Former Rugby Football Union CEO Francis Baron and former Chair Graeme Cattermole were "stripped" of their complimentary tickets and hospitality at Twickenham tests after "publicly raising concerns" about the union's "financial position." The pair have been accused of showing "a lack of respect" after they claimed the RFU was in a "perilous state," having written two reports analyzing its financial affairs. A motion to strip Baron and Cattermole was proposed at a council meeting at Twickenham last Friday and "passed with a majority" (London TELEGRAPH, 11/28).
Gaelic games hurling and camogie have been recognized as protected cultural activities by UNESCO. The games, "which are among the oldest and fastest field sports in the world, were chosen after a lengthy process." UNESCO said that hurling is "an intrinsic part of Irish culture" which promotes health and well-being, inclusiveness and team spirit (BBC, 11/29).
WADA officials said that "points still need to be ironed out" before they are given full access to a suspended Moscow anti-doping laboratory. WADA ended a three-year suspension of Russia in September. But a key condition was that "access be given to the Moscow lab and its data." WADA said that it is aiming to carry out a "full technical mission" at the lab by the end of the year (BBC, 11/29).
