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Russia bids for Rugby
Sevens World Cup
Russia has dropped its bid to host the
2019 Rugby World Cup and has confirmed
that it will concentrate on bidding for
the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013
tournament. Russia’s withdrawal leaves
a record eight Unions tendering to host
either Rugby World Cup 2015 or 2019.
Australia, England, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
Scotland, South Africa and Wales have
confirmed their intention to tender for
Rugby World Cup 2015, while Australia,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South
Africa and Wales formally confirmed their
commitment to host the 2019 tournament.
Detailed tenders have to be submitted
to Rugby World Cup Limited by 8th May.
The hosts for Rugby World Cup 2015 and
Rugby World Cup 2019 will be selected at
a special meeting of the IRB Council on
28th July, 2009.
Give the Scots a break
Gordon Smith, CEO of the Scottish
Football League has suggested a two-
month winter break, extending the
season until June.The lack of a winter
break restricts the Scottish national team
from playing international matches or
setting up training sessions. However,
the extended season could clash with the
FIFA requirement for an early finish ahead
of the World Cup finals in South Africa.
New UK
anti-doping agency
The UK national anti-doping agency
(NADO) will be in operation by the end
of 2009, taking full responsibility for all
drug testing of elite athletes. As well as
continuing UK Sport’s athlete education
and testing work NADO will be given
‘significant new powers’ to ensure
Britain’s remains in the forefront of anti-
doping efforts in the build-up to London
2012. These new powers will include a
more centralised approach to pursuing
doping cases, and much closer links will
be sought with law enforcement agencies,
particularly Customs and Excise and the
Serious Organised Crime Agency.
However, doping will not be made a
criminal offence, as has started to happen
elsewhere in Europe, most notably in
Italy.
Chicago manufacturer
sued after hypothermia
death of football player
A US lawsuit was filed by the widow of
former Ohio State University lineman
Korey Stringer when research concluded
that the helmet and pads that he
wore contributed significantly to his
hypothermia and death.
Chicago based Riddell Inc. manufactured
the helmet and pads that Mr Stringer was
wearing when he collapsed and died from
heatstroke on the second day of a training
camp. The lawsuit contends that the
equipment was defectively designed and
unreasonably dangerous and should have
contained warnings about the danger of
wearing it on hot days.
Riddell argues that a written warning
would not have stopped Mr Stringer
practising, that the equipment has no
defects and that coaches, trainers and
players know that wearing the equipment
adds to heat retention.
The 2007 annual survey of Football Injury
Reasearch showed 119 deaths from
heatstroke from 1955 to 2007.
Move towards
Olympic equality
UK Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has
called for the existing structure of the
Olympics and Paralympics to be changed
to allow women to compete in as many
sports and events as men by London
2012. She said it was ‘wrong’ that under
current regulations men could compete in
40 more events than women.
Currently under Olympic and Paralympic
regulations men can compete in 164
events while women can only enter 124.
A rule change would allow women to
compete in heavyweight wrestling and
men in synchronised swimming. It would
also give women the opportunity to enter
boxing - and men rhythmic gymnastics.
Changes to Olympic sports are made by
the International Olympics Committee
(IOC), usually at the same time as the
Games are awarded to a host city.
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