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Thursday,
April 24, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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IOA panel defers decision ‘Lewis failed drug tests but let off’ Lara'a century fails to avert defeat
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‘Inappropriate lifestyles led to SA Cup debacle’
Smith, Salvi showed potential Mongia
happy with performance Pak recall Shoaib Sania powers India to 3rd successive win Barua emerges joint leader ITI steal 3-3 draw CISF upset
Bhopal XI Amritsar score 261
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IOA panel defers decision New Delhi, April 23 Dr Manmohan Singh, who is a leading cardiologist based in Patiala, disclosed after the meeting that certain technical points raised by the sportspersons through their respective federations were discussed and procedures to be followed in those cases were finalised as per the guidelines of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Olympic Movement Anti-Doping Code (OMADC). He said it was also decided that as per the IOC/OCA rules, “the sportspersons tested positive for banned substances should be given personal hearing by the Medical Commission/Anti-Doping Commission of the IOA, and failure to appear before the commission will be presumed that the sportspersons have nothing to state in their defence”. Dr Manmohan Singh, who is also a member of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Medical Commission for the past 14 years, asserted that “there will be no laxity in taking action as per rules and imposing sanction in consultation with the concerned national federations in all cases of doping code violations as the IOA is committed to upholding the principle of drug free sports, envisaged in the Olympic Movement, being a strong supporter of OMADC of WADA. Dr Singh praised the Andhra Pradesh Government, the hosts of the 32nd National Games, for employing fool-proof methods in the sample collection for dope testing through imported kits, which had cost the Andhra Government over Rs 35 lakh. He also refused to join issue with
athlete Udayalakshmi who had blamed an Andhra official of forcing her to take performance-boosting drugs. Udayalakshmi, who had won the 400m hurdles gold, had tested positive for an anabolic steroid. The Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI) has already imposed a two-year ban on two athletes, suspended two others and warned four for doping offences. IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh said the federations were free to impose necessary action against the guilty athletes, and the IOA will be fully adhering to the sanctions recommended by the Medical Commission. Dr Manmohan Singh conceded that most of the athletes were familiar with performance-enhancing drugs, and their easy availability across the counter only confounded matters. Though he did not say it in too many words, Dr Singh did not rule out the tacit help of coaches and officials in enabling the sportspersons get on the doping trail. The enormous cash incentives on offer for medal winners force the athletes to take recourse to short cuts to achieve success, though with the IOA adopting a tough stance, things may not be hunky-dory for stimulant users in future. Dr Singh said the Medical Commission thoroughly scrutinised the mode and method adopted by the Sports Authority of India dope-testing laboratory in New Delhi, and was fully satisfied with the end result. |
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‘Lewis failed drug tests but let off’
Los Angeles, April 23 Lewis, who also said a herbal supplement that triggered his positive tests at the 1988 Olympic trials gave him no advantage, told the Orange County Register newspaper that he was treated the same as “hundreds of others” who tested positive. “There were hundreds of people getting off,” Lewis said in his first public comments since the newspaper reported last week more than 100 U.S. athletes were allowed to compete after failing drugs tests between 1988 and 2000. “Everyone was treated the same,” added Lewis who tested positive three times for pseudoephedrine, ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine — stimulants banned by the U.S. and International Olympic Committees. After obtaining documents from Wade Exum, the USOC’s director for drug control between 1991 and 2000, that USOC disqualified Lewis, but then accepted his appeal on the basis that he had taken an herbal supplement and was unaware of its contents., reported paper. Reuters
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Lara'a century fails to avert defeat
Port of Spain, April 23 Lara, bitterly disappointed at missing out on the first innings when he scored 91, made 122 to give West Indies an outside chance as they chased a target of 407 to win on the final day. But they lost their last seven wickets for 75 runs with fast bowler Andy Bichel ending the fightback by snaring three quick wickets after the interval. By the time Lara was out, caught by Matthew Hayden off leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, West Indies were already in disarray and they collapsed to 288 all out. Lara was playing his tenth Test at Port of Spain and his 20th innings. His highest previous score at the Queen's Park Oval was 96. Australian captain Steve Waugh declared his team’s second innings at 238 for three leaving the home side to defy cricket history and score 407 runs to win off a minimum 127 overs over four sessions of play. Scoreboard Australia (1st innings): 576 for 4 declared. West Indies (1st innings):
408 Australia (2nd innings): Langer lbw b Drakes 3 Hayden not out 100 Ponting c Baugh b Dillon 45 Lehmann b Dillon 66 Extras:
(b12, lb6, w1, nb5) 24 Total: (3 wkts declared) 238 FoW:
1-12, 2-118, 3-238. Bowling: Dillon 18.2-0-64-2, Drakes 20-4-61-1,Samuels 21-1-65-0, Collins 7-1-30-0. West Indies (2nd innings):
(overnight 107-3) Hinds b MacGill 35 Smith lbw b Gillespi 0 Ganga c Hayden b Gillespie 2 Lara c Hayden b MacGill 122 Sarwan c Lehmann b Bichel 34 Samuels lbw b Bichel 1 Bernard c Hayden b Bichel 4 Baugh c Langer b Hogg 1 Drakes not out 26 Dillon c Bichel b Lee 13 Collins lbw b Gillespie 5 Extras:
(b25 lb7 w3 nb 10) 45 Total: (all out) 288 FoW: 1-2 2-12 3-107 4-213 5-222 6-228
7-238 8-238 9-270 Bowling:
Lee 19-4-68-1, Gillespie 17.2-3-36-3, Bichel 13-3-21-3, Lehmann 7-0-20-0, MacGill 20-6-53-2, Hogg 13-1-58-1.
Reuters
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Bowlers
of the world beware, Sachin Tendulkar is 30
Bowlers of the world beware. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is 30. It is commonly believed that great batsmen become even more productive once they pass this personal chronological landmark. Not that productivity at the batting crease has ever been a problem for Sachin. He had made seven Test centuries before his 21st birthday and 31 before his 30th. Add 34 in the one-day arena in less than 10 years since his first hundred in 1994 against Australia in Colombo and 65 is an unsurpassed and possibly unsurpassable number. Since Don Bradman did not play too many Tests beyond his 30th birthday — he did make 11 of his 29 centuries after 1938 — a parallel has to be drawn nearer home because World War II may have robbed some from the greatest batsman in the history of the game. Sunil Gavaskar scored 18 of his record 34 Test centuries after his 30th birthday. Interpolating that percentage of post-30 success, Sachin should finish with at least 49 Test centuries. Well, it could be a round 50 provided India are engaged in a reasonable number of Test series. The sum total of international hundreds will certainly go beyond a century of centuries. Sachin's international career since he began as a precociously talented 16-year-old in 1989 has been too well documented to merit a detailed recap. The point is this modern incarnation of Bradman has a genius for the game that only a select few have possessed. By virtue of his skill, technique, self-assuredness, cognizance, acumen and genius, he has become such a consummate performer on the dual modern cricket stage of Tests and one-day internationals that he is a national treasure. In a country of passionate following of idols in which he has become public property, Sachin has found a way to preserve his privacy while carrying out his responsibilities not only as a cricketer but as an icon a piece of which everyone seems to want. As the standard of living edges upwards, the attraction of spectator sport has become much more evident as leisure time activity. The reverence or hysterical enthusiasm with which players are treated is a sure sign that cricket represents some kind of nationalism in a far from homogenous society. In sport, the World Cup is almost a symbol of warlike nationalism and performances in it bound to be rated higher. Sachin's World Cup form has placed him on such a pedestal that even the world's richest cricketer, who can expect to earn 500 crores of rupees in endorsements alone, should begin to worry about his demi-god status. And, despite his massive achievements, he always shows a human side, be it in interviews, or in lending his autograph to a scanty piece of paper so eagerly thrust at him, or in talking of the game in absolutes, always placing team success above the hunting of records. He has treated his rewriting the record books as almost incidental embroidery in a career furthering India's cause in a sport that is considered a means by which the nation can prove itself. His name was anyway destined to embellish record books since he had unbeaten scores of 207, 329 and 346 in the space of five innings at the age of 14. The fact that he is human, after all, may even be reflected in his failure at captaincy. This is one deficiency not covered up by his many-dimensional talent as seen in his satisfying every batting demand in Tests and limited-overs cricket and in his varied bowling that reveals his cricketing acumen and his enthusiastic presence on the field. Of course, there will now be talk of his failure in the World Cup final, on the very special occasion to which he had carried India in his splendid batting form that really blossomed in his 98 against Pakistan. Maybe, he will correct it in 2007. That he retains his boyish enthusiasm for speed as in go-karting is, perhaps, a sign of a freshness of mind. The bloom has not been staled by having played in the high pressure atmosphere of more than a combined 400 Tests and ODIs and several other games of various classifications since his first class appearance in 1987. After centuries on appearance in the
Ranji, Irani Cup and Duleep Trophy, Sachin has never looked back. Really, the bowlers of the world must beware now that a teenage prodigy is an accomplished performer with a huge base of experience whose hunger for runs is intact. Let us wish him well as Sachin enters his fourth decade. UNI |
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‘Winning Tests biggest challenge’ Colombo, April 23 “My greatest challenge is to win Test matches in Sri Lanka,” Fleming said ahead of the first match of the two-Test series starting at the Tamil Union ground here on Friday. “We have a good enough team to win. I am determined to play well and achieve it.” The last time the two teams met in a Test series was in 1997 when Fleming’s tourists squandered a 1-0 lead by losing the remaining two matches to Arjuna Ranatunga’s home team. A devastated Fleming could only console himself by ending up as the highest scorer on both sides with 359 runs at a superb average of 71.80 with one hundred and two half-centuries. The left-hander now seeks revenge despite the absence of three key aides, Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan, through injury or poor form. Fleming knows the key lies in his players handling both the stifling 35 degrees Celsius heat — combined with 90 percent humidity — and the Sri Lankan spin force led by Muthaiah Muralitharan. A couple of two-day practice matches over the last four days ensured the Kiwis adjusted to the weather, but tackling spin remained a worry. New Zealand collapsed for 283 against a local side on Tuesday, clearly unable to read leg-spinner Upul Chandana, who forced his way in the Test squad with a five-wicket haul. AFP
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‘Inappropriate lifestyles led to SA Cup debacle’
Durban, April 23 Fitness expert Dr Andrew Gray and psychologist Dr Clinton Gohwiler, who were entrusted the responsibility by the United Cricket Board of South Africa to prepare reports on the team’s pathetic performances in the mega tournament, revealed that barring bowler Makhaya Ntini and batsman Boeta Dippenaar, rest of the players were "more or less unfit" and lacked "application and attitude." Four players - opener Herschelle Gibbs, Allan Donald, Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener - were particularly guilty of being ill-prepared and unfit for the World Cup, said Dr Gray in his report which was published in all major newspapers in the country. He also named Mark Boucher, former captain Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall and Charl Langeveldt for not paying enough attention to their diet or fitness training. "Gibbs was gulity of bingeing and an inappropriate lifestyle, Donald drank too much and Kallis did not eat properly while his life away from the game needed attention," he said in the report, which was submitted to Board chief Gerald Majola, UCB medical committee chairman Dr Arnold Bloch, coach Eric Simons and convenor of selectors Omar Henry. The report also stated that Hall, Klusner and Langeveldt were all ordered to lose weight and Pollock, who was replaced as captain soon after the World Cup by Graeme Smith, was told to stay away from chocolates. Jonty Rhodes, who announced his retirement from international cricket after being forced to skip the World Cup, was identified as an injury risk long before he broke his hand in the second match against Kenya. Smith, Rhodes replacement in the mega tournament, was another player warned about his "eating habits." "I have provided documentation regarding the fitness level of various players who have failed their tests and nothing has been done about it," Gray said in his report. "I do feel that I have no authority over my area of expertise." In the report, Dr Gahwilder said he had held in-depth discussions with six players during the tournament. He found their problems to be tension, expectations and relationships between the members of the team. Maintaining that the ghost of Hansie Cronje also affected the team, he said the players should be tutored about handling the media and other situations. PTI
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Smith, Salvi showed potential The recently concluded TVS Cup finished on a damp and disappointing note, what with the final being washed out, but the tournament provided a good opportunity for the three participating teams to build for the future, though I am not sure whether this was fully exploited. From the three teams, I could pick only two players who showed definite potential to perform at the international level - Graeme Smith and Avishkar Salvi. Though Smith's elevation to the captaincy was premature, as I have said earlier, he looks a good long-term investment. He looked like a fish out of water in his first couple of games as captain, but by the end of the tournament had begun settling down to the responsibility. What I liked most about Smith was the honesty to accept his mistakes, learn from then and rework strategy. A mulish mentality is not desirable in a young captain, from which Smith is thankfully exempt. He will now have to win over further trust of his seniors and build up a new team. In my opinion, this was one of the weakest sides I have seen from South Africa, so Smith has a lot of hard work ahead. Avishkar Salvi was the shining light of this tournament. One can at least say that he has a promising international career ahead of him, and he could be just the player that India needs for the tour of Australia later this year. If he works a little more on the mechanics of his action, he will become an even more potent bowler. With his height, Salvi is able to extract extra bounce from the wicket, which could make him a great asset on pacy and bouncy tracks like those found Down Under. India's pace attack — with Srinath, Zaheer, Nehra, Agarkar and Salvi — now has depth and variety, but a lot of hard work will have to be put in by these bowlers if the team is to measure up to Australia. I was disappointed that the other youngsters did not make better use of this opportunity to make their mark, barring to an extent Mohammed Kaif, who in many ways is an experienced hand already. He is the kind of player who, if given responsibility, has it in him to raise the bar. The team management should give him a larger responsibility to get the best out of him. For Bangladesh, this was a dismal tournament and the cricket board there has some serious work ahead. There is plenty of soul-searching to do, a great deal more talent scouting. I would think their hunt has to be in the age group of 10-15 so that in a few years some high quality players are representing the country.
TCM |
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Mongia happy with performance Chennai, April 23 “I was overall okay with my performance in Dhaka, especially with my strike rate,” said Mongia, who aggregated 103 runs at 51.5 with a strike rate of 99.03 during the tri-series in Dhaka, where India and South Africa shared the honours after rain marred the final. He was in the starting line-up of all Indian matches during the World Cup in South Africa but came in for flak for his slow-scoring, especially in the league game against England where he made 32 runs from 66 balls. “I batted slowly in that innings because I was asked to stay at the wicket. I batted under instructions,” said Mongia, who managed only 120 runs with 42 as his highest in the World Cup. The left-handed batsman from Punjab said his poor aggregate in the World Cup was due to his not getting the chance to bat in five out of 11 innings. “I did not get to bat at all in five games and then a couple of games were against Australia in full flight.” Mongia played one of the finest knocks of the TVS Cup in Dhaka when he smashed an unbeaten 55 from 38 balls against South Africa and put on an unbroken stand of 110 runs for the fifth wicket with Mohammed Kaif (95) in just 70 balls. “There was pressure to get some quick runs and I could carry on the assault,” said Mongia, who went past the 1000-run mark in one-day cricket in Dhaka. In the absence of some senior players, India fielded a few youngsters in the Dhaka tri-series and Mongia believes amongst them pacer Avishkar Salvi has a bright future. “He looks a good prospect. He has speed and control and above anything else, looks a keen competitor.” Mongia, who has so far played 48 one-day internationals and compiled 1028 runs with one century and three fifties at 27.78, intends to play for Chemplast Club here this summer despite getting offers to play league cricket in England. “I didn’t get an offer to play for any county. There were offers for league cricket but I feel it wouldn’t serve my game.” Mongia will resume his training in two week’s time according to a fitness chart distributed to Indian cricketers by team’s physical trainer Adrian le Roux. PTI
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Pak recall Shoaib Karachi, April 23 Akhtar was one of eight regular players axed following Pakistan's first round exit from the World Cup held in February-March in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. "The selection committee has invited 21 players for the camp” the PCB said. The 27-year-old was a major disappointment in the World Cup as Pakistan lost three of their five matches and were eliminated in the first round. Vice-captain Inzamam-ul Haq was the other axed player who featured in trial matches ahead of the selection but despite scoring a half century was ignored.
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Sania powers India to 3rd successive win
New Delhi, Apr 23 In a Group 2 four-team pool, India emerged on the top with an all three win record to qualify for the Group 1.In the last league match they overpowered Pacific Oceania 2-1. In the earlier league matches India had beaten Philippines and Kyrgyzstan by an identical 3-0 margin. Today also India did not lose a match against Pacific Oceania but after gaining an unbeatable 2-0 lead by winning the two singles, they did not play the doubles. According to information received here, the 16-year-old Hyderabad girl Sania Mirza gave India the lead when she overwhelmed Gurianna Korinihona 6-2, 6-0. Manisha Malhotra made short work of Maylani Ah Hoy 6-3 6-2 to seal India’s victory and a place in the Group 1. As the doubles tie had become inconsequential Isha Lakhani and Megha Vakharia gave a walk over to Irene Geroge and Korinihona so as to catch an early flight home. For the second place for Group 1 from this pool, Philippines take will take on Kyrgyzstan in the last league match tomorrow. UNI
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Barua emerges joint leader Mumbai, April 23 Tenth seed Barua defeated his compatriot and former British champion International Master R B Ramesh in French-Tarrasch game and outwitted his opponent in 42 moves while 14th seed Dung caused a mild flutter beating seventh seed Sherbakov Ruslan, Russian GM in a Nimzo Indian game. Dungh overpowered his rival in 37 moves. Eighth seed Xiang demolished young Indan International Master Neelotpal Das (3.5 points) in a Sicilian-Paulsen game in just 27 moves.
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ITI steal 3-3 draw
Kolkata, April 23 While Najeeb Adu struck twice and Tajinder Singh once for ITI, Bagan’s Baichung Bhutia signalled his return to form with a brace and Sunil Chettri completed the tally for the green-maroon brigade. Bhutia booted home just two minutes after play began, but the ITI made amends scoring three quick goals in a 12-minute blitz beginning in the middle of the second half. Najeeb Adu’s salvo found the target in the 63rd minute to level the game and Tejinder Singh gave ITI a vital lead seven minutes later. To add insult to injury, Adu sent home a tremendous volley to give ITI an arrogant 3-1 lead in the 75th minute. But the local side, which took the field for the first time in more than three years without seasoned coach Subrata Bhattacharjee, found the first reducer through Sunil Chettri just a minute later. Chettri met a measured cross from Bhutia to drive home 2-3. Four minutes later, it took the best out of Bhutia to give his side the equaliser 3-3 much to the relief of the interim coaches Bidesh Bose and Shyamal Banerjee. Churchill edge out Mahindra
MARGAO: A penalty goal by Ghanian ace striker Yakubu Yusif guided Churchill Brothers, Goa, to get better of the spirited Mahindra United team from Mumbai by 1-0 and boost their tally in the penultimate round of the OIL PSU National Football league match being played here at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda today.
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CISF upset
Bhopal XI
Mumbai, April 23 However, despite today’s win CISF could not make it to the semi-finals as Indian Oil and Karnataka Eleven have already made it to the last four stage. In the first league match of the Pool-A, CISF took the lead in the 25th minute when Ekka converted a penalty stroke. The stroke was awarded after Bhopal defender Mansoor Ali stopped a goal bound ball with foot. With two minutes to go for half time Ekka increased the lead off a S K Kiro cross.
PTI
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Amritsar
score 261 Amritsar, April 23 The hosts who won the toss and elected to bat first, were all out for 261 in 89.1 overs. The main scorers for Amritsar were Guriqbal (76), Rakesh Mahajan (45), Rahul Khosla (37) and Gaurav Bhandari (33). The visitors fielded well earning three run-out decisions. For Minor District Abhinav and Jatinder Rana claimed two wickets each. At the end of today’s play Minor Districts were at three without any loss. |
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Port of Spain, April 23
