Vettel has nothing to fear but plenty to do

Hamilton to take nothing for granted

SOCHI, Russia, Sept 26, (RTRS): Formula One champions Mercedes have yet to be beaten in Russia, which hosts a grand prix for the fifth time this weekend, but Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel still sees nothing to fear in Sochi.

The German is 40 points adrift of Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton with six races remaining and is running out of time to reassert himself in the battle of the four times world champions.

Hamilton has plenty of momentum and has won twice in Russia, even if last year it was Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas who came out on top in a race run in late April rather than at the sharp end of the season.

Bottas, 110 points behind the Briton in the championship, may this year be required to play a ‘wingman’ role which would leave Vettel facing a fully focused foe in Hamilton, who has won

Vettel

four of the last five races.

Vettel did his best to stay positive after finishing third last time out in Singapore – a round Ferrari were expected to win.

“Russia, I think, has been getting better the last years for us, so it should suit our car as well,” the German told reporters.

“I don’t think we have any tracks to fear that are coming,” he added.

“I think our car is working pretty much everywhere and that’s a strength of our car, so no need to be afraid of what’s coming.”

Hamilton, who has been keeping the paparazzi busy since Singapore after being spotted holidaying in Dubai with rap queen Nicki Minaj, knows that he can deliver another hammer blow to his rival.

An eighth win of the season on Sunday would mean he can finish runner-up in every remaining race and still be champion, even if Vettel wins all five.

He and Mercedes also know how fast things can change, though, and will be taking nothing for granted.

The New Orleans Saints placed cornerback Patrick Robinson on injured reserve on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. He broke his ankle Sunday in the team’s overtime win over Atlanta.

Players on injured reserve must miss eight weeks, so the earliest Robinson, 31, could return is for a Thanksgiving night rematch against the Falcons in New Orleans. The team has not announced a timeline for his recovery or whether he will return this season.

The Saints lack depth at the defensive back position. They waived the defensive backs they drafted this year-fifth-rounder Natrell Jamerson and sixth-rounder Kamrin Moore – and both have found homes with new teams. Now, New Orleans is left to hope that P.J. Williams or Ken Crawley can assume the starting role.

The Atlanta Falcons have placed free safety Ricardo Allen on seasonending injured reserve with a torn Achilles tendon.

Allen was carted off the field in last Sunday’s overtime loss to New Orleans, becoming the third defensive starter to go down for Atlanta. Strong safety Keanu Neal tore his ACL in the opener and is out for the year. Linebacker Deion Jones underwent foot surgery and is sidelined until at least Nov 18.

Damontae Kazee and Jordan Richards will start at the safety spots when the Falcons (1-2) host Cincinnati (2-1) on Sunday. Keith Tandy is the primary backup.

Once anticipated as a matchup between two of the better teams in the LONDON, Sept 26, (AFP): Russian athletics, emboldened by WADA’s lifting of the three-year ban on Russia’s anti-doping agency (RUSADA) has demanded to have its ban from track and field terminated, according to a letter seen by The Times.

Russian athletics chief Dmitry Shlyaktin sent the letter to Sebastian Coe, president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), informing him he is taking the case to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS).

Shlyaktin argues that the reasons for the banning of his organisation and its athletes, which the IAAF imposed in November 2015, are no longer pertinent as they were the same ones the World Anti-Doping Agency used when they punished RUSADA.

WADA suspended RUSADA, also in November 2015, after declaring it non-compliant following revelations of a vast state-backed scheme to avoid drug testers.

“Given that the outstanding criteria for RUSAF’s (Russian athletics federation) reinstatement were essentially identical to those that the WADA executive committee has considered met, and that time is of the essence, we respectfully request that the IAAF decide to reinstate RUSAF as soon as possible,”

NFC, Thursday night’s clash between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum now comes with a bit of curiosity attached.

The Rams (3-0) continue to look the part of an NFL power, while the Vikings (1-1-1) have lingering questions following a 27-6 home defeat Sunday to a Buffalo Bills team that was more

Winnipeg Jets’ Adam Lowry, (left), checks Calgary Flames’ Derek Ryan during preseason NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta

on Sept 24. (AP)

wrote Shlyatkin.

“In the meantime, however, RUSAF has no choice but to protect its rights and, accordingly, has filed today an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the IAAF Council’s decision to extend RUSAF’s suspension.”

The IAAF told The Times in light of the letter: “We have led the way to fight for clean athletes and we will continue to do so.”

Coe, who has consistently been the most prominent sports administrator in taking a hard line over the doping scandal, had said following WADA’s decision to lift the ban that Russia needed to meet two pre-conditions to be allowed to return to international athletics competition. The IAAF will next broach the subject at a Council meeting in December.

“The reinstatement of RUSADA was one of three pre-conditions,” he said in a statement issued by the IAAF.

“The other two pre-conditions are Russian authorities must acknowledge the findings of the McLaren and Schmid Commissions that Ministry of Sport officials were implicated in the scheme to cover up the doping of Russian athletes as described in their reports.

than a two-touchdown underdog.

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Aqib Talib will undergo ankle surgery on Thursday, according to coach Sean McVay.

On Tuesday, McVay gave no timetable for Talib’s recovery, indicating that will be determined once surgery is completed. NFL Network initially reported that Talib, who limped off with the injury in the second half of Sunday’s 35-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, would miss four to six weeks.

Barry Sanders shook hands with fans, posed for pictures and engaged in small talk outside a suite at Ford Field before the Detroit Lions opened the season against the New York Jets.

At halftime, the Hall of Fame running back was on the field to turn a huge key, and the stadium’s speakers blared with the sounds of an engine revving.

Green Bay Packers cornerback Davon House is scheduled to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, ESPN reported Tuesday.

The team will sign cornerback Bashaud Breeland to replace House, according to multiple outlets.