Veronica Campbell Brown

Olympic and World Champion Veronica Campbell-Brown has denied knowingly taking a banned substance Lasix, which also goes by the name Furosemide.

Brown’s first public reaction came in the form of a statement released by her On Track Management (OTM) group following reports that she has tested positive for the banned drug.

The OTM statement says Brown is determined to clear her name and included a public apology to her family, supporters and sponsors for “any embarrassment”.

“Her faith which rests not in device or creed will see her through this dark period,” said the OTM Tuesday.

“Due to her determination to vigorously pursue the clearing of her name, she will desist from being vocal, suffice it to say, while not accepting guilt of willfully taking a banned substance, she wholeheartedly apologises to her family, Jamaica, her sponsors, the governing body, the world athletics family, her supporters, as well as those she worked with in various non-athletic causes for any embarrassment and or hurt this devastating news has caused.”

OTM’s release follows a statement from the Jamaica Athletics Administration Association (JAAA) Tuesday afternoon confirming that the Jamaican sprinter was suspended from competition pending the findings of a disciplinary panel that will hear her case.

“We also wish to point out that Mrs. Veronica Campbell-Brown voluntarily withdrew herself from competition and accepted the provisional suspension,” the JAAA release said.

The JAAA added that the matter is being handled according to IAAF rules and further statements will be made at the outcome of the case.

Brown is expected to miss the 14th IAAF World Championship in Moscow in August.

Protestors hold banners prior to the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 Group A match between Brazil and Japan at National Stadium on June 15, 2013 in Brasilia, Brazil. The protests were from groups unhappy at the amount of public money spent on the tournament and 2014 World Cup. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

FIFA president Sepp Blatter denied that the Confederations Cup and World Cup are the causes for mass protests across Brazil.

Demonstrations, which began last week in response to rise in public transport fares, have turned into a nation-wide rally against bad governance and corruption, reports Xinhua.

Many marchers expressed their anger at the billions of dollars spent on new football stadiums for next year’s World Cup instead of improvements to the country’s precarious public services like hospitals, schools and transport.

“I hope that the protests will calm down,” Blatter said during a press conference Tuesday.

“Brazil is a country that prides itself on freedom. I can understand that the people are unhappy. But football is here to bring people together, build bridges, bring happiness and hope.

“Brazil asked us to host the World Cup. We didn’t impose the World Cup on Brazil. It’s obvious that we had to build stadiums. But they aren’t the only thing needed for a World Cup. There are also roads, hotels, airports and many things that remain as a legacy.”

Blatter said he was confident the protests would not affect the Confederations Cup, a World Cup warmup event currently being played in six Brazilian cities.

The 77-year-old Swiss admitted he had discussed the situation with Brazil’s sports minister Aldo Rebelo.

“This is a matter for the Brazilian government and the governments of the specific regions,” Blatter said. “It’s up to them to resolve it. The only thing we can do is offer great football in beautiful stadiums so that people can enjoy themselves.

“I don’t know that the government has planned but I am confident that the protests will not affect the Confederations Cup.”

Hulk in action during the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 Group A match between Brazil and Japan at National Stadium on June 15, 2013 in Brasilia, Brazil. (Getty Images)

Fortaleza (Brazil), June 19 (IANS): Brazil forward Hulk insists he is unaffected by jeers from the stands and has vowed to win over the hearts and minds of Brazilian supporters during the Confederations Cup.

The Zenit St. Petersburg star was booed during Brazil’s friendlies against England and France earlier this month as fans called for him to be replaced by Paris Saint-Germain winger Lucas, reports Xinhua.

But the 26-year-old saw a shift in the public’s attitude during Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Japan in the opening Confederations Cup match in Brasilia on Saturday.

“When I hear the name of Lucas, or of another player, I don’t let it affect me,” Hulk said ahead of Wednesday’s Group A clash against Mexico at the Castelao stadium.

“I have the confidence of my teammates and the manager and that is what is most important. I was happy when I was applauded in the last match.”

Hulk left Brazil at the age of 18 in 2005 when he was signed by Japanese outfit Kawasaki Frontale. The move was followed by successful spells at J League clubs Consadole Sapporo and Tokyo Verdy, prompting Porto to pounce in 2008.

After 55 goals in 99 appearances for the Portuguese club, he was signed by Zenit St Petersburg for a reported 40 million euros in September last year.

“I left the country at a young age and for that reason people don’t know me,” Hulk said. “It’s normal to criticise people you are not familiar with.I hope that by the end of the Confederations Cup my image is going to a lot better.

“Those close to me know that since I was young I have had to overcome difficulties. I have always confronted them and overcome them. I am happy to be in the national team and that my hard work is being recognised. Going through hardships makes your achievements all the more satisfying,” he said.

David Beckham attends a press conference at Nanjing Olympic Sports Center on June 18, 2013 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China. (Getty Images)

Beijing, June 19 (IANS): David Beckham is in China to build enthusiasm for the game in the world’s most populous country, where fans are pretty discouraged at the moment over the poor performance of their national team.

The former England international, who became a goodwill ambassador for Chinese soccer earlier this year, arrived in Beijing Monday, two days after China’s national squad suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat at the hands of Thailand.

Beckham donated a jersey he wore with Paris-St. Germain, where he played his final match as a professional, at a charity auction in Beijing and opened an account on Sina Weibo, China’s answer to Twitter.

The account of the star athlete and global celebrity attracted 100,000 followers within hours of the launch.

Even so, Beckham’s second visit in three months does not seem to be lifting the spirits of Chinese soccer fans, whose national side has only one win this year and will not qualify for the 2014 World Cup.

Besides Beijing, Beckham will make stops in Nanjing, Shanghai and Hangzhou.

File photo of Pranab Mukherjee

New Delhi, June 18 (IANS) Vidya Sagar was a sports enthusiast and an avid tennis player in his youth. But financial crunch forced him to work as a gardener in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Years later, his daughter has got an opportunity to fulfill his dream courtesy President Pranab Mukherjee.

Nisha Sagar, a squash player, is one of the 15 youngsters who were shortlisted by the coaches at the president’s house for their talent and skills in sports like table tennis, lawn tennis and squash. They are now being groomed with the hope of them representing the country in the international arena one day.

“Till last year I had never heard about squash but now I am in love with it and want to play it at the international level,” said Nisha in an interaction with the media here Tuesday.

However, the children, all under the age of 14, would have never got the chance to even enter the sports complex in the Rashtrapati Bhavan had it not been for President Mukherjee.

“Earlier the sports complex was open only to officials and their families residing in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. But the president wanted inclusive development so the gates were opened for every child from any background,” said Venu Rajamony, press secretary to the president.

According to Rajamony, there are 8,000 people including 1,800 employees that live in the presidents’ estate.

“There are children of gardeners, horse groomers and peons who play along with the kids of bureaucrats… there is no discrimination,” he added.

As far as the coaches are concerned, the children do have what it takes to make it big and all they need is direction and motivation.

“We are giving them special protein diet and are looking after all the expenses so they can just concentrate on the game,” said Gauri Shankar, the tennis coach.

The tennis coaching had begun in December 2012, while that for table tennis and squash commenced in March.

President Mukherjee would meet the group Wednesday.

New Delhi - The tragic death of India’s cycling coach Ruma Chatterjee in a road accident on the Noida Expressway today morning has come as a major setback for the national team that was preparing for the World Championships.

Ruma, who hails from Kolkata, was hit by a speeding vehicle while she was training with the junior cyclists. The 51-year-old was taken to the nearby Kailash Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. Ruma, a spinster, leaves behind her 77-year-old mother and five sisters.

Besides representing India thrice in international competitions, she served as coach seven times and was part of the national team since the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Ruma, a strict disciplinarian, was popular among her wards. It was under her tutelage that India produced their best ever show in the Asian Championships, winning four medals here in March. Deborah bagged three medals while another teenager Manorama Devi won a silver.

Cycling Federation of India (CFI) secretary general Onkar Singh paid rich tributes to the coach. Singh said Ruma had worked hard to develop a close relationship with the juniors.

“It is a very sad day for us. She liked to do things in her own way but was totally committed. Earlier, she was taking care of the seniors but after the Asian event she started focusing on the juniors as well. She was always there for the kids. It would be tough for us to replace her,” said Onkar Singh.

Ruma was set to travel with a four-member girls team to train in the International Cycling Union (UCI) academy in Switzerland, ahead of the Scotland World Championships in August. As luck would have it, the team’s Swiss tour has been called off owing to visa issues.

“It is another unfortunate thing that the Schengen visa for the Indian team has been rejected. Now it seems there was no way the girls could have gone without their coach,” Onkar Singh said.

St. John’s, Antigua -  The president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dave Cameron has described a series of meetings he has been having with Caribbean prime ministers as “crucial” to the development of the sport in the region.

Cameron’s comments follow his latest round of meetings in which talks were held with St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves in Kingstown and Prime Minister of Grenada Dr. Keith Mitchell in St. George’s.

“These meetings are crucial in setting the framework with the political leaders of the region towards ensuring that they are fully briefed on all matters relating to the regional sport,” said Cameron, who was elected to the post in April.

“It is critical that we at the West Indies Cricket Board keep the leaders of each of our countries informed with regard to our plans and programmes and that they are aware of the challenges and difficulties which we face. It is also valuable to have their perspective on what they think are the issues regarding the sport,” noted Cameron.

Cameron was accompanied by WICB chief executive officer Michael Muirhead and company secretary Verlyn Faustin.

“We shared thoughts, ideas and suggestions and at the next meeting of the Board, I will share all that with my team,” the WICB president said.

“We value the inputs as we are strategically looking to reposition cricket.”

Since being elected, Cameron has either paid courtesy calls or met with Prime Minister of Jamaica, Portia Simpson-Miller, President of Guyana, Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis Dr. Denzil Douglas and Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

Cameron also met with Barbados’s Sports Minister Stephen Lashley.

–IANS/CMC

sr/dg

Bridgetown, Barbados –  West Indies middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been forced to withdraw from the first ever Caribbean Premier League (CPL) because of his contractual obligations with English county team Derbyshire.

Organisers say Chanderpaul signed a contract with CPL, offering himself for selection but later realised that his commitment to Derbyshire provided for release only if it pertained to West Indies duty, reports CMC.

“I am extremely sorry that I will not be able to participate in the CPL because of contractual obligations,” said Chanderpaul.

“I would definitely like to make myself available for the next edition, and will have my contracts carry a clause that will permit me to play in future editions of T20 tournaments.”

Head coach Andy Roberts said it is unfortunate that Chanderpaul is unable to represent the St. Lucia Zouks.

“His experience would have added some stability to the team, and of course he is loved and respected by fans around the world,” said the former West Indies fast bowler.

“We wish him all the best this season with Derbyshire and hope to see him in the draft again next year”.

Chanderpaul’s withdrawal opens the door for Aussie batsman Luke Pomersbach to join St. Lucia.

“We are pleased with Pomersbach as a replacement option,” said Roberts.

“He is a competent middle order batsman, and we believe that he will serve our team well.”

Pomersbach was in the group of Elite Pool A players alongside Chanderpaul, and the only batsman remaining in that pool.

“I am excited about this new opportunity and really looking forward to playing in the Caribbean for St. Lucia,” Pomersbach said.

“It will be great to be a part of this first CPL and I am looking forward to some tough competitive cricket with some of the greatest T20 cricketers in the world.”

Organisers say Pomersbach’s selection is in line with the rules of the draft and does not put the St. Lucia team at any disadvantage.

The St Lucia Zouks is led by franchise players Darren Sammy and Herschelle Gibbs. The other team members are Albie Morkel, Tino Best, Tamim Iqbal, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Andre Fletcher, Garey Mathurin, Liam Sebastian, Dalton Polius, Kavem Hodge, Kenroy Peters and Nelon Pascal.

The CPL begins July 30 in Barbados and concludes Aug 24 in Trinidad.

sr/dg

Madrid - Spanish cyclist Joaquin ‘Purito’ Rodriguez believes that he is one of the main contenders to win the Tour de France beginning at the end of June.

The 34-year-old Spaniard has managed podium finishes in the Giro de Italia and Vuelta de Espana races, to highlight his credentials and the fact that he has evolved from a rider who would always be a threat in one day races as a result of his ability to produce a punchy uphill sprint, into a rider capable of competing over three long weeks in the saddle, Xinhua reports.

Now he feels he is prepared to lead the Katusha team in this year’s Tour.

“My preparation has gone very well and I am happy with my results,” he said in interview with sports paper ‘Diario AS’.

“I have got more points from my races than at the same sage last year and the fact I didn’t ride this year’s Giro, when I was leader last year, means people have not talked so much about me, but my results have been good.”

Rodriguez earned his nickname ‘Purito’, which literally means, ‘Little Cigar’ as a result of his being so thin. That has helped him to become an aggressive punchy climber, but Rodriguez doesn’t believe it is in the mountains where this year’s Tour will be won and lost.

“It is in the time trials,” he insists. “This year they are not long and flat and you won’t have to ride at 55km an hour to win. This year they are shorter but tougher, especially the second one,” he said.

A notoriously poor rider against the clock, that is certain to help Rodriguez’s challenge this year.

“My aim is to finish as high up the qualification as possible and to try and win a stage. I want to be able to finish the race knowing I am in the position I deserve to be in, be that first or eighth,” he said, without refusing to rule out winning and wearing the famous yellow jersey.

“Last year I was second in the Giro and third in the Vuelta and I could have won both of them, so I am not ruling out winning. I am a more mature rider now. I know it will be complicated, but if I am going to rule myself out of winning, it will be at the end, rather than the beginning,” said Rodriguez.

When asked about possible rivals, he had no doubt in naming Chris Froome, who will lead the British challenge with the Sky team and recently won the Dauphine Libere race, seen as a prelude to the Tour, along with fellow Spaniards, Alejandro Valverde, Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck and 2011 winner Cadel Evans, with Contador as the main man to challenge Froome.

Rodriguez has a warning for all riders preparing for the Tour. You can’t win the race in the opening week, but you can most definitely lose it.

“Everyone is nervous and there are a lot of falls. They are dangerous and something will happen before we get to the Alpes, where the winner will be decided,” he said.

London - Senior Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardene has said they need to contain the “strong Indian batting” when the two teams meet in the Champions Trophy semifinal Thursday.

The 36-year-old led his team to victory over Australia by scoring an unbeaten 84 in their last group match Monday when Sri Lanka won by 33 runs, to fix a date with India at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

“I think India are playing some really good cricket. Their batting looks really strong, so those are key areas that we need to focus on,” Jayawardene was quoted as saying by the Champions Trophy website.

India have won all their three group B matches while Sri Lanka won two of their Group A matches.

India had beaten Sri Lanka in a warm-up game leading up to the tournament.

“Warm-up games or whatever, it doesn’t count right now. It’s a big tournament. It’s the semifinal, so looking forward to that.”

The 2011 World Cup finalists were declared joint-winners of the 2002 Champions Trophy after the final was called off due to rain. The former skipper said that they are desperate to win.

“I’ll be desperate for every game to win, simple as that. It’s not about trophies or whatever, it’s just to win matches. So I’ll have that same passion and same desperation to win games, doesn’t matter if it’s a semifinal or final or just a group game. As long as I have that attitude and the rest of the boys, we’ll go a long way,” said Jayawardene.

The right-hand bat became the eighth batsman in One-Day International (ODI) history, and third Sri Lankan batsman after Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara, to cross the 11,000-run mark.

When asked about his feelings, Jayawardene said: “In the middle, I didn’t feel anything. Obviously, pleased when the numbers came up. I can probably reflect more on that achievement because we won the game as well. So importantly the contribution that I made towards the team is much more valuable for me but quietly I should be able to reflect on that achievement.”

Singapore -  Indian shuttlers P.C. Thulasi, Arundhati Pantawane and B. Sai Praneeth entered the main draw after winning the qualification rounds of their respective categories at the Singapore Open Super Series here today.

Sai Praneeth, who sent legendary Taufik Hidayat into retirement last week, won both his men’s singles qualification matches.

The youngster beat Japanese Riichi Takeshita 21-12, 22-20 in 36 minutes after overcoming Malaysian Muhammad Hafiz Hashim 21-13, 21-15 in 26 minutes. He will face second seed Yun Hu of Hong Kong in the first round of the main draw Wednesday.

Arundhati and Thulasi also entered the women’s singles main draw. Arundhati, who hails from Nagpur, first thrashed Russian Anna Astrakhantseva 21-5, 21-10 in 17 minutes before beating local girl Xiaoyu Liang 21-14, 21-16 in half an hour.

Meanwhile, P.C. Thulasi beat Vietnamese Thi Trang Vu 21-18, 21-17 in 38 minutes in the first round and Thai Chochuwong Pornpawee 18-21, 21-13, 21-8 in 51 minutes in the second in the last match of the day.

However, it was the end of the road for the rest of the Indian shuttlers.

Singapore’s Wei Han Tan and Dellis Yuliana beat Jwala Gutta and Prajakta Sawant 22-20, 21-12 in 27 minutes in the first round of the women’s doubles qualifiers. Prajakta, playing with Malaysian partner Mohd. Razif Abdul Latif in mixed doubles, lost to localites Zhao Jiang Terry Yeo and Lei Yao 16-21, 20-22 in 26 minutes.

Hong Kong’s Nan Wei overcame former national champion Arvind Bhat 19-21, 21-9, 21-15 in 51 minutes of the men’s singles qualification first round while local boy Yong Zhao Ashton Chen beat H.S. Prannoy 19-21, 21-19, 21-12 in one hour and six minutes.

Malaysians Zheng Yi Kok and Keat Zhen Kong beat Manish Gupta and Gaurav Venkat 21-13, 17-21, 21-11 in 33 minutes in the first round of the men’s doubles qualifiers.

Mumbai -  Actor Vindu Dara Singh, arrested for betting in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and now on bail, says betting in the game should be made legal.

“Cricket is like a religion in India. IPL will be conducted and betting will take place as well,” said Vindu yesterday.

Vindu, who got bail on June 4, feels the government should legalise betting in the gentleman’s sport.

“I think the government should interfere and legalise betting,” he said. At the same time, he has vowed not to “watch cricket in my entire life”. “So whether IPL 7 will be organised or not, it doesn’t matter to me.”

Last seen in Ajay Devgn-starrer “Son of Sardaar”, Vindu asserts he is innocent.

“I can guarantee I have not done anything wrong, and that is why I am here and I have started my work. When people will re-build their trust on me, then I will surely get more work. If they won’t, then I would get less work but life will go on,” he said.

Australia’s batsman Phil Hughes plays a shot during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between England and Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England on June 8, 2013. ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images

Left-handed batsman Phil Hughes and wicket-keeper Matthew Wade will join the Australia A squad here Tuesday ahead of their final tour match against Gloucestershire beginning Friday.

Skipper Michael Clarke, James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson and Chris Rogers will remain in London to prepare before the Ashes squad officially assembles June 24.

Australia were knocked out of the ICC Champions Trophy in the group stage by Sri Lanka Monday.

The team from Down Under begin their Ashes campaign against England July 10.

Dwayne Smith in action.

West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith will lead the West Indies A team against Sri Lanka A in two Twenty20 matches this week at Arnos Vale here.

Smith, a prolific scorer in the just ended Indian Premier League (IPL), is one of four members of the West Indies World T20 champion team named in the regional A team for the series, reports CMC.

The others are Lendl Simmons, allrounder Andre Russell, and leg-spinner Samuel Badree who were part of the squad which beat Sri Lanka to win the ICC World T20 Trophy at the R Premadasa Stadium last October.

The quartet will form the main part of the Windies A team when the matches are played Tuesday and Wednesday.

West Indies Squad:

Dwayne Smith (captain), Samuel Badree, Christopher Barnwell, Nkrumah Bonner, Kevon Cooper, Sheldon Cotterell, Shannon Gabriel, Keddy Lesporis, Kyle Mayers, Ashley Nurse, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Chadwick Walton (wicket-keeper).

Anirban Lahiri.

Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri will rely on the short putter in his hunt for a fourth Asian Tour title at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters Thursday.

The three-time Asian Tour winner, who previously used the belly putter, opted for the shorter flat stick at last week’s Queen’s Cup in Thailand where he finished tied 10th after fighting his way into contention.

Lahiri is among a star-studded cast which includes title holder Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, Bangladeshi Siddikur, American Jonathan Moore, Filipino Angelo Que, Australia’s Scott Hend and Korea’s Baek Seuk-hyun at the $400,000 event.

“I’m feeling confident with the short putter which is important if I want to go on to win an event,” said Lahiri.

“I wasn’t thrilled with the way I was putting with the belly putter earlier. I had decided that I was going to try out the short putter in Thailand and Selangor and another two events back home before making a decision for the rest of the season.”

He believes the Seri Selangor course will provide a stern test.

“I was telling some of the rookies that anyone who has come out for these two weeks are playing two of the toughest courses that we play all year. You won’t see 16 or 17 under winning the tournament. Single digit might be good enough,” said the 25-year-old.

Dick Norman (R).

Veteran Belgian tennis player Dick Norman called time on his 22-year professional career after a first-round doubles loss alongside compatriot David Goffin, 20 years his junior, at the Topshelf Open here.

“I had around 60 people here today including my wife, my parents and my two daughters. It’s nice to retire here and we’ll have some beers later this evening on site at the Corona bar,” Norman was quoted as saying by atpworldtour.com Monday. He was presented with a cake after the match.

The 42-year-old reached a career-high World No.10 in ATP doubles rankings in April 2010 and won four tour-level titles from seven finals. The highlight of his career came with a runner-up showing at Roland Garros in 2009, when he and Wesley Moodie were beaten by Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes.

“My career was divided into three parts. In 1998 I retired for a couple of years and came back in 2000. When I came back I played well in singles and then in my third career, during the past few years, I focused on doubles and enjoyed that a lot too,” said Norman.

“It’s a beautiful life on tour and for sure I will miss the sun, since we see it during nine months a year. While at home I will spend most of my time indoors and only see the sun during two months in the summer.”

Looking back on his career, Norman also remembered reaching the 2009 Wimbledon semifinals (wtih Moodie) and the US Open quarterfinals (with Moodie) the same year, all when he was aged 38.

“I remember how I looked at 40-year-old players when I was 30. I thought that they should stop. But I was lucky with my knees and my shoulder and didn’t have any problems. I won’t give up tennis because it’s my passion and I want to share it with people. I’m organising tennis holidays and doubles clinics for people who want to improve their doubles game,” Norman signed off.

Tyrone Smith in action at the London Olympics last year.

Bermudian long jumper Tyrone Smith has qualified for the World Athletics Championships in Moscow, leaping to a season’s best 8.13 metres at a meet in Poland.

Smith’s jump saw him finish second at the 59th Janusz Kusocinski Memorial Meet in Szczecin, reports CMC.

Smith, 28, a two-time Olympian, recently won at a meet in France, and placed fourth in the Czech Republic.

He tweeted: “Just qualified for Moscow 2013 with a new season’s best 8.13m!

“Congrats to Luis Rivera or his 8.30m New Mexican national record!”

Smith made it to the long jump finals at last summer’s London Olympics where he placed 12th.

The World Athletics Championships will be held in the Russian capital from Aug 10-18.

File Photo: An Indian cyclist in action.

Former India international and current coach of the national cycling team Ruma Chatterjee was killed in a road accident here early Tuesday morning.

Ruma, who hails from Kolkata, was attending the national camp ahead of the Indian team’s visit to Switzerland for training. The four-member squad was to participate in the World Championship in Scotland.

The 51-year-old was hit by a speeding vehicle during a training session while going to Noida from New Delhi and was flung to a distance, dying on the spot.

Ruma, a spinster, leaves behind her 77-year-old mother and five sisters.

She represented India thrice in international competitions. She served as coach seven times, including at the 2010 Commonwealth Games here, Asian Games and the Asian Championships.

Sven Goran Eriksson.

It certainly recalled the memory of Sven-Goran Eriksson from the ‘good old days’ in Italy and England, when he was surrounded by journalists and fans.

“This will be one of the biggest challenges in my coaching career,” Eriksson, who took rein of the Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Fuli 12 days ago, made his debut speech here Monday, reports Xinhua.

“I’ve learnt that football is very important in this country so it is a difficult job and big challenge for me,” the Swede said.

The 65-year-old had only less than three weeks to make a difference for Guangzhou Fuli as former coach Sergio Farias was sacked immediately after the team lost to Guizhou Renhe.

“I am not worried; you can’t take a job when you are worried. I think it is a good job. Everyone is born to make mistakes and I am born to be optimistic. My job is to make the team better, try to beat other teams of the league. Certainly it is not easy for us. We are now 12 points behind third place but we are going to try,” Eriksson said.

With a contract of one and a half years, Eriksson knew he could only afford a disappointing result in this half-left season.

“I don’t think I will stay after the first year and a half. But if we go down, of course I am finished. The club wants to play in the AFC Champions league, I believe sooner or later we will,” he said.

The Swede knew his team has been struggling as they only pocketed 12 points in 12 games and dropped to 13th on the table. At the same time last season, they had already harvested 24 points.

“I think step-by-step we will get better and we should be very much higher in the table than now,” Eriksson said.

It won’t be easy for the Swede to manage a team whose players come from China, Brazil and Nigeria.

“Communication is very important inside the club. The players should speak to each other on the pitch, the coach should talk to every player and also the club officials,” the Swede said.

“I think we have a lot of good Chinese players which is very important to the club. I don’t think I will pick out a single one. Instead, I will open the door for every player; I am very open to them,” he added.

The majority of the Dutch professional cyclists used doping at the end of the 1990s and at the beginning of this century, says a committee headed by former Dutch justice minister Winnie Sorgdrager.

The Anti-Doping Approach Committee presented its findings in The Hague Monday after a six-month investigation into the doping culture in Dutch cycling, which was started after revelations in international and Dutch cycling last year, reports Xinhua.

Dozens of ex-riders, team managers and medical attendants were questioned. The report, called “Join or stop”, stated that the riders felt forced at that time to make a choice of doping or quitting cycling.

“In the opinion of the riders doping was crucial for the success of their careers and to meet the expectations of the team management,” the committee said.

Sorgdrager argued that doping was “structurally anchored” in Dutch men’s cycling after the introduction of the wonder drug EPO in the mid-1990s. The majority of the riders were users at the end of the 1990s and beginning of this century. The teams played a supporting rather than leading role.

The committee also stated the suspicion that doping use has decreased since 2009, but also emphasized that “It’s probably a matter of time before something new comes up that is effective and not detectable”.

As recommendation the committee focused on a change of young riders behaviour, to improve the organizational structure of the teams and to improve the anti-doping policy. They also stated that a tougher approach of notorious users seems the most effective.