Pumas boot out eight to face Boks in Durban
Oz set to weed out the cheats
ATHLETICS Australia chief Phil Jones yesterday said he was alarmed by new allegations of mass doping in the sport and demanded a full investigation.
The sport is reeling from a leaked database belonging to its governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), reported by German television channel ARD and Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper.
It allegedly shows details of 12 000 blood tests from 5 000 competitors which revealed “extraordinary” levels of doping, which the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) said would “shake the foundation” of athletes trying to stay clean.
“The contents of the articles Jones in a statement.
“Athletics Australia is currently working to ascertain further information about the alleged leaked IAAF test reports that have been obtained to form the basis of the articles.”
Jones added that as a signatory to the Wada code, Athletics Australia condemned doping in sport.
Wada president Craig Reedie said on Sunday the new claims would be passed to an independent commission looking into allegations aired by ARD in December of widespread doping in Russian athletics.
Russian and Kenyan athletes featured strongly in the latest claims, with ARD and the Sunday Times saying the data was leaked by a “whistleblower”.
The media groups asked Australian doping experts Michael Ashenden and Robin Parisotto to examine the results and they concluded that 800 athletes in disciplines from 800m to the marathon registered values considered suspicious or highly suspicious.
“The IAAF is now preparing a detailed response to both media outlets and will reserve the right to take any follow up action necessary to protect the rights of the IAAF and its athletes,” it said. — AFP
is
alarming,”
said ARGENTINA have dropped eight starters from the recent hammering by Australia for the 2015 Rugby Championship Test against South Africa in Durban on Saturday.
Backs dropped by coach Daniel Hourcade include fullback Santiago Cordero, right-wing Gonzalo Camacho, outside centre Matias Moroni and flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez. The axed forwards are lock Manuel Carizza and loose trio Javier Ortega Desio, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and number eight Facundo Isa.
A ninth change is injury induced. Tighthead prop Ramiro Herrera was hurt during the 34-9 loss to the Wallabies nine days ago and knee surgery will sideline him for four to six weeks.
Backline survivors from the Mendoza mauling are inside centre Juan Pablo Socino, left-wing Juan Imhoff and scrumhalf Martin Landajo.
Hooker and skipper Agustin Creevy, loosehead prop Marcos Ayerza and lock Tomas Lavanini remain among the eight who started against Australia.
“The objectives for the match with South Africa are the same as for those against New Zealand and Australia,” explained Hourcade. “We hope to gradually improve our game, develop greater rhythm, and assess players ahead of the World Cup. South Africa are a great team who could have won both matches they lost,” he said, referring to narrow Springbok defeats away to Australia and at home to New Zealand.
While Hourcade said before the Rugby Championship that he would rotate players ahead of the September 18-October 31 World Cup in England, some changes may be form-related. Sanchez, leading points-scorer last season with 52 in the championship, was poor in both Tests. Veteran utility back Juan Martin Hernandez has been called up for the first time in this Championship and will be a contender to replace Sanchez.
Fit-again Joaquin Tuculet is a natural choice to replace Cordero, having worn the number 15 shirt in a 39-18 opening-round defeat in New Zealand. Experienced centre Marcelo Bosch is another candidate to start against the Springboks at Kings Park stadium having faced the All Blacks, but not the Wallabies. Loose forward Juan Manuel Leguizamon also boasts great Test experience and is likely to be included.
SA have won 18 Tests against Argentina and drawn the other since they first met in 1993. — AFP