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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 2, 2016
Mitchell steps down as U.S. relay boss for Rio By Gene Cherry
(REUTERS) - THE coach of sprinter Justin Gatlin has stepped down as the head of the United States relay squads, just months out from the Rio Olympics due to a change in USA Track and Field’s criteria. Dennis Mitchell, who served a doping ban in 1999, told Reuters on Monday he had learnt he fell outside new guidelines for coaching America’s relay teams and had decided to step down. The change prohibits
coaches with likely relay candidates from being the relay coach. World sprint medallist Gatlin is expected to anchor the U.S. 4x100 metres relay in Rio. USATF’s High Performance Division Executive Committee made the modification with input from the Athletes Advisory Committee, USATF spokeswoman Jill Geer said. “They have added a provision, intended to minimise potential or perceived conflicts, that pro-
Kohli guides India into Asia Cup final VIRAT Kohli hit a fluent half-century as India booked their Asia Cup final place with a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Mirpur. After falling for seven in the opening match of the tournament Kohli has bounced back with two crucial innings, his 56 not out yesterday coming on the back of 49 against Pakistan three days prior. The number three was ably assisted by the flamboyant Yuvraj Singh, who struck 35 off 18 balls to help India to their victory target of 139 with four deliveries to spare. Victory puts India into their ninth Asia Cup final on Sunday with one game to play in the group stage, but Sri Lanka’s hopes of meeting them there appear slim. Without skipper and strike bowler Lasith Malinga they struggled to contain the aggressive Indian batsmen, but there were more encouraging signs with the bat. Sri Lanka made a cau-
tious start to their innings having been put in by MS Dhoni, but they upped their scoring rate in the second 10 overs to lift them to a competitive 138-9. Chamara Kapugedera top-scored with 30 in the middle-order, while valuable late runs from Thisara Perera (17) and Nuwan Kulasekara (13) looked to have given them a chance. But in reply, Yuvraj set the tone for his innings with a slash through backward point for four, and he took the game to Sri Lanka’s bowlers with an impressive display of hitting – Rangana Herath (1-26) going for successive sixes in the 13th over. Another maximum followed before Perera (132) forced him into a top edge, however the damage was done and Kohli – who brought up his 13th Twenty20 half-century with a six over cover – ensured they coasted to their target. (OMNI Sport)
Dennis Mitchell, former U.S. sprinter and present coach of Justin Gatlin
hibits an individual from being the relay coach if he or she coaches an athlete who has a high likelihood of being part of the relay pool,” Geer said in an email to Reuters. “As a result of that new provision, Dennis Mitchell has resigned his position.” Geer added Mitchell had been approved by the U.S. Olympic Committee for the position. The 50-year-old had been the relay coach since 2014, though his selection had been controversial
because of his 1998 positive test for the banned hormone testosterone. “I do not want to start a controversy,” Mitchell, who will continue to coach Gatlin, said via telephone from Florida. “I just want to thank USA Track & Field, the U.S. Olympic Committee and everybody for their support. “I would do it again if they asked me to.” Mitchell called the change “very exclusionary.” “There are not too many top level sprint coaches that
would fall in the criteria they are looking for,” he said. Mitchell, a three-time Olympian denied his past had resulted in the change. “In terms of dealing with my past, all parties that were involved were very respectful of my past and, in my opinion, didn’t really use that as a driving force,” he said. “But I think there obviously are people out there that have strong feelings about my past ... and didn’t support me being the relay coach.”
Boycott ‘disappointed’ with Yorkshire chairman’s snub EX-YORKSHIRE opener Geoffrey Boycott says he is “disappointed” with chairman Steve Denison’s decision to ask members not to back his return to the board. Boycott, 75, is unhappy with the level of debt at the club, which is reported to be above £20M. “I’m not trying to cause any problems, I’m not trying to create any trouble - I want to help the club,” he said. “If you carry on with the debt as it is, there won’t be a club in existence as it’s a recipe for bankruptcy.” Yorkshire announced a profit for 2015 of £368 000 after tax, their first since 2009. Former England batsm a n B o y c o t t re c e i v e d
91.09% of the vote when he was voted club president in 2012, a role he held for
added to BBC Look North. “I’m a bit disappointed really - the chairman wrote to
Geoffrey Boycott was Yorkshire president between 2012 and 2014. two years. “The debt’s gone from £5M in 2002 to £24M in 12 years, so the businessmen on the board haven’t done a very good job, have they?” he
me and said there are four vacancies on the board. They’re going to ask for Robin Smith to be re-elected, the chief executive (Mark Arthur) and Sir Gary Verity - fine, so there’s
one vacancy. “If the members voted me on, I would have to persuade seven other people (on the board) - so what’s to be worried about in a democracy?” Test Match Special summariser Boycott acts informally as an overseas ambassador for the club and his return to the board would need to be approved by members at their annual general meeting on March 26. “I love Yorkshire cricket, it’s in my blood,” added Boycott. “I’m not going to turn away if the members don’t vote for me, but I hope they will. “If we don’t have a better business plan, there won’t be a club for members.” (BBC Sport)
Points Standings after the eighth round of WICB/PCL matches ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Following are the Official Points Standings after the eighth round of matches in the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament ended on Monday. Abbreviations: Pts-total points, M-matches, W-won, L-lost, T-tied, I-incomplete match, A-abandoned match, DP-Abandoned match due to dangerous pitch, MR-match referee awarding match, Bat-batting points, Bowl-bowling points
REMAINING MATCHES (Scheduled start 10 am daily, except where indicated) Round 9 – March 11 to 14 Volcanoes vs Scorpions – Arnos Vale Multiplex, St. Vincent Red Force vs Pride – National Cricket Centre, Trinidad Hurricanes vs Jaguars – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua Round 10 – March 18 to 21 Red Force vs Volcanoes – National Cricket Centre, Trinidad Jaguars vs Scorpions – National Cricket Stadium, Guyana Hurricanes vs Pride – Warner Park, St. Kitts