FIFA presidential candidate MICHAEL VAN PRAAG has visited South Korea's football leaders seeking support for his challenge to President SEPP BLATTER. Van Praag's visit to Seoul "comes days after tension was exposed at an Asian Football Confederation election meeting between its leaders, who support Blatter, and the South Korean delegation" (ESPN, 5/6). ... Former League Two side Portsmouth Owner VLADIMIR ANTONOV has "failed in a High Court appeal against his extradition to Lithuania to face allegations of bank fraud." The Lithuanian authorities have accused Antonov, a Russian national and former chairman of Snoras bank, and his associate, RAIMONDAS BARANAUSKAS, of "improperly transferring" more than €478M ($542.3M) and another $10M into accounts "said to be under their control" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 5/6). ... Mornington trainer JASON WARREN is facing two charges from Racing Victoria stewards relating to an "investigation into betting irregularities" concerning his runner BARON ARCHER at Echuca on March 8. Warren has been charged with "failing to notify stewards that the horse had undergone throat surgery before his first-up run, and for false and misleading evidence" (THE AGE, 5/6). ... Brasileiro referee LÚCIO JOSÉ SILVA DE ARAÚJO was "selected as the best referee" of the Campeonato Baiano by the Bahiana Football Federation (FBF) (BAHIA NOTÍCIAS, 5/5). ... The Olympic Council of Asia said that Chinese hammer thrower ZHANG WENXIU, who was kicked out of last year's Asian Games after "failing a dope test," has had her gold medal returned. An OCA statement said, "Following further testing performed by independent specialists, the
Olympic Council of Asia was informed that such testing had established
that the presence of Zeranol was, as Ms. Zhang asserted, the consequence
of the consumption of contaminated food" (REUTERS, 5/6).
