Commonwealth Games gymnastics champion Dan Keatings said that he experienced a culture of "bullying and manipulation" throughout his time as a British gymnast. Keatings, 27, described retiring in January as a "relief." British Gymnastics denied claims by a group of coaches that "appalling leadership" within the governing body led to a "culture of fear." Keatings: "The fear is very real" (BBC, 11/13).
The Int'l Rugby Players Association entered an agreement with World Rugby that gives professional rugby union players a "stronger voice in the game" and sees the organization relocate to Dublin to "work closely with rugby’s governing body." The MOU covers a four-year agreement running from '17-20 and "ensures players will be represented and consulted on key issues and decisions affecting the professional players and the future of the game" (RUNNING RUGBY, 11/14).
National Trainers' Federation CEO Rupert Arnold said that the principle of "strict liability which underpins racing should allow for exceptional circumstances where a trainer can demonstrate that he or she had done everything in their power to ensure illegal substances did not find their way into a horse’s system." In such cases, a trainer should not be penalized. Arnold: "They do feel exposed and extremely vulnerable at the moment about being penalized, with a substance appearing where nobody can trace where it came from" (LONDON TIMES, 11/14).
