V8 Supercars' controversial new restart rules "will be changed ahead of next weekend's championship round in Tasmania." The post-Safety Car procedure "was heavily criticised after its first run of the year at the season-opening Clipsal 500 in Adelaide last month." The rules force the cars "to run in single file and stay under 60km/h until the race leader chooses to hit top speed within an allocated 'acceleration zone'" (AAP, 3/20). ... New Zealand Rugby Union CEO Steve Tew "has denied accusations of a 'cover-up' after revealing that All Blacks backs Cory Jane and Israel Dagg had misused sleeping pills in a 'silly' competition ahead of the quarter-final against Argentina."
The abuse of prescription drugs "has been a hot issue in New Zealand" (REUTERS, 3/20). ... National Rugby League Cronulla Chair Damian Keogh "has accused Canterbury of inflating the player market and called for changes to the NRL transfer system after losing Andrew Fifita and Michael Lichaa to the Bulldogs" on respective deals worth A$850,000 ($768,000) and A$350,000 a season (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/20).
