BFI urges coaches to tackle doping, step up vigil at camps

New Delhi

The Boxing Federation of India asked its High Performance Directors and coaches to up the vigil so that dope cheats are taken out from national camps. The national federation also called for quarterly awareness sessions on the anti-doping code. “It’s very shocking and equally unacceptable to hear that two boxers have tested positive in doping recently. If it is an informed decision by a boxer, then it is a clear case of cheating and we should not entertain, help and assist such boxers anywhere. Victory by any means of cheating should not be acceptable to us,” BFI said in a letter.

Jakarta

Ajeetesh, Aman and Viraj shoot 69 each

The Indian trio Ajeteesh Sandhu, Aman Raj and Viraj Madappa carded a 3-under 69 each to be at tied-16th at the end of the first day of the BNI Indonesian Masters golf tournament. They were the best-placed Indians and were four shots behind the leaders, Naraajie Emerald Ramadhanputra, South African Keith Horne and Steven Jeffress of Australia, who shot 65 each. All the three Indians had four birdies against one bogey. Shiv Kapur (70) was tied-32nd, Jyoti Randhawa (71) at tied-53rd while SSP Chawrasia, Arjun Atwal and Veer Ahlawat, with 72 each, were tied-67th. S Chikkarangappa and Rashid Khan, with a 73 each, Khalin Joshi (74), and Aadil Bedi (78) were further down.

Surabaya (indonesia)

Tanmoy, Tasnim in last-16 of junior Asia championships

Top-seeded Indian shuttlers Tanmoy Boruah and Tasnim Mir registered contrasting victories to enter the U-15 pre-quarterfinals of the Asia U-17 & U-15 Junior Badminton Championships here today. Assam boy Tanmoy had to fight hard during his 21-17 15-21 21-14 win over Malaysia’s Ramno Ferdinan, while Gujarat’s Tasnim notched up a comfortable 21-11 21-15 victory against Kanaya Putri of Indonesia. Later, Tanmoy and Lakshay Sharma beat Japan’s Ryudai Konta and Haruto Terauchi 21-8 21-17 in the boys’ doubles second round.

Paris

Tahiti to host surfing events at 2024 Paris Olympics

The Polynesian island of Tahiti has been chosen to host the surfing events at the 2024 Paris Olympics after being selected over beaches in southwest France and Brittany, organisers said today. Tahiti lies 15,700 kilometres from Paris but was chosen because it offers near-guaranteed surfing waves in the summer months. The events will take place at Teahupoo, a location that boasts some of the biggest waves on the men’s World Cup circuit.

Milan

Hamilton talks informal, says Ferrari chief

Ferrari chief executive officer Louis Camilleri said today that it was premature to talk about a possible move of six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to the Italian team. Camilleri confirmed that Mercedes driver Hamilton has had “conversations” with Ferrari chairman John Elkann, but not with him nor Team Principal Mattia Binotto. Agencies

Los Angeles

Top-ranked Barty named WTA Player of the Year

Australian Ashleigh Barty, whose breakout 2019 campaign included a French Open crown and world No. 1 ranking, was named the WTA Player of the Year. She took the award with 82 percent of the media vote. Her coach, Craig Tyzzer, was named WTA Coach of the Year. Canada’s Andreescu was named Newcomer of the Year. American Sofia Kenin was named Most Improved Player, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic was the Comeback Player and top doubles team honours went to Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic.

Madrid

Spanish players sentenced to prison for raping teen

Three former Spanish soccer players were each sentenced on Thursday to 38 years in prison for gang raping a minor in 2017, the latest high-profile sexual violence case in Spain. The three men, who at the time played for fourth division club Arandina FC, knew the victim was underage when they raped her in their apartment in Aranda de Duero in northcentral Spain, the judge said.

NEW YORK

MLB removes marijuana from ‘drugs of abuse’

Major League Baseball (MLB) will remove marijuana from its list of banned substances and players who test positive for opioids, fentanyl, cocaine and synthetic THC under random drug tests will be referred for treatment before being disciplined, the league’s updated drug policy announced on Thursday. The sweeping changes, which take effect from Spring Training in 2020, “favor a treatment-based approach to Drugs of Abuse”, according to the joint announcement from the MLB and its players’ union.

London

Groin injury hampers Andy Murray’s pre-season training

Britain’s Andy Murray has cancelled his training block in Miami because of a groin injury that has left him unable to practise on the court. agencies