WBC lifts ban on Indonesia

WBC lifts ban on Indonesia

MEXICO: The World Boxing Council on Thursday lifted the ban it
imposed on Indonesia last December after five boxers had died in
the previous 18 months.

The WBC said it was sending doctors, safety experts and
trainers to Indonesia to help the sport pick itself up off the
canvas after the spate of fatalities.

The suspension was imposed at a WBC convention in Pattaya,
Thailand, seven months ago.

The WBC acted after the Indonesian government had presented
them with a report insisting on the need for putting the
country's boxing house in order.

Eight Indonesian boxers have died of injuries suffered in
matches since 1990, five of them in the past 18 months.

The latest casualty, lightweight boxer Donny Maramis, 19, died
after he was knocked unconscious during a tournament organised by
the Indonesian Boxing Commission on Oct. 27. --AFP

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Putbriefs-Athletics-Green
Greene out to avenge Chambers defeats in London
JP/9/Brief

Greene out to avenge Chambers defeats

LONDON: Olympic and world champion Maurice Greene will go
looking for revenge when he tackles British rival Dwain Chambers
in the 100 metres at a grand prix meeting at Crystal Palace next
month.

Chambers beat Greene twice in June but the American will get
the chance to reassert his superiority after confirming he will
race at the meeting in south-east London on August 23.

Chambers, though, has other ideas. "If things go to plan I
could have Commonwealth and European gold by then so it would be
the feather in my cap to beat Maurice in my home town," he said.
--Reuters

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Putbriefs-Golf-Irwin
Irwin accepts Thorpe apology for remarks
JP/9/Brief

Irwin accepts Thorpe apology

CHICAGO, Illinois: Hale Irwin said he accepted an apology from
Jim Thorpe, who earlier this week criticized the Senior PGA
Tour's career victory leader.

"He called me yesterday and explained his side of it and
offered an apology, which I have accepted," Irwin said Thursday
on the eve of the SBC Senior Open, a tournament he's won three
times.

"Now you just go on with it. I think that's the end of the
story as far as I'm concerned. ... Our conversation was adequate
for me."

He declined to elaborate on details of his phone talk with
Thorpe. --AP

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Putbriefs-Soccer-Everton
Everton clinches deal for second Chinese international
JP/9/Brief

Everton clinches deal for Li Tie

LONDON: Everton has signed China's World Cup midfielder Li Tie
on a one-year loan deal, the English premier league club said on
Friday.

The capture of the 24-year-old comes a day after Everton,
which has also secured a sponsorship deal with a Chinese
electronics firm, signed China international Li Weifeng.

"I traveled to the Far East to watch the World Cup and took
the opportunity to watch the Chinese national side," said Everton
boss David Moyes on the club's website. --Reuters

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Putbriefs-Golf-Jaidee

Thailand's Jaidee withdraws from British Open
JP/9/Brief

Jaidee withdraws from British Open

GULLANE, Scotland: Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee pulled out of
the British Open before the start of the second round on Friday.

The 32-year-old, who opened with a nine-over-par 80 at
Muirfield, suffered a back strain during Thursday's first round.

"I do not normally make excuses but on Thursday morning I woke
up with a really sore back," said Jaidee, who played in his first
major tournament at last year's U.S. Open.

"It became worse when I jarred my body trying to hack out of
the rough at the seventh hole." --Reuters