Hall has day out to seal the win
Caught by old tests FIFA’s hot debate
A GERMAN anti-doping laboratory using a new steroid test has found 266 positive cases in the past year and is finding other positives in retesting of old samples.
Cologne lab scientist Hans Geyer revealed the detailed figures yesterday at an antidoping conference hosted by FIFA. The lab found 184 cases involving stanozolol, the banned drug used by sprinter Ben Johnson at the 1988 Olympics, and 82 of oral turinabol, a steroid widely used in East Germany.
Geyer said many of the positives since November 2012 involved athletics, weightlifting and wrestling, and all were reported to the World Anti-Doping Agency and sports governing bodies.
‘‘It was surprising for us, we didn’t expect that many,’’ Geyer told reporters on the sidelines of the conference. ‘‘Most of them were from the first half of this year.’’
German broadcaster ARD reported this month on the testing at the Cologne and Moscow labs, and the IOC confirmed it was using the improved method to retest samples from the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics.
More cases are being revealed in re-tests requested by sports bodies, which the scientist did not identify. THE World Cup match schedule is unlikely to change despite the international players’ union voicing concerns about 1pm kickoffs in Brazil’s heat and humidity, according to the chairman of FIFA’s medical committee.
‘‘I will be surprised if we can change it. Everything has been arranged,’’ Michel D’Hooghe said.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter said this month that kick-off times are ‘‘established but not sanctioned’’, and could be discussed in Brazil ahead of the draw next Friday.
Blatter has been lobbied by the FIFPro union, which objects to seven of 64 games having 1pm starts in the tropical cities of Fortaleza, Natal, Recife and Salvador on the northeastern coast.
‘‘There will be matches in warm temperatures and you have to be prepared,’’ said D’Hooghe, a long-standing member of the FIFA executive committee which meets over two days in Brazil. He also sits on the World Cup organising committee which meets Tuesday.
The Belgian doctor said that FIFA already allows referees to order a drinks break in each half when temperatures top 32C. WARATAHS came from behind to clinch a stunning twopoint win over the Tiwi Bombers in their NTFL clash at Gardens Oval yesterday.
The Bombers had control for most of the match before a last-gasp effort from Davin Hall in the final seconds secured a 16.15 (111) to 16.13 (109) win.
Hall starred with a bag of seven goals to move the Tahs into third place on the ladder ahead of Nightcliff, who take on Palmerston today.
Coach Brenton Toy said it was an important win in the context of their season so far.
‘‘Early in the game it was end-to-end footy, but we worked really hard in the second half to put ourselves in a position to stop the opposition from running,’’ he said.
‘‘ We were just trying to slow them down as much as we could and keep the game close without letting Tiwi get into a shootout with us.
‘‘ We know how quickly Tiwi can take the ball from one end to the other and I think right up until the siren went we were still in doubt if whether we were going to win or not.
‘‘We didn’t panic, but the nerves were certainly on edge. Our confidence got knocked around a couple of weeks ago by St Marys and it was good to get a win last week against Buffs and even better to get a win at home against Tiwi, who have always been a threat to the top three let alone the top five.’’
The Bombers had the edge early to lead by 15 points at quarter-time, seven at the last change, but were out-run by a gutsy Tahs outfit.
Craig Parry in the ruck, James Wray, Hayden McDonald and Ryan Cocks (three goals) were outstanding for the Warriors side.
John Kelantumama topscored with four goals for the Bombers and Ross Tungatalum bagged three.