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Journalism of Courage
Dhaka to host U-17 Asia Cup
LONDON: Hopes for a 400-metre showdown between two-time reigning Olympic champion Marie Jose Perec and Australia8217;s Cathy Freeman in London next month were extinguished when the Frenchwoman decided to pull out, UK Athletics has said.
The pair had been expected to meet at the British Grand Prix on August 6, but the 1996 Olympic gold medalist decided not to attend, preferring instead to compete in the French National championships on the same weekend.
Chavez no match for Tszyu
PHOENIX: Mexico8217;s Julio Cesar Chavez is considered so out matched by Kostya Tszyu that Las Vegas bookmakers refuse to give odds on their fight here on Saturday.
World Boxing Council super lightweight champion Tszyu, a Russian-born boxer who fights out of Australia, enters 24-1 with one drawn and 20 knock-outs. Chavez, who turned 38 on July 12, is 103-4 with two drawn and 86 knockouts. Vegas oddsmakers have no action on the fight because Chavez would be such an underdog. Some have even suggested he might be severely injured.
Thompson admits taking drugs
OMAHA NEBRASKA: Olympic shot put hopeful Tressa Thompson admits she dropped out of the Olympic Trials last week after learning that she tested positive for drugs, the Omaha World-Herald reported.
The former All-American at Nebraska said she tested positive for cocaine, amphetamine and methamphetamine late last month at a meet in Portland, Oregon.
Guerrouj to attempt mile record
OSLO: Morocco8217;s Hicham El Guerrouj headlines the Bislett Games which kick off on Friday, as he launches an assault on his World mile record of 3 minutes and 43.13 seconds which he set last year in Rome.
The Games will also be the last chance for new contenders to enter the IAAF Golden League Jackpot. Under the rules of this year8217;s edition of the IAAF Golden League, athletes must win their selected Golden League events in five of the seven meetings making up this prestigious series.
Samaranch willing to testify
LAUSANNE: International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch has said he would be willing to testify in the trial of the two former bid leaders indicted in the Salt Lake City bribery scandal.
In his first extensive comments on last week8217;s indictments of Tom Welch and Dave Johnson, Samaranch said he would continue to collaborate with the US Justice Department. 8220;Every time that there will be a request, as in the past, to give some explanations regarding the IOC, I am ready,8221; he said in a interview with The Associated Press. 8220;If I am asked to testify, my answer is very clear 8211; yes.8221;
Oldest Australian carries torch
MELBOURNE: Australia8217;s oldest man, 109-year8211;old Jack Lockett, walked with the Olympic torch before using the torch to light a community cauldron in the Victorian state town of Bendigo.
Lockett, who is older than the modern Olympics, which began in Athens in 1896, took his morning walk on Thursday carrying the Olympic flame in the town 150 kms northwest of Melbourne.
Researchers confident of getting EPO test validated
SYDNEY: Australian scientists remain confident that a blood test devised to detect the performing-enhancing substance EPO will get the backing of the International Olympic Committee before the September 15-October 1 Sydney Games.
In the first step to get the test validated, the Australian EPO research project team was scheduled to present findings of its research to an IOC medical commission panel in Lausanne, on August 1. IOC has never sanctioned using blood samples for doping tests, but EPO researcher Dr Peter Davis said on Friday that only legal wrangling would prevent a valid blood test being implemented before Sydney 2000. EPO, or Erythropoietin, boosts the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells and is reportedly used extensively in endurance events including cycling and running.
