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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday March 22, 2016
Meldonium can take months to Teamwork, consistency main reasons for ... leave body, says drug maker
LONDON, England (Reuters) - The drug that has produced more than 100 positive sports doping tests since being outlawed on January 1 can take “several months” to completely leave the body, the manufacturer
of meldonium told Reuters yesterday. A number of athletes say they took the cardiac drug before it was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Latvian manufacturer Grindeks said meldonium has a half-life of between four and six hours but “its terminal elimination from the body may last for several months” depending on factors such as dose, duration of treatment, and sensitivity of testing methods. Meldonium has been in the spotlight since Russia’s former world number one tennis player Maria Sharapova stunned the sporting world by announcing this month that she had failed a doping test for the drug after a loss to Serena Williams at this year’s Australian Open. At least 16 Russian sportsmen and women, in-
cluding speed skating Olympic gold-medallist Semion
Maria Sharapova Elistratov, have been caught using meldonium since the ban came into effect, along with dozens of competitors from other countries. While the comments by Grindeks would appear to offer one reason why there have been so many positive tests for meldonium, WADA said athletes were made aware that the substance would be added
to the banned list last October. “The date an athlete sample is collected is the date any subsequent anti-doping rule violation is asserted to have taken place,” a WADA spokesman said yesterday. “At any hearing that follows, the onus is then on the athlete to explain how the substance was in his or her body. “It is important to note that every year all stakeholders are advised on any changes to the Prohibited List three months before it enters into force which provides sufficient time to be educated on any changes to the list.” Sharapova, who is provisionally banned while the International Tennis Federation (ITF) investigates, said she had been taking the drug legally for 10 years for health reasons and had not realised it had been added to WADA’s banned list.
World Twenty20
New Zealand Women thrash holders Australia
DEFENDING champions Australia were soundly beaten by six wickets as New Zealand made it three wins out of three at the Women’s World Twenty20. Having opted to bat, Australia were reduced to 4-4 after four overs, Kiwi left-arm spinner Leigh Kasperek taking 3-2 in her first 12 deliveries. (Scores: New Zealand
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Women 104 for 4 (Priest 34, Bates 23) beat Australia Women 103 for 8 (Perry 42, Jonassen 23; Kasperek 3-13, Bermingham 2-23) by six wickets) All-rounder Ellyse Perry struck 42 from 48 balls as Australia mustered 103-8. But Rachel Priest hit 34 from 27 balls and Susie Bates 23 as the Kiwis reached their target with 22 balls to spare.
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“I am sure if we play the way we are, we can win it,” said Bates. “If things go our way, we can win it. But we are not looking too far ahead.” The Australians, winners of the last three tournaments, were also beaten by the Kiwis in their opening group match of the 2014 World T20, but this was only their fifth defeat in 22 matches in the history of the event. Edinburgh-born Kasperek, who appeared for Scotland against Ireland in the 2007 European Championship, aged 15, claimed wickets with consecutive deliveries in her first over, both hoicked to the leg-side ring. Perry had struck the only six of the Australia innings but was given out lbw with the final ball of the 17th over, when replays suggested it was missing the leg-stump. In reply both New Zealand openers hit sixes, Bates with a glorious drive over long-off, as they raced to 58 in the eighth over before both departed in the space of 10 balls. New Zealand, runners-up in the first two Women’s World T20s, have now won three of their four WT20 meetings with Australia and maintained their 100% record in this year’s event, having also beaten Sri Lanka and Ireland. With only the top two in the five-team groups progressing, Australia next play on Thursday in Delhi against Sri Lanka, who have also won one and lost one thus far (.BBC Sport)
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complemented each other well, and captain Leon Johnson, in an exclusive interview, has attributed teamwork and consistency for the team’s success. “I thought we played consistent throughout the season in all departments, and we managed to put scores and we managed to bowled teams out”. “I think our preparation as well, not just leading up to the tournament, but during the games as well. We always prepared well for each game,” Johnson said. Meanwhile, Johnson is the only batsman with 800 runs (807) this season. Vice-captain Vishaul Singh was the third highest run-scorer with 712 while Windward Islands Volcanoes Devon Smith (715) and Barbados Pride Roston Chase (710) are the other two batsmen reaching 700 runs. Regarding his personal achievement, the 28-year-old said he is happy that he has made a huge contribution to the team’s success. “It’s good to be the leading run-scorer in this year’s tournament, obviously I set out my goals, not necessarily to be the leading run-scorer, but to score over 800 runs. I achieved that goal in lesser innings than I set out myself, so on a personal note it’s been a good season for me, and I am happy I have contributed to the team’s success,” Johnson pointed out. Guyanese left-arm spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Gudakesh are joint-fourth on the list of wicket-takers with 40 wickets each. Nikita Miller (65), Rakeem Cornwall (48) and Imran Khan (43) are the three leading wicket-takers. They extended their unbeaten streak in PCL cricket to 17 with a record eighth win of the season. At the start of the final round, the Guyana Jaguars and Barbados Pride were in contention for the title, but after both teams recorded huge victories, the Jaguars were able to clinch the title by virtue of more points.
Golden Jaguars ready to roar against ... From back page
20 persons, 6 car passes and food and drinks being brought to the ground. The competition, which is scheduled to take place during officially-sanctioned FIFA international match periods, giving Member Associations the opportunity to select their best possible teams, will kick off in March (21-29) with all of the countries except Haiti, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, who are all still participating
in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Round two of the Championship is scheduled for May and Round three in October. The 5th Place playoff will take place in November and the finals in May 2017. The top four teams will qualify to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Guyana, after tonight’s engagement, will travel to Puerto Rico for their second Group 5 match on March 29.