Eleven London 2012 weightlifters fail doping tests

Nadal’s injury situation delicate: Ferrer

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 28, (Agencies): Six weightlifting medallists from the 2012 London Olympics, including three Russians, have tested positive for doping after their samples were re-examined, the sport’s ruling body said.

A total of 11 lifters were provisionally suspended for returning positive tests, including another five who did not win medals in London, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) added in a statement posted on its website Wednesday.

They were among 45 athletes the International Olympic Committee said last week had been caught in a second wave of testing on samples stored from the 2008 and 2012 Games.

Over 100 Russian athletes have so far been banned from the Games after the World Anti-Doping Agency uncovered an elaborate doping system directed by Russia’s sports ministry across more than 30 sports. The banned London weightlifting silver medallists, named for the first time by the IWF, were Russians Alexandr Ivanov, Nataliya Zabolotnaya and Svetlana Tzarukaeva.

Rafa Nadal’s injury situation is “delicate” ahead of the Rio Olympics, according to Spanish team mate David Ferrer. Nadal, a 14-time grand slam champion, has not played a competitive match since May 27 when a left wrist injury forced him to pull out of the French Open after the second round and miss Wimbledon.

World number four Nadal won gold in Beijing eight years ago and will be Spain’s flag bearer in Rio.

“I will travel with Rafa on Sunday to Rio,” Ferrer told Spanish radio Cadena Ser.

“His situation is more delicate. It’s never easy to come back after an injury. We will see how he feels.”

Roger Federer has pulled out of the Games due to a knee injury and Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and others are skipping the event due to concerns about the Zika virus.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) have excluded steeplechaser Jamel Chatbi from the Rio Games due to missed drug tests.

The Moroccan-born

athlete, who once served a three-year ban for doping, will not travel to his maiden Olympics after missing a third random doping control in one year. In accordance with the regulations of national athletics federations, athletes must adhere to a ‘whereabouts programme’ in order to comply with strict anti-doping rules.

A statement by CONI on Thursday announced: “CONI, in concordance with the Italian Athletics Federation, has excluded the athlete Jamel Chatbi (3000m steeplechase) from the Rio Olympic Games for missing a third doping control in the last year.

World number one Lee Chong Wei is not ready to dwell on the prospect of facing arch-rival Lin Dan of China in the Rio Olympics semi-finals, after both shuttlers were drawn in the same half for the Games.

Lee, who will play in his fourth Olympics next month, will be looking to end his long wait for an elusive Olympic gold at the Riocentro venue, after losing out to double Olympic champion Lin in the finals of the Beijing and London Games.

The Malaysian said he was happy with the draw handed to him, despite being in the same half with his Chinese nemesis.

Seeking to maximize its prime-time audience for the Olympics, US TV network NBC tried but failed to change the order of the teams in the opening ceremony, Brazilian organizers said Wednesday.

NBC wanted the countries to parade in alphabetical order by their names in English, instead of Portuguese, which would have put the United States near the end of the Aug 5 ceremony, instead of the beginning.

The United States, which is accustomed to arriving near the finale, is in fact called Estados Unidos in Portuguese, the language spoken in Brazil.

Organizers in host city Rio de Janeiro said they were open to the idea, but could not change the rules set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“We wanted (the change) too. We think their request was pertinent,” said Mario Andrada, spokesman for the Rio2016 organizing committee.

The

International

Olympic

In this Aug 9, 2012 file photo, Claressa Shields, of the United States, in red, fights Russia’s Nadezda Torlopova, in blue, in a women’s middleweight 75-kg boxing gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics. The next wave of women’s boxing has arrived in Rio de Janeiro to build on the

momentum of the inaugural Olympic tournament in London. (AP)

Committee’s new television Channel will launch officially on Aug 21, the last day of this year’s Rio de Janeiro Games, as the organisation looks to attract a new generation of fans.

The digital platform will look to maintain interest in the Games yearround, especially in the two-year period between summer and winter Olympics with original programming, live events, news and highlights.

“The launch of the Olympic Channel on 21st August is the start of an exciting new journey to connect the worldwide audience with the Olympic Movement all year round,” IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement.

Worried about surviving a mugging during the Rio Olympics? Have a banknote ready in your pocket to keep your attacker happy.

That’s the advice French visitors heading for the Games are getting from their government to minimize the risk of being hurt in the notoriously dangerous Brazilian city.

France’s security advisory recommends that tourists walk Rio streets with no jewelry or valuables, and carry a spare 20-real or 50-real bill ($6 or $15) ready to give to a mugger.

“The idea is that it’s best not to resist an assault and always useful to have a 20- or 50-real bill to keep the robber happy,” French embassy spokesman Thibaut Lespagnol said.

As many as half a million foreign tourists are expected to descend on Rio for the first Olympic Games to be held in South America Aug 5-21, and Brazil is deploying 88,000 police and troops to protect them from terrorist threats and dissuade muggers.

Center Anderson Varejao will miss the Olympics for host Brazil because of a herniated disc in his lower back.

The Golden State Warriors announced the injury Wednesday and say that Varejao should be ready for the start of training camp but will not be healthy enough to play in the Olympics. Varejao recently experienced back pain while training with the Brazilian National Team and returned to California to be examined by Dr Robert Watkins earlier this week.