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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 9, 2018
GAPLF Intermediate/Masters U.S. House panel expands probe Championships set for May 13 of sexual abuse of young athletes
THE Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) has changed the date for its Intermediate/ Masters Championships. They have now brought forward the competition from May 27, as was initially announced, to May 13. This switch was done with consideration for the federation’s Muslim athletes, who will be observing Ramadan just two days after the championships. This was disclosed by GAPLF Public Relations Officer, Runita White. “We made the change due to the fact that there are Muslims who compete and the initial date would have affected them from competing since it have been during Ramadan.” “Fasting starts on May 15, so in order to accommodate our Muslim athletes the date was changed to the May 13.” Meanwhile, in observance of International Women’s Day, the GAPLF will be hosting a lifting exhibition on Saturday to celebrate Guyanese women in powerlifting, just two
By David Shepardson
The GAPLF Intermediate/Masters Championships have been brought forward to May 13 instead of the initial May 27 date.
days after International Women’s Day. The federation will also seize the opportunity to raise awareness of the sport by providing a forum for those who want to learn about the sport and improve their technique. Members of the GAPLF
executive will be on hand to answer any questions that prospective lifters might have. “Most importantly, we’re trying to break down the stereotypes that people have as it relates to women who powerlift,” White revealed.
The venue set for the exhibition is at fast food restaurant ‘Pollo Tropical’ on Camp and Robb Streets opposite Republic Bank. The fast food franchise is on board the event as a major sponsor and the exhibition lifts off at 11:00hrs.
Blatter says he wants FIFA to reconsider his case By Brian Homewood
ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - Banned former FIFA president Sepp Blatter intends to ask the ethics committee of the global soccer body to reconsider his case and lift his six-year ban from the sport. Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, was barred for ethics violations in 2015 amid the biggest corruption scandal to shake world soccer’s governing body. The ban was imposed shortly after the Swiss attorney general’s office began criminal proceedings against him on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation. No charges have yet been brought and Blatter has denied wrongdoing.
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“It is now two and a half years, this file has not moved,” Blatter told reporters, adding he had no indication how long the investigation would last. “It is like having the Sword of Damocles over my head
because you never know what will happen.” Blatter, who last month told Reuters he was considering legal action to clear his name, said he was now thinking of asking FIFA’s ethics committee to
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re-open his case. “I am looking to have a solution also from the FIFA ethics committee to lift the suspension, which is a nonsense,” he said. “I am also trying to see how we can change it. I hope to have a solution in the next three months before we open the World Cup in Russia.” The Swiss attorney-general’s office could not immediately be reached for comment but in the past has said that such investigations can take several years. Blatter also confirmed that he had been invited by President Vladimir Putin to attend the World Cup in Russia in June and July. “I’m honoured and I have accepted,” he said.
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WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters) - The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee said yesterday it had sent requests for information to the U.S. Olympic Committee and 48 national governing bodies of various sports and Michigan State University, expanding the committee’s investigation into sexual abuse within organised sports. A Senate Commerce Committee panel sent a similar request last month as part of a separate investigation. Both committees sent initial letters in January and the House panel has said it plans to convene a hearing on the issue. “Based on information received to date, the committee is concerned that a pervasive and systemic problem exists in Olympic sports. The safety and well-being of all athletes should be the highest priority of the U.S. Olympic Committee and each of the respective national governing bodies,” House Republican and Democratic committee leaders said in a joint statement. The letters seek answers by March 21. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has also opened an investigation and sent letters seeking more information to various entities including Michigan State. Congressional committee staff members have had briefings with Michigan State and others under investigation. Last month, U.S. Olympic
Committee Chief Executive Scott Blackmun resigned for medical reasons, the organisation said on Wednesday, following months of sustained criticism stemming from the sex abuse scandal involving former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. The USOC last month outlined reforms aimed at protecting its athletes from abuse. The scandal prompted the entire board of directors at USA Gymnastics, the sport’s U.S. governing body, to resign, along with the president and athletic director of Michigan State University, where Nassar also worked. It also spawned lawsuits and criminal and civil investigations. Nassar pleaded guilty to molesting female athletes under the guise of medical treatment and was sentenced to life in prison. Authorities say Nassar victimised more than 260 women and girls, including several Olympic gold medallists. Nearly 200 of them offered testimonies during a pair of sentencing hearings in Michigan earlier this year. Last month, Senators Jerry Moran, a Republican, and Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, met with a number of former U.S. Olympic athletes to talk about the abuse scandal. “The young women’s stories we heard today reinforced our determination to root out abuse in youth sport governing bodies,” the pair said in a joint statement.
Sponsors piling up for first National Race of Champions SPONSORS are signing on for the first national Race of Champions, set for the South Dakota Circuit on March 25. Already locked in are the title sponsors Tropical Shipping, STAG Beer and Mohamed’s Enterprise with several others signing up for the event. President of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sport Club, Rameez Mohamed, believes that this is key if the sport is to progress. “Sponsor confidence, that’s what we are seeing for the first round of the National race of champions and that’s what we like to see. It says that we are doing something that sponsors appreciate,” he said. “What we feel is that once the sponsors have confidence in us then we are going to pull off a great race meet for competitors, fans and everyone else.” Among the sponsors already confirmed are Prem’s Electrical, Nexus Machining and Fabrication Workshop, A&R Jiwanram Printery, Jumbo Jet stables and BM Soat. The event is expected to undergo minimal change, if any, with the standard groups getting three races. The street and sport tuner classes as well as the Starlet cup, along with the groups two, three and four as well as bikes will be in action. (Stephan Sookram)
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday March 09, 2018)
COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 5 T20 Int’ls (2) Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Papua New Guinea, Netherlands Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the result of the first ODI of the current WI/NZ women’s series? (2) Who are the members of Group B in the current ICC World Cup Qualifiers? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE