World champ Johaug faces 14-month ban
OSLO - Norway's Anti-Doping Agency Tuesday called for a 14-month suspension against cross-country skier Therese Johaug, a seven-time world champion, after she failed a September drug test. The request will now be forwarded to an arbitration body at the Norwegian Sports Confederation, which will rule on the sanction to be imposed on the ex-Olympic gold medallist. If the Agency's request is upheld then Johaug would miss the start of the next World Cup in addition to the current one but could be back for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February 2018. "I am glad that (the prosecuting committee within the Anti-Doping Agency) believes in what I have said," Johaug said in a statement sent by her lawyer. "But I do not understand that what has happened can justify 14 months of suspension."–AFP
Barry’s win Memorial Polo Cup opener
LAHORE – Barry’s outclassed Lahori Badshah 9-2½ in the inaugural match of the Lt Gen Shah Rafi Alam Memorial Polo Cup 2016 played here at the Lahore Polo Club (LPC) ground on Tuesday. Hamza Mawaz Khan was star of the day, whose marvelous mallot and horse work guided his team to win. He slammed superb seven goals while Raja Samiullah hit a brace. It was all alone Hamza in the first chukker, who scored a hat-trick to give Barry’s 3-0 lead. He continued his sublime form in the second chukker and hammered another hat-trick to increase the lead to 6-0, which was further enhanced to 7-0 by Raja Samiullah. The third chukker saw Hamza and Samiullah adding one goal each to finish the match at 9-0. With two and half goals handicap advantage for Lahori Badshah, the final score was 9-2½.–Staff Reporter
PRU level-II refereeing course concludes
LAHORE - The Pakistan Rugby Union-endorsed level-II refereeing course concluded here on Monday. The course was conducted by Sri Lankan educator Dilroy Fernendo, who completed level-I and level-II courses in Lahore and Islamabad. Speaking at the concluding ceremony, Dilroy said: “The passion and love of Pakistanis for rugby is highly appreciable and I can foresee a bright future of this game in the country. The PRU has been successfully achieving the targets of GIR programme, which will certainly help them in earning laurels in this particular game globally.” PRU secretary Arif Saeed thanked the Sri Lankan educator for his arrival and guidance Pakistani participants in a professional manner. “The purpose of conducting this course was to make refereeing better at local and national level events and promote fair play. I hope by holding such courses, we will get better outcomes.” The participants, who received level-II refereeing certificates, were Umar Islam, M Babar, Shakeel Ahmad, Ahmad Kamal, Ghalib Javed, M Iqtidar Arshad, M Mannan Naseem, Zulfiqar Arshad, Fouzan Wayen (Lahore), Hassan Shah (Lodhran), M Ashraf (Army), M Zaheeruddin, Raja Shahzad Sultan (Islamabad Jinns) and M Basit (Muzaffargarh).–Staff Reporter
CDA record win against Asif Memorial Club
ISLAMABAD – Star-studded Capital Development Authority (CDA) cricket team recorded a narrow 7-run win against Asif Memorial Club in a friendly 35-over match played here at Bhutto Cricket Ground on Tuesday. CDA, batting first, scored 222-7 with Shoaib Khaliq hitting 83, Faizan Riaz 38 and Ali Sarfraz 37 runs. Khizer captured 3-45 and Tauseef 3-52. Asif Memorial started their runs chase in tremendous style, as Ali Imran hammered 42. Asif Memorial fought well till the last over but couldn’t land their team home. Salman Haider made 60, Ali Imran 45 and Naseer 32 runs. At one stage, Asif Memorial required 22 off 12 balls, and Salman hit two massive sixes and also scored two runs. They then required 8 runs in the final over, but he was ran out and gifted the victory to the opponents. Bhuto Cricket Academy chairman Ch Ajmal Sabir graced the occasion as chief guest, while CDA assistant director sports Ch Shahzad, Wasif Bajwa and others were also present on the occasion. Shoaib Khaliq was named player of the match.–Staff Reporter