Boxing in peril of removal from Tokyo Games
The International Olympic Committee said boxing still risks being kicked out of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics amid concerns about the sport’s governing body.
The International Boxing Association, known as AIBA, has been in financial turmoil, faced claims of fixed bouts at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, and now has an interim president linked to organized crime.
IOC president Thomas Bach said issues over “governance, financial and sporting integrity” continue. The IOC executive board warned AIBA about its Olympic status in February, and requested updates before its next meeting in July. Bach cites “serious factual issues” as well as concerns about AIBA’s leader.
The U.S. Treasury Department said interim president Gafur Rakhimov of Uzbekistan was involved in heroin trading. IOC TO APPEAL CLEARANCE OF RUSSIAN DOPING BANS » The IOC plans to appeal to Switzerland’s supreme court against rulings which cleared some Russian athletes of doping sanctions from the Sochi Games.
The Olympic body is “unsatisfied both by the decision and the motivation” of verdicts by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said.
The Swiss Federal Tribunal based in Lausanne can overturn CAS verdicts if legal process was abused, though appeals rarely succeed.
Days before the Pyeongchang Games in February, two CAS judging panels upheld appeals of 28Russian athletes against IOC sanctions that included Olympic life bans and being stripped of their Sochi results. CAS said the IOC’s investigations in those cases did not prove doping offences, while also stressing the 28were not formally declared innocent of taking part in orchestrated cheating.
The verdicts irritated Olympic leaders who believed the sports court applied the burden of proof of a criminal case. Sports law in a civil court like CAS typically requires cases to be proven to the “comfortable satisfaction” of judges. TESTING MISCONDUCT ALLEGED » Former Olympic 1500-meter champion Asbel Kiprop said he has tested positive for doping and is alleging officials gave prior warning of the supposedly unannounced out- of- competition test before extorting money from him.
Kiprop wired funds to one of the doping control officers while they were at his house in Iten, Kenya, collecting his urine sample last November, he said in a statement issued via his lawyer on Thursday.
The 2008 Olympic gold medalist and three- time world champion said he learned in February the sample tested positive and was “extremely shocked.”
NFL
RYAN, FALCONS AGREE TO 5-YEAR DEAL » Quarterback Matt Ryan agreed to a fiveyear contract extension with the Atlanta Falcons. The team didn’t reveal financial terms, but ESPN reported the deal will make Ryan the first NFL player to earn $30 million per year. The deal includes $100 million guaranteed, ESPN said. Ryan, who will turn 33 on May 17, was entering the final year of a five-year, $103.75 million extension he signed in July 2013.
Ryan was the third overall draft pick in 2008 and has been the Falcons’ starting quarterback ever since. He has missed only two starts over the first decade of his career, passing for nearly 42,000 yards with 260 touchdowns. He was the league MVP in 2016, guiding Atlanta to only the second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Ryan will turn 33 on May 17. LEAGUE TO ADDRESS BILLS PRESIDENT’S DEPARTURE » The NFL plans to contact the Buffalo Bills regarding team president Russ Brandon’s abrupt resignation amid allegations he had an inappropriate relationshipwith a female team employee.
The league released a statement saying it will discuss the matter with the Bills and “make a decision in the next few days about what, if any, further steps we will take.”
Brandon resigned Tues- day after spending 20 years working up the Bills’ executive ranks. Two people with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Brandon’s resignation came after he was confronted about the relationship by team owners Terry and Kim Pegula. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because it is an internal matter, and the Pegulas did not provide a reason when announcing they accepted Brandon’s resignation.
Brandon was also president of the Pegula- owned NHL Buffalo Sabres.
Colleges
PAC -12 PASSES $500 MILLION IN REVENUE » The Pac-12 reported revenues of $509 million for the 2016-17 financial year, surpassing $500 million for the first time.
The conference announced at its spring meetings that it distributed $371million to its 12 schools, an increase of 8 percent from the previous year. Most of the increase is driven bymedia rights deals with ESPN and Fox, and the growth of the Pac-12 Network.
Since 2013, member distributions have increased by 63 percent, the conference said, from $228 million. FORMER NEBRASKA STAR QB CLARIDGE DIES » Dennis Claridge, the quarterback who helped College Football Hall of Fame coach Bob Devaney turn a moribund Nebraska program into a national power, has died. He was 76.
The university said Claridge died Tuesday after a three-year battlewith cancer.
Claridge led the Cornhuskers to records of 9-2 in 1962 and 10-1 in 1963, Devaney’s first two years in Lincoln. Claridge played on teams thatwon the Gotham Bowl over Miami and the Orange Bowl over Auburn. Claridge joined the Green Bay Packers in 1964 andwas a backup on the 1965 NFL championship team. CAL NAMES HALL CLASS » Ten Golden Bears, including longtime voice of Cal football JoeStarkey, wereannounced as the 2018 class for the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame.
Also part of the class are: Duje Draganja (men’s swimming, 2002- 05); Ramon Jimenez-Gaona (men’s track and field, 1990-93); Geoff McArthur (football, 200004); Valerie McClain (men’s and women’s rowing, 197882); Teri McKeever (women’s swimming and diving head coach, 1992-present); Alysia Montaño (women’s track and field, 2004- 08); Leon Powe (men’s basketball, 200406); Kristina Thorson (softball, 2003-06); ElsieWindes (women’s water polo, 200407) and Starkey, who enters his 44th year behind the microphone this fall.
Formal induction ceremonies are Oct. 26 at the Greek Orthodox Church Conference Center in Oakland. Information on tickets to the banquet will be announced at a later date. OHIO STATE SEXUAL MIS- CONDUCT CASE GROWS » Ohio State University received confidential reports alleging sexualmisconduct from male athletes in eight sports as it continues its investigation into allegations against a former university doctor, the university said.
The reports involve athletes affiliated with cheerleading, fencing, football, gymnastics, hockey, swimming, volleyball and wrestling.
The doctor, Richard Strauss, died in 2005. In addition to his athletic team duties, Strauss also worked at the university medical center and student health center, the university said.
Thursday’s update followed last month’s initial announcement that someone recently had come forward to accuse Strauss of sexual misconduct. NEW DEAL FOR GEORGIA FOOTBALL COACH SMART » Georgia coach Kirby Smart cashed in after leading the Bulldogs to the national championship game. The school’s athletic association approved an extended sevenyear contract and a new compensation package worth $49 million, roughly doubling Smart’s original deal. MIAMI’S RICHT GETS EXTENSION » Mark Richt’s contract at Miami was extended for two years, meaning he’s now in line to remain at his almamater through the 2023 season. He agreed to a six-year deal inDecember 2015, earning about $4million annually.