WADA CITES FAILINGS IN ANTI-DOPING PROGRAM IN RIO
montreal» The World Anti-Doping Agency has detailed serious failings of doping control management at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, saying the system was only saved from collapsing by the “enormous resourcefulness and goodwill” of some key staff.
In a 55-page report from its Independent Observer team led by British lawyer Jonathan Taylor, WADA said the logistical issues which put a strain on the testing process were “foreseeable and entirely avoidable” during the Games in August.
The report blamed a lack of coordination, budget cutbacks, tension between the local organizing committee and Brazil’s anti-doping agency, and inadequate training for the problems that included days at the Athletes’ Village when only half of the planned out-of-competition samples could be collected. UNC appears before NCAA panel B indianapolis» North Carolina appeared before an NCAA infractions committee panel for a procedural hearing in the multiyear academic case.
Athletic director Bubba Cunningham said the meeting lasted about five hours in Indianapolis but wouldn’t comment on details. He said there was no timetable for a ruling.
The hearing was focused on procedural arguments made by UNC in response to five charges, including lack of institutional control. The NCAA had said it wouldn’t focus on the “underlying facts or allegations” of the case.
Among its arguments, UNC had challenged the NCAA’s jurisdiction by saying its accreditation agency — not the governing body for college sports — was the proper authority for academic questions.
In documents released this week, the NCAA enforcement staff said UNC’s arguments were “without merit.”
Nishikori ousts Del Potro B basel, switzerland» Kei Nishikori ended Juan Martin del Potro’s winning run at the Swiss Indoors, edging their quarterfinal 7-5, 6-4.
Top-seeded Stan Wawrinka’s long underachieving run in Basel continued when the U.S. Open champion lost 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 to 72nd-ranked qualifier Mischa Zverev of Germany.
• Top-seeded Andy Murray advanced to his 12th semifinal of the season by defeating John Isner of the United States 6-1, 6-3 at the Erste Bank Open.
• Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska took the final spot in the semifinals of the WTA Finals, beating Karolina Pliskova 7-5, 6-3.
CU cross country sweeps B tucson» The University of Colorado men and women swept the Pac-12 cross country championships for the second consecutive year.
The championship was the sixth straight title for the men’s team and the third overall title for the women’s team. Since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, the Buffaloes have won nine of 12 league cross country titles.
The top-ranked CU women’s team scored a total of 33 points, which beat No. 2 Washington by 41 points, the third-largest margin of victory in Pac-10/12 Conference history.
Colorado’s seventh-ranked men recorded their sixth straight Pac-12 title. Rams finish second, led by Mock B kuna, idaho» Jerrell Mock led Colorado State to a second-place finish at the Mountain West men’s and women’s cross country championships.
Mock’s time of 23:57.5 placed him second out of an 8K field of 66 runners.
CSU finished fourth with 103 points in the 6K, behind No. 7 New Mexico (42 points), Air Force (53 points) and No. 28 Boise State (86 points). Janelle Lincks earned All-Mountain West second team honors and led the Rams with a ninth-place finish and time of 20:48.5.