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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday September 12, 2015
WADA responds to Radcliffe call for help
LONDON, England (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has responded to marathon record-holder Paula Radcliffe’s call to “help clear her name” by saying it is committed to protecting the confidentiality of all athletes’ blood data. The Briton, who retired from competitive running this year, complained this week that a parliamentary committee hearing into wide-ranging accusations of blood doping in athletics had “effectively implicated” her. A statement yesterday from the agency’s director general David Howman noted that media reports had included an appeal to WADA by Radcliffe who has faced calls to release her data and denied cheating “in any form.” Her husband and coach Gary Lough had also told
the BBC that WADA must “protect clean athletes”. The WADA statement emphasised that no information dating from before 2009 “could ever be considered as doping, legally or otherwise. “Tarnishing an athlete’s name based on values from pre-2009 would be wholly irresponsible,” it said. “Even athletes’ data from post-2009, when the ABP (athletes’ biological passport) had been introduced, is not necessarily indicative of doping. “WADA is committed to protecting the confidentiality of athletes. In particular their private medical information,” read the statement. Radcliffe, 41, was not mentioned by name during the hearing at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport but a question was asked about the validity of the performances of British women in the London Marathon, an event she has won
three times. The hearing took place following recent reports by Britain’s Sunday Times
PAULA RADCLIFFE newspaper and German TV station ARD of alleged blood-doping in athletics. Radcliffe set her marathon record time of 2:15:25, which remains nearly three
minutes faster than any other time clocked by a female runner, in 2003. “If any athlete feels their rights are being eroded or inappropriately challenged as a result of the ARD and Sunday Times reports they must refer those concerns to the Commission,” said WADA. “This is the correct channel versus trial by media. “It is very unfortunate that any athlete should feel implicated and that they have to defend their reputation as a result. “WADA has a clear and established process set out in the World Anti-Doping Code that protects athletes,” the agency added. “If any athlete were to have a case to answer it allows them a full hearing and an opportunity for their voice to be heard. Our actions must remain impartial.”
De Gea agrees new four-year United contract LONDON, England (Reuters) - Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has signed a new fouryear contract, the club said yesterday, a week after a proposed transfer to Real Madrid collapsed. The Spain international, 24, almost joined Madrid on transfer deadline day, but the deal fell through as the necessary paperwork was not filed in time and the clubs blamed each other for the bureaucratic failure. His previous deal was set to expire at the end of the season, and he had been widely expected to join Madrid on a free transfer next year. His decision to commit his future to United will give the club a timely boost ahead of today’s clash at
home to rivals Liverpool. “I am delighted to be
DAVID De GEA starting this new chapter in my United career,” De Gea said in a statement on the club website (www.
manutd.com). “I have always enjoyed playing with these great players in front of our fantastic fans. Manchester United is a special club and Old Trafford is an ideal place for me to continue to develop my career. “I’m looking forward to putting a difficult summer behind me and concentrating on working hard to improve and help my team mates to be successful.” De Gea was left out of United’s opening games of the season, with manager Louis van Gaal openly questioning whether the player could deal mentally with the ongoing speculation. Argentina international Sergio Romero was installed as first-choice keep-
er and kept three clean sheets in the league before being criticised following a 2-1 defeat by Swansea City. van Gaal has yet to confirm whether De Gea will be brought back into the side for today’s home clash with Liverpool. He was the man-of-thematch when the sides met last year, making a string of superb saves as United won 3-0, the first part of a league double over the Merseysiders. “I am absolutely delighted David has signed a new contract. He is one of the best goalkeepers in world football,” manager Louis van Gaal said. “I am very pleased that he will be part of the team for many years to come.”
TENELEC first division 50-overs competition starts today in Berbice STARTING today, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) will commence its premier round-robin 50-overs first division cricket competition, the Tenelec Tournament. This very important tournament is sponsored by Bobby Deonarine, the uncle of West Indies all-rounder Narsingh Deonarine and his business partner Tom Gruntzel, both based in Washington, USA. Many top players are products of this tournament with names such as Deonarine himself, other Guyana and West Indies cricketers Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin and Royston Crandon. Many other West Indies junior cricketers and national players are also products of the TENELEC Championship. The fixtures are as follows: GROUP ‘A’ Round 1 - Saturday September 12, 2015 Blairmont Community Centre vs Police at Blairmont Bush Lot Rising Star vs West Berbice at Bush Lot Round 2 - Saturday September 19, 2015 Police vs Bush Lot Rising Star at Cumberland Blairmont Community Centre vs West Berbice at Blairmont Round 3 - Sunday September 27 Bush Lot rising Star vs Blairmont Community Centre at Bush Lot West Berbice vs Police at Blairmont GROUP ‘B’ Round 1 - Saturday September 12, 2015 Edinburgh vs Tucber Park at Edinburgh Young Warriors vs Port Mourant at Cumberland Round 2 - Saturday September 19, 2015 Port Mourant vs Tucber Park at Port Mourant Edinburgh vs Young Warriors at Edinburgh Round 3 - Sunday, September 27, 2015 (NOTE DATE) Young Warriros vs Tucber Park at Cumberland Port Mourant vs Edinburgh at Port Mourant GROUP ‘C’ Round 1 - Saturday September 12, 2015 Upper Corentyne vs Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets at Crabwood Creek Skeldon Community Centre vs Albion Community Centre at Skeldon Round 2 - Saturday September 19, 2015. Albion Community Centre vs Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets at Albion Skeldon Community Centre vs Upper Corentyne at Skeldon Round 3 - Sunday September 27, 2015 Albion Community Centre vs Upper Corentyne at Albion Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets vs Skeldon Community Centre at Area ‘H’! Rose Hall Town All matches start at 09:30hrs.
Aussie opener Warner ruled out of Bangladesh Tests SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Australia will be forced to blood an entirely new opening partnership in Bangladesh next month after David Warner was ruled out of the two-Test series with a broken finger yesterday. Warner, whose opening partner Chris Rogers retired after the recent Ashes defeat, sustained the injury in a one-dayer against England last week and a hand specialist in Sydney has confirmed he will not be fit
to make the trip. “It’s really disappointing,” said Warner, who was recently appointed vice-captain under new skipper Steve Smith. “I never want to miss a match for Australia but I’ll be doing everything I possibly can to get back as quickly as possible.” The 28-year-old is, however, expected to be ready to face New Zealand in the three-match series on home soil in November, which includes the first
DAVID WARNER
ever day/night Test at the Adelaide Oval. “David has been told that the fracture will take at least four weeks to stabilise and a further two weeks before he can start batting and catching again,” said Cricket Australia’s Pat Howard. “He will be reviewed by the specialist at the end of the month to determine when he can resume playing. Ideally we’d like him to play the Sheffield Shield round beginning on October 27, as prepara-
tion for the New Zealand series.” With the Test retirement of all-rounder Shane Watson and the death of Phillip Hughes at the end of last year, Australia have a dearth of experienced openers at their disposal. Joe Burns, who played two Tests against India in the middle order last season, and the uncapped Cameron Bancroft are contenders, while 18-Test veteran Ed Cowan has continued to score runs after
being dropped for Rogers in 2013. The trip to Bangladesh was always going to be a transitional series for Australia after the retirement of captain Michael Clarke, stalwart wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, Watson and Rogers. The tourists play a warm-up match in Fatullah on October 3 before Tests against Bangladesh in Chittagong (October 9-13) and Mirpur (October 17-21).