Scottish Athletics is making "an astonishing bid for independence." The mediation "designed to secure peace in the current political crisis in British Athletics" has reportedly collapsed, with Scotland "taking the first steps in pursuing a historic breakaway that is being regarded by senior figures as a test case for post-Brexit Britain." A "huge political row erupted inside the sport" when UK Athletics Chair Richard Bowker proposed a plan that would have seen UKA "essentially absorb England Athletics" at its joint HQ in Birmingham to cut costs (London DAILY MAIL, 11/18).
The "push is on within the walls of Cricket Australia" for Steve Smith and David Warner to be given an "early reprieve from their bans." Serious discussions have reportedly taken place among the game's hierarchy about "softening the domestic side of the suspension and opening the door" for the deposed captain and vice-captain to be allowed to play the final four Sheffield Shield games of the season (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 11/18).
The World Anti-Doping Agency has "betrayed clean athletes", according to one of its former investigators. American Jack Robertson, WADA's chief investigator until Jan. '16, claimed the organization's current administration "forever tarnished its reputation" by lifting Russia's ban after a state-sponsored doping scandal (BBC, 11/15).
The National Rugby League "is set to answer the call from frustrated fans" and consider using the shot clock to "make sin-binned players leave the field in a timely manner next season." It is understood the competition committee "discussed time wasting around the sin bin, an issue that has become a bugbear for fans" (BBC, 11/17).
