The NetApp-Endura team was announced as one of four wild card teams invited by the Amaury Sport Organisation to race in this year's Tour de France. The German team will be the first from that country in the sport's biggest stage race since '10, when Milram was in its final year as a team (CYCLING NEWS, 1/29). ... Advance Sports Nutrition employee Darren Hibert "has become the first person to be fined for failing to co-operate with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority under the body's new powers." Hibbert, an associate of sports scientist Stephen Dank, has "been slugged for failing to comply with two interview notices, despite providing a doctor's certificate claiming he was too unwell to attend to the latter request" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 1/30). ... Random breathalyser tests will "be conducted on athletes" at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Perlis from May 24-June 4. Youth & Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that the measure "was to ensure Sukma athletes were free from alcohol during the Games" (THE STAR, 1/29). ... Referees "will be instructed to waive complaining captains away after awarding a penalty as coaches admit some players will take time to adjust to the rule changes" introduced in the National Rugby League this season.
NRL coaches "were advised at a meeting on Wednesday of the new restrictions on when their skippers could talk to referees, which will no longer occur after a penalty or while a scrum is being formed" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 1/30).
