The all-male Royal & Ancient Golf Club, which governs the sport outside the U.S. and Mexico, "will disclose on Sept. 18 results of a ballot to allow women as members." The club "will now conduct a ballot among its members by mail, replacing a vote that was scheduled to take place at the club’s business meeting on that day." The R&A said in a statement the change was made so “all members can take part in this historic vote" (BLOOMBERG, 7/25). ... Australian Athletes Alliance CEO Brendan Schwab urged the Australian Football League "to establish an independent body to adjudicate on major decisions." Schwab: "We think there needs to be a strong separation, say, between the board, which is the policy-making body, the executive which administers the competition, and the judiciary which determines disputes" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 7/26). ... Trying to "douse the hurt sentiments" of Sikh and Muslim players, the Int'l Basketball Federation (FIBA) "is ready to review its rule which prevents cagers from wearing headgear for religious reasons." A controversy erupted at the FIBA-sanctioned Asia Cup in China this month "after two Indian Sikh players were told to remove their turbans ahead of the game" (PTI, 7/26). ... National Rugby League side Gold Coast's "ailing NRL campaign has hit another bump" with the league confirming it is investigating possible salary cap breaches. It is the second time in four years that "the club's finances have come under the microscope after the NRL cleared the Titans of any wrongdoing" in '10 over claims then-halfback Scott Prince was offered a house worth A$400,000 for free (AAP, 7/28). ... An investigation by Cricket Australia’s integrity unit in the wake of South Australian high-performance Manager Jamie Cox’s "controversial sacking" is likely to result in charges against other Big Bash teams and changes to the rules. Teams or states "are banned from offering contracts to players" between
Feb. 7 and May 19. The Adelaide Strikers were fined A$50,000 "after
it was discovered Cox’s dealings with three players, including
Victoria’s Brad Hodge and West Indian Kieron Pollard," were in breach of
the player negotiations embargo (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/28).
