Phelps, Schmitt call for WADA reform in US hearing

Former US Olympians Michael Phelps (L) and Allison Schmitt (R) and US Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart during a House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on anti-doping measures ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, June 25, 2024. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 26 June 2024
Follow

Phelps, Schmitt call for WADA reform in US hearing

  • Both Phelps and Schmitt, along with USADA chief executive Travis Tygart, took aim at WADA over the recent revelations concerning 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for banned prescription drug trimetazidine (TMZ)
  • In revelations published by The New York Times, it emerged that three of the swimmers — including two 2021 Tokyo Olympic gold medalists and a current world record holder — tested positive for banned substances several years earlier

WASHINGTON: Olympic swimming icon Michael Phelps and four-time gold medallist Allison Schmitt called for reform of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Tuesday over the global body’s handling of the 2021 Chinese swimming drugs scandal.

Phelps and Schmitt issued their calls while testifying before a US Congressional oversight and investigations subcommittee hearing in Washington.

Both Phelps and Schmitt, along with US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) chief executive Travis Tygart, took aim at WADA over the recent revelations concerning 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for banned prescription heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) in early 2021.

None of the 23 swimmers were suspended or sanctioned after WADA accepted the explanation of Chinese authorities that the results were caused by food contamination at a hotel where they had stayed together.

In separate revelations published by The New York Times last week, it emerged that three of the swimmers — including two 2021 Tokyo Olympic gold medalists and a current world record holder — tested positive for banned substances several years earlier.

WADA has rejected charges from USADA that it engaged in a cover-up, and China has denied any wrongdoing in the matter.

However Phelps and Schmitt hit out at WADA’s handling of the case, saying trust in the body among athletes had been damaged by the scandal.

Phelps, 38, winner of a record 23 Olympic gold medals during five Olympic Games appearances, compared the current situation to 2017, when he last called for WADA reforms in a hearing before US lawmakers over the 2014 Russia doping scandal.

“It is clear to me that any attempts of reform at WADA have fallen short, and there are still deeply rooted systemic problems that prove detrimental to the integrity of international sports and athletes’ right to fair competition, time and time again,” Phelps said.

“I urge Congress to use its considerable leverage with WADA to make the organization independent and effective. It can’t reasonably be a coincidence that WADA has yet again succumbed to the pressures of international sport to do the expedient at the expense of the athlete.”

Phelps said “close friends” had been potentially impacted by the decision to allow the Chinese swimmers who failed tests in 2021 to compete at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics.

“Many of them will live with the ‘what ifs’ for the rest of their lives,” Phelps said.

“As athletes, our faith can no longer be blindly placed in the World Anti-Doping Agency, an organization that continuously proves that it is either incapable or unwilling to enforce its policies consistently around the world.”

Schmitt was a member of the US 4x200m freestyle relay team that took silver in Tokyo behind China. That race was one of five events in which Chinese swimmers among the 23 who tested positive for TMZ won medals.

The 34-year-old said while she had heard “whispers of doping by the Chinese team” throughout her swimming career, she initially had no reason to doubt the legitimacy of China’s 4x200m gold medal in Tokyo.

“We respected their performance and accepted our defeat,” Schmitt said. “But now, learning that the Chinese relay consisted of athletes who had not served a suspension, I look back with doubt.

“I plead, on behalf of US athletes: hold WADA and the global anti-doping system accountable. If we win, let it be because we earned it. And if we lose, let it be because the competition was fair.

“We need the International Olympic Committee, NBC, sponsors, and fans to demand integrity in our sport.”

Tygart, a long-time critic of WADA, said that failure to implement reform of the drugs watchdog would be “committing an unacceptable injustice to today’s athletes, fans, and sponsors who believe in and invest in fair and clean competition.”

Tygart suggested that funding of WADA should be conditional on the agency setting up an “an independent expert committee” that makes decisions on all positive tests that do not result in an anti-doping rule violation and public announcement.

“The rules require this in all positive cases of this type, and WADA has now finally admitted that China should have determined these 23 cases to be violations and therefore should have announced them back in 2021,” Tygart said.


Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh

Updated 7 sec ago
Follow

Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh

  • Portuguese football legend followed the matches closely and celebrated the victory of his compatriots Miguel and Nuno Deus
  • Ronaldo is the latest in a growing list of global sports stars drawn to Premier Padel and its elite-level competition

RIYADH: Padel continues to capture the attention of global sports icons, with Cristiano Ronaldo among the spectators at the Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1, enjoying the top-level action on the court. The Portuguese football legend followed the matches closely and celebrated the victory of his compatriots Miguel and Nuno Deus, who secured their place in the main draw with an impressive performance in the final qualifying round.

Ronaldo is the latest in a growing list of global sports stars drawn to Premier Padel and its elite-level competition. Last year, Neymar Jr. attended the Riyadh Premier Padel P1, while other football greats including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Esteban Cambiasso, Leandro Paredes, and Paulo Dybala have also shown their passion for the sport by recently attending tournaments. Beyond football, combat sports icons Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ilia Topuria have also attended Premier Padel tournaments. During the Qatar Grand Prix in 2024, sporting legends including Novak Djokovic, Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, drivers Lando Norris, George Russell and Oscar Piastri, footballers Luis Figo and Marco Materazzi, and basketball’s Tony Parker attended a sporting legends tournament during the event, further highlighting Premier Padel’s appeal.

The Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1 is the first tournament of the 2025 season, following an exceptional 2024 campaign that featured 24 tournaments across 16 countries. As part of Premier Padel’s continued global expansion, the event brings world-class padel to Saudi Arabia, with top international players battling for valuable ranking points and the first title of the season.


South Africa’s Breetzke hits 150 in record-breaking ODI debut in Lahore

Updated 10 February 2025
Follow

South Africa’s Breetzke hits 150 in record-breaking ODI debut in Lahore

  • The 26-year-old’s brilliant 148-ball knock anchored the South African innings after they were sent in to bat at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium
  • Breetzke, who smacked 11 fours and five sixes, trumps the 148 made by Desmond Haynes for West Indies on debut against Australia in 1978

LAHORE: Opener Matthew Breetzke scored 150 on Monday — the highest by anyone on ODI debut — as South Africa made 304-6 against New Zealand in the tri-nation series in Pakistan.
The 26-year-old’s brilliant 148-ball knock anchored the South African innings after they were sent in to bat at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium.
Breetzke, who smacked 11 fours and five sixes, trumps the 148 made by Desmond Haynes for West Indies on debut against Australia in Antigua in 1978.
Breetzke put on 37 for the opening stand with skipper Temba Bavuma (20) and another 93 for the second wicket with Jason Smith (41) to give South Africa an ideal platform.
Breetzke hit New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke for a boundary to reach three figures off 128 balls, becoming the fourth player from his country to hit a century on ODI debut.
Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi and Colin Ingram are the others.
Breetzke cracked a six off fast bowler Ben Sears to post his 150 before being caught at mid-off by Michael Bracewell off Matt Henry in the 46th over.
Wiaan Mulder scored a 60-ball 64 with five fours and a six to ensure South Africa posted a 300-plus total.
Henry 2-59 and O’Rourke 2-72 were the pick of the New Zealand bowlers.
South Africa were forced to give four debuts in this match as their top players were either active in a Twenty20 league back home or recovering from injuries.
New Zealand brought in opener Devon Conway for Rachin Ravindra, who was injured during their 78-run win over Pakistan, also in Lahore, on Saturday.
Pakistan are the third team in the tri-series, a warm-up event before it hosts the Champions Trophy starting February 19.


Injured Pakistan pacer Rauf to ‘fully recover’ ahead of Champions Trophy— PCB 

Updated 10 February 2025
Follow

Injured Pakistan pacer Rauf to ‘fully recover’ ahead of Champions Trophy— PCB 

  • Haris Rauf sustained muscular sprain in lower chest wall during Saturday’s match against New Zealand 
  • PCB says injured pacer will not be available for selection as precaution against South Africa for Feb. 12 clash 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s injured right-arm fast bowler Haris Rauf is expected to be “fully recovered” ahead of this month’s ICC Champions Trophy tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said recently, brushing aside concerns he would be ruled out of the tournament. 

Rauf sustained a muscular sprain in the lower chest wall region during Pakistan’s match against New Zealand on Saturday, triggering fears the bowler would be ruled out of the tournament. Along with pacers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rauf is an essential part of the South Asian country’s pace attack.

“The injury is not serious and he is expected to be fully recovered for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which commences in Karachi on 19 February,” the PCB said on Sunday. “However, as a precautionary measure and part of his ongoing rehabilitation, he will not be available for selection against South Africa on 12 February.”

Pakistan are already reeling from in-form left-handed batter Saim Ayub’s absence, who was ruled out of the tournament after suffering an ankle injury while fielding against South Africa last month. Ayub’s injury has made room for left-arm batter Fakhar Zaman, who scored an impressive 84 runs from 69 balls against New Zealand on Saturday. 

Pakistan are currently playing a tri-nation series against South Africa and New Zealand in Karachi and Lahore cities respectively. The series, seen as a warm-up ahead of the 50-over Champions Trophy tournament, will conclude on Feb. 14. 

Pakistan lost the opening match of the tournament against New Zealand in Lahore by 78 runs. The tourists amassed 330/6 at the end of their 50 overs, which was too much for Pakistan who were bundled out for 252 runs in 47.5 overs. 


New Zealand wins toss, elects to field against South Africa in tri-series

Updated 10 February 2025
Follow

New Zealand wins toss, elects to field against South Africa in tri-series

  • New Zealand beat Pakistan last week in tri-nation series clash between both sides 
  • South Africa have entered series without seven of their Champions Trophy players

LAHORE, Pakistan: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won his second successive toss and elected to field against an understrength South Africa lineup Monday in the cricket tri-nation series.
New Zealand had to make one forced change with opening batter Rachin Ravindra replaced by Devon Conway.
Ravindra sustained a blow on the forehead while fielding during New Zealand’s thumping 78-run win in the first match on Saturday against Pakistan and was rested for the second game.
Ravindra was struck on the head when he lost sight of the ball in what seemingly should have been a routine catch of Khushdil Shah at deep mid-wicket.
South Africa has entered the tournament without seven of its Champions Trophy players, who will arrive at Karachi over the weekend.
Matthew Breetzke, Mihlali Mpongwana, Senuran Muthusamy and Eathan Bosch were awarded ODI debuts on a wicket which Santner says “looks like another 300” pitch.
Glenn Phillips smashed his maiden ODI century as New Zealand rattled 330-6 in the first match.
___
Lineups:
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Ben Sears, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Jason Smith, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Mihlali Mpongwana, Senuran Muthusamy, Eathan Bosch, Junior Dala, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.
 


England’s Bethell ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy— captain

Updated 10 February 2025
Follow

England’s Bethell ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy— captain

  • Left-handed Jacob Bethell sat out second ODI against India with hamstring injury
  • England call up Somerset batsman Tom Banton on Sunday as cover for injured Bethell

NEW DELHI: Jacob Bethell is set to miss next week’s Champions Trophy after the left-handed batsman sat out the second one-day international against India with a hamstring injury.

The 21-year-old Bethell made 51 in the opening defeat last week, but was missing on Sunday as India took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Cuttack.

The 50-over Champions Trophy begins on Feb. 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.

“I’m pretty sure (Bethell) has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy, to be honest,” captain Jos Buttler admitted after England’s four-wicket defeat.

“That’s really disappointing for him. Obviously, he played nicely the other day and has been one of the really exciting players,” he added.

“It’s a shame that injury is going to rule him out.”

England have not made an official statement on Bethell’s status, but they called up Somerset batsman Tom Banton on Sunday as cover.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Banton, 26, was due to arrive in India on Monday and join the England squad for the final match of the series in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Banton has played in six ODIs, with a top score of 58 and averages 26.80 with the bat.

England’s first match in the Champions Trophy is against World Cup winners Australia on Feb. 22.

Final squads must be submitted by Feb. 12.