sáez said, "With the 2014 FIBA World Cup we have shown that we can host a great competition without help from public coffers. I have 25 years of experience and I would like to step down after organizing the FIBA World Championship for Women in Spain" (EFE, 10/8). ... Spanish cyclist JUAN ANTONIO FLECHA, 36, will "hang up his bicycle" after competing in the Tour of Beijing, which starts Friday. Flecha: "I love the sport and I am saying goodbye with a smile. Cycling will remain a part of my life, I am sure" (EFE, 10/8). ... The IAAF is threatening "an exemplary doping sanction of four years" for Spanish runner MARTA DOMINGUEZ. An IAAF letter written in February proposed a sanction of two years, "the usual for doping." Dominguez's case is now being reviewed by Spain's Superior Sports Council (CSD), which will "have to make a decision regarding the IAAF's request that Dominguez be sanctioned for four years" (MARCA, 10/8). ... Australian Football League side Sydney Swans officially made LANCE FRANKLIN a member after Hawthorn "opted not to match the extraordinary offer." Following an investigation by the league's legal, integrity and compliance departments, the AFL "ratified the long-term contract offer from the Swans for the restricted free agent, subject to certain conditions being met" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 10/9).
