Bali to host WBA convention
JAKARTA: A delegation from the World Boxing Association (WBA) conducted a three-day inspection of the Kartika Plaza Hotel, Bali, which will host the 82nd WBA convention, according to a release here on Thursday.
The delegation, led by Alan Kim, the secretary-general of the WBA-affiliated Pacific Asia Boxing Association (PABA), began its tour of the venue on Monday.
"We have been delegated by the WBA to closely monitor about the preparations by the organizers," Kim said. He was accompanied by officials from the Indonesian Boxing Commission (KTI).
The convention will run from Sept. 23 to Sept. 27 with 110 countries sending representatives. --JP
;REUTERS; ANPAs..r.. Putbriefs-Cycling-Doping Spain's rider tested positive during Tour JP/9/cycling
Spain's rider tested positive during Tour
MADRID: Spanish rider Javier Pascual Llorente has hit out against French methods of drug detection after it emerged he had tested positive for the blood-boosting agent erythropoietin (EPO) during this year's Tour de France.
"Last Monday (team director) Vicente Belda rang me to tell me that they had been informed of a positive test," the 32-year-old Kelme rider was quoted as saying by Marca.com on Tuesday.
"I spoke with the team doctor, Walter Viru, and he assured me that we have never used anything like this product and that everything was in order." --Reuters
;AFP; ANPAs..r.. Putbriefs-Athletics-duel Sanchez vs Diagana duel on JP/9/duel
Sanchez vs Diagana duel on
CASTRES, France: European 400m hurdles champion Stephane Diagana is set for a mouthwatering duel with world titleholder Felix Sanchez at this month's world championships after making the qualifying time here on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old 1997 world champion in the discipline had failed to get the required time in a series of meetings but ran 48.68sec here to earn his place in Paris for the championships which get underway on Aug. 23.
Sanchez had highlighted prior to the Golden League meeting in Paris in July that Diagana was the only man he was willing to be beaten by in the championships. --AFP
;REUTERS; ANPAs..r.. Putbriefs-NBA-Coleman Coleman seals three-year deal JP/9/NBA
Coleman seals three-year deal
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania: Derrick Coleman re-signed with the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, inking a three-year contract worth up to US$13.5 million.
Coleman, 36, has averaged 17.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in 13 NBA seasons.
Last year he moved from power forward to center and averaged 9.4 points and 7.0 rebounds while playing well for the team that once bought out his contract just to get rid of him. New Jersey took Coleman first overall in the 1990 NBA Draft. --Reuters
;AFP; ANPAs..r.. Putbriefs-KTM-Vincent KTM sacks world champion Vincent JP/9/KTM
KTM fires world champion Vincent
PARIS: France's 125cc motorcycling world champion Arnaud Vincent has been sacked by Austrian outfit KTM and will be replaced by Finnish rider Mika Kallio, the team confirmed Wednesday.
Vincent, 28, won the world title with Aprilia before joining KTM, who said that the decision to release the Frenchman was based on the lack of progress in the teams development.
"Arnaud Vincent remains a very fast and experienced rider, but it has been very difficult to develop a brand new motorcycle around the expectations of the current world champion," the team said.
After nine races this season the Nancy-born rider is languishing in 19th place in the overall 125cc standings. --AFP