Sports Bar

Ministry hits back at IOC

The Sports Ministry on Thursday hit back at the IOC for objecting to its proposed National Sports Bill,saying the sports federations in India will have to conform to the law of the land. Responding to a letter,in which the IOC warned the ministry against imposing the contentious age and tenure limit guidelines as it could lead to Indias expulsion from the Olympics,joint secretary sports Injeti Srinivas said the new bill was aimed at making NSFs and the Indian Olympic Association more accountable.

Sutil happy with result

Force Indias German driver Adrian Sutil said the VJM04 proved itself a reliable car in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix,in which the outfit managed to finish among points after the exclusion of both Saubers for a technical infringement. They brought their cars home in 11th and 12th on the road,before the technical infringement by Saubers moved Sutil and Paul di Resta into ninth and 10th in Melbourne and Sutil said it was a good result and a good weekend. In general it was a good weekend for us. The car was not so bad, said Sutil.

Elias not to contest FIFA poll

Former Chile captain Elias Figueroa has decided not to run for FIFA president in June,citing little time to prepare a creditable platform from which to try to wrest power from Sepp Blatter. The 64-year-old Figueroa,three times South American Player of the Year in the 1970s,had been the choice of a group called Change FIFA to stand against Blatter and Asian Confederation chief Mohamed bin Hammam in the June 1 vote in Zurich. I have decided not to accept8230;for the sole reason that Im sure with such a short time in which to state a case I could not prepare one worthy of the magnitude and importance of such a distinguished job, Figueroa said in a statement on Wednesday.

Contador ruling on July 2

The Court of Arbitration for Sport is confident it can make a ruling on Spaniard Alberto Contadors doping case before this years Tour de France starts on July 2. The International Cycling Union and WADA both appealed against the Spanish federations decision to clear the triple Tour champion after testing positive for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol during last years race. The parties will now have the opportunity to file written submissions including all their arguments and evidence,CAS said in a statement.

Velarde names drugs source

Former Major League Baseball player Randy Velarde testified on Wednesday that he used drugs he believed were human growth hormone obtained from home run king Barry Bonds personal trainer. Called by prosecutors as a witness in Bonds perjury trial,Velarde told of meeting trainer Greg Anderson in parking lots where Anderson injected him in the arm.

Kim targets Houston Open

Anthony Kim is still amazed that he won last years Houston Open after a woeful driving performance but he plans to play with a similar attitude for his title defense this week. Twelve months ago,the American ended a victory drought of nearly two years on the PGA Tour when he beat compatriot Vaughn Taylor in a playoff after putting superbly the whole week.

Castroneves stays focused

Brazilian Helio Castroneves is focused on two numbers as he prepares for the Indianapolis 500 8211; four and 100. A fourth 500 win on the 100th anniversary of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing would see Castroneves celebrate two milestones on one day. Only Rick Mears,A.J. Foyt and Al Unser have driven cars into Victory Lane four times at the sprawling Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Castroneves can join that elite club with another victory on May 29th.