Usain Bolt delivered on his top billing by winning the 200 metres at the London Diamond League on Friday but the Jamaican was upstaged for once as American sprint hurdler Kendra Harrison broke one of the oldest world records in the book. 
 
Bolt, running his first 200 metre race in a year since his last outing on the track before the Olympics, struggled for his usual rhythm as he laboured to victory in 19.89 seconds. 
 
However, having pulled out of the Jamaican trials last month with a hamstring strain, he was delighted to get through Friday&rsquo;s race uninjured and can now go away and fine-tune for his attempt at the triple-triple of 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay golds in Rio. 
 
Harrison, however, will be watching the Games on TV having finished sixth in the 100m hurdles at the US trials after breaking the national record in May. 
 
She earned some consolation - as well as a $50,000 bonus - on Friday with a stunning world record. 
 
After delivering a silky smooth performance to win, the clock initially showed a modest 12.58 seconds. 
 
However, it was quickly corrected to 12.20, one hundredth of a second faster than the mark set by Bulgaria&#39;s Yordanka Donkova in 1988 - four years before Harrison was born. 
 
Brianna Rollins (12.57), Kristi Castlin (12.59) and Ali Nia (12.63), all Rio-bound after finishing 1-2-3 in the US trials, finished in the same order, behind Harrison on Friday. 
 
&quot;I wanted to come out here with a vengeance to show that even though I won&#39;t be going to the Olympics I had to give it all I had,&quot; said Harrison, who collapsed to the track in tears when she saw the revised time. 
 
There was a more muted celebration for Bolt, who nevertheless delighted the crowd by winning then spending his usual remarkable amount of time signing autographs, posing for photos and giving endless media interviews. 
 
After a steady start he led halfway round the bend, but only just. As he hit the straight and the crowd expected the sort of surge that brought him three Olympic golds on the same track four years ago, it didn&rsquo;t happen. 
 
Rocking noticeably, he had to work all the way to the line, for a time considerably shy of American LaShawn Merritt&#39;s season-leading 19.74. Panama&#39;s Edward Alonso was second in 20.04 with Briton Adam Gemili third in 20.07. 
 
&quot;I tried to hold my form. I&#39;m not fully in shape and I don&rsquo;t think I executed well - I need more work,&quot; said Bolt, who turns 30 next month. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t want to see it again. I wasn&#39;t that impressed,&quot; he added of his performance. 
 
&quot;But I&#39;m feeling good and happy I could run and finish the race without any injuries.&quot; 
 
Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas will also head to Rio in confident mood after posting a world-leading 49.55 to win the women&#39;s 400 metres, setting up a mouth-watering one-lap showdown with Allyson Felix. 
 
There was plenty to cheer for the home fans in the Olympic Stadium now decked out in the claret and blue of its new tenants, West Ham United soccer club. 
 
Britain&rsquo;s women&rsquo;s 4x100m relay team opened proceedings by triumphing in a national record 41.82 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. 
 
Laura Muir also channelled the spirit of 2012&#39;s &quot;Super Saturday&quot; when the crowd roared her home in a gutsy front-running victory in the women&rsquo;s 1500m for a huge personal best and another British record of 3:57.49 &ndash; knocking Olympic champion Kelly Holmes off top spot. 
 
Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut won a disappointing 100 metres final in 10.02, having been the only man to dip under 10 seconds with a 9.96 in the heats. 
 
The action continues on Saturday, with the day&rsquo;s highlight being the 5,000m, featuring home favourite Mo Farah. 
 
(Reuters)

American sprint hurdler Kendra Harrison broke one of the oldest world records in the book though she has not qualified for the Olympic Games

Usain Bolt delivered on his top billing by winning the 200 metres at the London Diamond League on Friday but the Jamaican was upstaged for once as American sprint hurdler Kendra Harrison broke one of the oldest world records in the book. Bolt, running his first 200 metre race in a year since his last outing on the track before the Olympics, struggled for his usual rhythm as he laboured to victory in 19.89 seconds. However, having pulled out of the Jamaican trials last month with a hamstring strain, he was delighted to get through Friday’s race uninjured and can now go away and fine-tune for his attempt at the triple-triple of 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay golds in Rio. Harrison, however, will be watching the Games on TV having finished sixth in the 100m hurdles at the US trials after breaking the national record in May. She earned some consolation - as well as a $50,000 bonus - on Friday with a stunning world record. After delivering a silky smooth performance to win, the clock initially showed a modest 12.58 seconds. However, it was quickly corrected to 12.20, one hundredth of a second faster than the mark set by Bulgaria's Yordanka Donkova in 1988 - four years before Harrison was born. Brianna Rollins (12.57), Kristi Castlin (12.59) and Ali Nia (12.63), all Rio-bound after finishing 1-2-3 in the US trials, finished in the same order, behind Harrison on Friday. "I wanted to come out here with a vengeance to show that even though I won't be going to the Olympics I had to give it all I had," said Harrison, who collapsed to the track in tears when she saw the revised time. There was a more muted celebration for Bolt, who nevertheless delighted the crowd by winning then spending his usual remarkable amount of time signing autographs, posing for photos and giving endless media interviews. After a steady start he led halfway round the bend, but only just. As he hit the straight and the crowd expected the sort of surge that brought him three Olympic golds on the same track four years ago, it didn’t happen. Rocking noticeably, he had to work all the way to the line, for a time considerably shy of American LaShawn Merritt's season-leading 19.74. Panama's Edward Alonso was second in 20.04 with Briton Adam Gemili third in 20.07. "I tried to hold my form. I'm not fully in shape and I don’t think I executed well - I need more work," said Bolt, who turns 30 next month. "I don't want to see it again. I wasn't that impressed," he added of his performance. "But I'm feeling good and happy I could run and finish the race without any injuries." Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas will also head to Rio in confident mood after posting a world-leading 49.55 to win the women's 400 metres, setting up a mouth-watering one-lap showdown with Allyson Felix. There was plenty to cheer for the home fans in the Olympic Stadium now decked out in the claret and blue of its new tenants, West Ham United soccer club. Britain’s women’s 4x100m relay team opened proceedings by triumphing in a national record 41.82 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. Laura Muir also channelled the spirit of 2012's "Super Saturday" when the crowd roared her home in a gutsy front-running victory in the women’s 1500m for a huge personal best and another British record of 3:57.49 – knocking Olympic champion Kelly Holmes off top spot. Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut won a disappointing 100 metres final in 10.02, having been the only man to dip under 10 seconds with a 9.96 in the heats. The action continues on Saturday, with the day’s highlight being the 5,000m, featuring home favourite Mo Farah. (Reuters)

Harrison breaks 28-year record as Bolt overcomes injury to head to Rio

Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna made an ideal start to their Olympic preparations as they sealed a Davis Cup world play-off berth for India, winning the doubles rubber against South Korea in Chandigarh today. 
 
The duo&#39;s win gave India an unassailable 3-0 lead on the grass courts of the Chandigarh Club after the team won both the singles matches of the Asia/Oceania Group I tie. 
 
Paes and Bopanna, who were chosen as a doubles pair by India&#39;s tennis association for the Rio Games, outplayed the Korean pair of Seong Chan Hong and Hong Chung 6-3 6-4 6-4. 
 
Bopanna, who had voiced his displeasure of &quot;not being given a say&quot; in choosing his Olympic partner, insisted he shared a good &quot;on-court chemistry&quot; with Paes. 
 
&quot;Chemistry was great. If it wasn&#39;t good, we could not have got such convincing win. We did not push much and just made sure that we come out strong,&quot; said Bopanna. 
 
The 43-year-old Paes, who is set for his seventh Olympic participation, also enjoyed the doubles win. 
 
&quot;We have won in three sets. We are playing well. It has been a great season for us. We are sharp. 
 
&quot;Even if the competition was tough, we could have raised the level of our game,&quot; Paes, a winner of 18 Grand Slam titles, said. 
 
Earlier India&#39;s Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan had won their respective singles on Friday to hand India a 2-0 cushion. 
 
The reverse singles matches slated for Sunday now remain a mere formality as the Koreans will be playing for pride against an upbeat India. 
 
(AFP)

They gave India a 3-0 lead after the team won both the singles matches of the Asia/Oceania Group I tie

Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna made an ideal start to their Olympic preparations as they sealed a Davis Cup world play-off berth for India, winning the doubles rubber against South Korea in Chandigarh today. The duo's win gave India an unassailable 3-0 lead on the grass courts of the Chandigarh Club after the team won both the singles matches of the Asia/Oceania Group I tie. Paes and Bopanna, who were chosen as a doubles pair by India's tennis association for the Rio Games, outplayed the Korean pair of Seong Chan Hong and Hong Chung 6-3 6-4 6-4. Bopanna, who had voiced his displeasure of "not being given a say" in choosing his Olympic partner, insisted he shared a good "on-court chemistry" with Paes. "Chemistry was great. If it wasn't good, we could not have got such convincing win. We did not push much and just made sure that we come out strong," said Bopanna. The 43-year-old Paes, who is set for his seventh Olympic participation, also enjoyed the doubles win. "We have won in three sets. We are playing well. It has been a great season for us. We are sharp. "Even if the competition was tough, we could have raised the level of our game," Paes, a winner of 18 Grand Slam titles, said. Earlier India's Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan had won their respective singles on Friday to hand India a 2-0 cushion. The reverse singles matches slated for Sunday now remain a mere formality as the Koreans will be playing for pride against an upbeat India. (AFP)

Tennis: Paes, Bopanna seal India's Davis Cup play-off berth

Brazil&#39;s justice minister Alexandre de Moraes said on Tuesday that Brazil is prepared for an attack if one should occur during the Olympic Games, which begin in one month. 
 
Moraes and the president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Carlos Nuzman, spoke to agents of the National Public Security Force, which will shoulder some of security responsibility during the Games. 
 
Despite doubts from some Rio residents, Nuzman said the city is ready. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t have the least doubt that this will be a success. The work done in all the Olympic facilities - without a doubt, this will be the best event on the planet,&quot; he said. 
 
Moraes acknowledged an attack could occur during the Games, but said it was &quot;not likely to happen&quot;. 
 
&quot;We are guaranteeing security, guaranteeing peace for the Olympic Games to proceed normally,&quot; he said. 
 
Government officials have said that the country will deploy some 22,000 troops to cover security during the Olympics. Some 5,000 agents from the National Public Security Force will join the security operations. 
 
(Reuters)

Government officials have said that the country will deploy some 22,000 troops to cover security during Rio 2016

Brazil's justice minister Alexandre de Moraes said on Tuesday that Brazil is prepared for an attack if one should occur during the Olympic Games, which begin in one month. Moraes and the president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Carlos Nuzman, spoke to agents of the National Public Security Force, which will shoulder some of security responsibility during the Games. Despite doubts from some Rio residents, Nuzman said the city is ready. "I don't have the least doubt that this will be a success. The work done in all the Olympic facilities - without a doubt, this will be the best event on the planet," he said. Moraes acknowledged an attack could occur during the Games, but said it was "not likely to happen". "We are guaranteeing security, guaranteeing peace for the Olympic Games to proceed normally," he said. Government officials have said that the country will deploy some 22,000 troops to cover security during the Olympics. Some 5,000 agents from the National Public Security Force will join the security operations. (Reuters)

Brazilian justice minister says security preparations in place for Olympics

Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal is better equipped to win a medal in Rio in August than she was when she claimed a bronze at the London Olympics four years ago, according to former All England champion Prakash Padukone. 
 
Hopes that the former world number one can turn bronze into a first Olympic gold medal in the sport for her country were raised when Nehwal won the 2016 Australian Superseries title. 
 
Rio will mark a third Olympics for Nehwal, who beat former world champions Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand and Wang Yihan before overpowering China&#39;s Sun Yu in the final in Sydney. 
 
&quot;Saina has a lot more variety now,&quot; former men&#39;s world number one Padukone said in an interview. &quot;I think she plays a lot more at the net now. Earlier her game was more or less predictable. She had a few strokes, she used to keep playing them and there were not many variations. Now she has developed a lot more strokes, specially at the net. She is much more confident and that has made a big difference.&quot; 
 
The victory in Australia came at just the right time for Nehwal, who had failed to reach a World Superseries final since last November in China, and was returning from an Achilles injury she sustained at the end of last year. 
 
Padukone, who won the All England title in 1980 long before badminton was admitted to the Olympics in 1992, said the 26-year-old&#39;s game just needed a bit of tweaking. 
 
&quot;Tactically she can do a little bit more. Maybe a plan A and plan B, which I&#39;m sure she already has,&quot; said Padukone. &quot;Maybe if something doesn&#39;t work, then she has to have a different plan. It&#39;s just the question of a little bit of polishing. She definitely has everything otherwise she wouldn&#39;t have been where she is.&quot; 
 
China has long been the dominant force in the sport, sweeping all five titles at London four years ago, but their shuttlers no longer top the world rankings heading to Rio. While Malaysian Lee Chong Wei tops the men&#39;s singles rankings, Carolina Marin of Spain leads the women&#39;s list with Nehwal in sixth place. 
 
World Badminton has also limited each nation to two singles entrants in each event, down from the three at London and previous Games. Padukone feels that makes a Chinese sweep of badminton gold in Rio less likely. 
 
&quot;They are no longer the dominating force going by the results we have seen in the last 12 to 24 months,&quot; Padukone said. &quot;Earlier when the draw used to come, everybody used to hope there are no Chinese. That&#39;s no longer the case, that fear is not there anymore. That&#39;s good for the game. For the Indians, though they wouldn&#39;t say it, but it used to be a mind-block.&quot; 
 
India&#39;s best chance of medals will come in the women&#39;s singles, Padukone said, where as well as Nehwal they have PV Sindhu ranked 10th in the world. 
 
Padukone said the most important thing for the Indian shuttlers was to peak during the Rio Games. 
 
&quot;When you go there it doesn&#39;t matter if in the last two months you have beaten all the top players and you have been the world number one,&quot; Padukone said. &quot;It&#39;s important that you reach the peak and play your best during that particular week. That&#39;s what will count ultimately and will be the key.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

Padukone, who won the All England title in 1980, said the 26-year-old's game just needed a bit of tweaking

Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal is better equipped to win a medal in Rio in August than she was when she claimed a bronze at the London Olympics four years ago, according to former All England champion Prakash Padukone. Hopes that the former world number one can turn bronze into a first Olympic gold medal in the sport for her country were raised when Nehwal won the 2016 Australian Superseries title. Rio will mark a third Olympics for Nehwal, who beat former world champions Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand and Wang Yihan before overpowering China's Sun Yu in the final in Sydney. "Saina has a lot more variety now," former men's world number one Padukone said in an interview. "I think she plays a lot more at the net now. Earlier her game was more or less predictable. She had a few strokes, she used to keep playing them and there were not many variations. Now she has developed a lot more strokes, specially at the net. She is much more confident and that has made a big difference." The victory in Australia came at just the right time for Nehwal, who had failed to reach a World Superseries final since last November in China, and was returning from an Achilles injury she sustained at the end of last year. Padukone, who won the All England title in 1980 long before badminton was admitted to the Olympics in 1992, said the 26-year-old's game just needed a bit of tweaking. "Tactically she can do a little bit more. Maybe a plan A and plan B, which I'm sure she already has," said Padukone. "Maybe if something doesn't work, then she has to have a different plan. It's just the question of a little bit of polishing. She definitely has everything otherwise she wouldn't have been where she is." China has long been the dominant force in the sport, sweeping all five titles at London four years ago, but their shuttlers no longer top the world rankings heading to Rio. While Malaysian Lee Chong Wei tops the men's singles rankings, Carolina Marin of Spain leads the women's list with Nehwal in sixth place. World Badminton has also limited each nation to two singles entrants in each event, down from the three at London and previous Games. Padukone feels that makes a Chinese sweep of badminton gold in Rio less likely. "They are no longer the dominating force going by the results we have seen in the last 12 to 24 months," Padukone said. "Earlier when the draw used to come, everybody used to hope there are no Chinese. That's no longer the case, that fear is not there anymore. That's good for the game. For the Indians, though they wouldn't say it, but it used to be a mind-block." India's best chance of medals will come in the women's singles, Padukone said, where as well as Nehwal they have PV Sindhu ranked 10th in the world. Padukone said the most important thing for the Indian shuttlers was to peak during the Rio Games. "When you go there it doesn't matter if in the last two months you have beaten all the top players and you have been the world number one," Padukone said. "It's important that you reach the peak and play your best during that particular week. That's what will count ultimately and will be the key." (Reuters)

Former badminton great Padukone pins Olympic medal hopes on India's Saina Nehwal

LeBron James reportedly joined an NBA All-Star lineup of talent Thursday that will not play for the United States at the Rio Olympics, while Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant will try to bring the Americans a third consecutive gold medal. 
 
A flurry of reports ahead of next week&#39;s announcement of the final US roster for Brazil was topped when Cleveland.com said James has told USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski that he will not play in August. 
 
&quot;I could use the rest,&quot; James told the website. 
 
James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the greatest-ever NBA Finals comeback to dethrone the Golden State Warriors, cited the grind of having logged so much court time through six consecutive trips to the finals. 
 
NBA Most Valuable Player and scoring leader Stephen Curry of Golden State said during the finals that he would not play in Rio. 
 
Star guards Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City, Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers and James Harden of Houston also have backed out of consideration, as have San Antonio forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Washington forward John Wall, Clippers forward Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis of New Orleans. 
 
Joining that group Thursday were Portland&#39;s Damian Lillard, who wants to rehabilitate a plantar fascitis injury; Utah forward Gordon Hayward and San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard. 
 
The pullout brings back memories of 2004, when security worries were a concern in the Athens run-up and many top names withdrew. Those who played could only muster bronze. 
 
The roster to be named next week by USA Basketball is expected to include Oklahoma City star Durant and New York playmaker Anthony plus Indiana&#39;s Paul George, Golden State&#39;s Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, Sacramento&#39;s DeMarcus Cousins, Chicagos Jimmy Butler, the Clippers&#39; DeAndre Jordan, and Toronto&#39;s Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Two other available spots could include Cleveland star guard Kyrie Irving, who played a key role alongside James in bringing the first sports title to Cleveland since 1964. 
 
A source told the website a desire to rest his body from the title run to better prepare his bid to defend the crown was his only reason for not playing in Rio, the Zika virus not playing a role in his decision. 
 
James, 31, sparked the US squad of NBA stars to gold medals at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. He is the US team&#39;s all-time scoring leader with 273 points and second in total rebounds with 95. 
 
He was also a reserve on the 2004 US team that settled for bronze at Athens and on the US team that finished third at the 2010 world championships in Japan. 
 
&quot;King&quot; James is one of three men to play on three Olympic basketball teams and in 2012, he became one of the select few to win an NBA crown and Olympic gold in the same year. 
 
(AFP)

Cleveland.com said James has told USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski that he will not play in August

LeBron James reportedly joined an NBA All-Star lineup of talent Thursday that will not play for the United States at the Rio Olympics, while Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant will try to bring the Americans a third consecutive gold medal. A flurry of reports ahead of next week's announcement of the final US roster for Brazil was topped when Cleveland.com said James has told USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski that he will not play in August. "I could use the rest," James told the website. James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the greatest-ever NBA Finals comeback to dethrone the Golden State Warriors, cited the grind of having logged so much court time through six consecutive trips to the finals. NBA Most Valuable Player and scoring leader Stephen Curry of Golden State said during the finals that he would not play in Rio. Star guards Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City, Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers and James Harden of Houston also have backed out of consideration, as have San Antonio forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Washington forward John Wall, Clippers forward Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis of New Orleans. Joining that group Thursday were Portland's Damian Lillard, who wants to rehabilitate a plantar fascitis injury; Utah forward Gordon Hayward and San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard. The pullout brings back memories of 2004, when security worries were a concern in the Athens run-up and many top names withdrew. Those who played could only muster bronze. The roster to be named next week by USA Basketball is expected to include Oklahoma City star Durant and New York playmaker Anthony plus Indiana's Paul George, Golden State's Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins, Chicagos Jimmy Butler, the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan, and Toronto's Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Two other available spots could include Cleveland star guard Kyrie Irving, who played a key role alongside James in bringing the first sports title to Cleveland since 1964. A source told the website a desire to rest his body from the title run to better prepare his bid to defend the crown was his only reason for not playing in Rio, the Zika virus not playing a role in his decision. James, 31, sparked the US squad of NBA stars to gold medals at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. He is the US team's all-time scoring leader with 273 points and second in total rebounds with 95. He was also a reserve on the 2004 US team that settled for bronze at Athens and on the US team that finished third at the 2010 world championships in Japan. "King" James is one of three men to play on three Olympic basketball teams and in 2012, he became one of the select few to win an NBA crown and Olympic gold in the same year. (AFP)

LeBron out, Carmelo in for US team at Rio Olympics

Tokyo officials have scrapped plans to attend the Rio Olympics in a bid to cut spending after a financial scandal cost the city governor,&nbsp;Yoichi Masuzoe,&nbsp;his job, local media said today. 
 
The decision comes just days after Masuzoe resigned for spending public money intended for political campaigns on lavish hotels and spa trips, the latest embarrassing gaffe on the city&#39;s troubled road to hosting the 2020 Olympics. 
 
The Tokyo metropolitan assembly has cancelled plans for 27 of its members to view operations at this summer&#39;s Rio Games as costs for the trip have sky-rocketed from initial estimates of 62 million yen (around $600,000), the Nikkei business daily reported. 
 
The U-turn comes after citizens lobbied the assembly to reconsider, although some officials are said to be looking into paying their own way to Rio, citing the need to be there as organisers of the next Summer Olympics. 
 
Masuzoe stepped down last week hours before facing a no-confidence vote, becoming the city&#39;s second governor to quit since Tokyo was named host of the 2020 Games. 
 
His predecessor Naoki Inose -- who led the capital&#39;s successful Olympic bid -- bowed out in late 2013 after also becoming embroiled in a personal finance scandal. 
 
Masuzoe&#39;s woes began in April when reports emerged he was using his official car to be driven at the weekends to a cottage south of Tokyo. 
 
Further allegations emerged that Masuzoe had travelled overseas in first class, bought art online and spent public money on family outings and accommodation in Japan. 
 
An election for a new governor is expected as early as next month. 
 
Masuzoe&#39;s humiliating departure is the latest in a string of embarrassing gaffes that have plagued Olympic preparations. 
 
Last year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tore up the blueprints for the main Olympic stadium because of ballooning costs, before the official Games logo was also ditched after the designer was accused of plagiarism. 
 
Those fiascos have since been overshadowed by allegations of corruption and French prosecutors have launched an investigation into $2 million in alleged bribes linked to Tokyo&#39;s bid to host the Games. 
 
(AFP)

27 officials from the host of the 2020 Summer Games won't attend Rio 2016 amid improper spending and ballooning costs

Tokyo officials have scrapped plans to attend the Rio Olympics in a bid to cut spending after a financial scandal cost the city governor, Yoichi Masuzoe, his job, local media said today. The decision comes just days after Masuzoe resigned for spending public money intended for political campaigns on lavish hotels and spa trips, the latest embarrassing gaffe on the city's troubled road to hosting the 2020 Olympics. The Tokyo metropolitan assembly has cancelled plans for 27 of its members to view operations at this summer's Rio Games as costs for the trip have sky-rocketed from initial estimates of 62 million yen (around $600,000), the Nikkei business daily reported. The U-turn comes after citizens lobbied the assembly to reconsider, although some officials are said to be looking into paying their own way to Rio, citing the need to be there as organisers of the next Summer Olympics. Masuzoe stepped down last week hours before facing a no-confidence vote, becoming the city's second governor to quit since Tokyo was named host of the 2020 Games. His predecessor Naoki Inose -- who led the capital's successful Olympic bid -- bowed out in late 2013 after also becoming embroiled in a personal finance scandal. Masuzoe's woes began in April when reports emerged he was using his official car to be driven at the weekends to a cottage south of Tokyo. Further allegations emerged that Masuzoe had travelled overseas in first class, bought art online and spent public money on family outings and accommodation in Japan. An election for a new governor is expected as early as next month. Masuzoe's humiliating departure is the latest in a string of embarrassing gaffes that have plagued Olympic preparations. Last year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tore up the blueprints for the main Olympic stadium because of ballooning costs, before the official Games logo was also ditched after the designer was accused of plagiarism. Those fiascos have since been overshadowed by allegations of corruption and French prosecutors have launched an investigation into $2 million in alleged bribes linked to Tokyo's bid to host the Games. (AFP)

Tokyo scraps plans to travel to Rio Olympics after embarassing finance scandal

Russia&#39;s weightlifters face being banned from the Rio Olympics, subject to confirmation by the International Olympic Committee, in another collective doping punishment to hit the country. 
 
Five days after its track and field team&#39;s suspension from the 2016 Games was upheld, Russia&#39;s weightlifters are now also set to be suspended from the 2016 Olympics. 
 
Belarus and weightlifting superpower Kazakhstan were also banned over failed retests from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics on Wednesday by the sport&#39;s governing body, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), which also punished other nations by reducing the number of available athlete slots in Rio. 
 
Retrospective doping tests carried out by the IOC have led to 17 positives from 2008 and 2012, said the IWF. The governing body added there may be more cases to come. 
 
The IWF is awaiting confirmation of those failures and a final tally from the IOC, who were not immediately available when contacted late on Wednesday by Reuters. 
 
Earlier this week the IOC supported the IAAF&#39;s decision to continue its ban on all Russian track and field athletes as a collective punishment for the country&#39;s systematic doping problems, saying that such a decision was for each sport&#39;s federation. 
 
Because of those results, and an unprecedented 24 positives at the weightlifting world championships in Houston, Texas, last November, a special meeting was called for this week in Tbilisi, host of this weekend&#39;s youth world championships. 
 
The IWF, stressing its &ldquo;zero tolerance&rdquo; towards dopers, said it had taken 11 places away from teams who had committed four or more doping offences in 2015. Two of those teams were Russia and Kazakhstan, so the sanctions could yet be overtaken by a team ban. The others were Azerbaijan, North Korea and Moldova (two places each) and Belarus (one). 
 
As for the banning of entire teams, the IWF said in a statement: &ldquo;The IWF Executive Board has decided that national federations confirmed to have produced three or more anti-doping rule violations in the combined re-analysis process of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games shall be suspended for one year.&nbsp;Countries thus subject to suspension are Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus.&quot; 
 
Because the tests were not carried out by the IWF, the sport&#39;s administrators are seeking formal confirmation from the IOC that the positives are not subject to appeal or amendment. 
 
The executive board also castigated the European Weightlifting Federation for its recent appointment of Sergey Systsov, president of the Russian Federation, as chair of its anti-doping commission. 
 
&quot;Given the current environment, the IWF Executive Board strongly suggests that Mr Syrtsov and the European Weightlifting Federation reconsiders the appointment,&rdquo; said a statement. 
 
The IWF has set up an independent commission to investigate the nations who returned three or more positives from the retesting of 2008 and 2012 samples, which was carried out after advances in science enabled better detection of prohibited substances. 
 
The worst offender was Kazakhstan. Ilya Ilyin, the world&rsquo;s most popular weightlifter, is expected to lose his gold medals from Beijing and London, while three Kazakh women who won in 2012 also tested positive. 
 
The IWF also vowed to toughen its anti-doping policy in future, threatening to ban nations who had the worst doping record during an Olympic qualifying period. It also said it would set up a task force and aimed to test every athlete, before the Games, who will be competing in Rio. 
 
The situation as of now indicates that four nations will not be allowed to compete in Rio. Bulgaria had been excluded last year, after 11 lifters at a training camp tested positive. Romania and Uzbekistan had already lost one quota place each. 
 
(Reuters)

Five days after its track and field team's suspension was upheld, Russia's weightlifters are now also set to be suspended from the Games

Russia's weightlifters face being banned from the Rio Olympics, subject to confirmation by the International Olympic Committee, in another collective doping punishment to hit the country. Five days after its track and field team's suspension from the 2016 Games was upheld, Russia's weightlifters are now also set to be suspended from the 2016 Olympics. Belarus and weightlifting superpower Kazakhstan were also banned over failed retests from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics on Wednesday by the sport's governing body, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), which also punished other nations by reducing the number of available athlete slots in Rio. Retrospective doping tests carried out by the IOC have led to 17 positives from 2008 and 2012, said the IWF. The governing body added there may be more cases to come. The IWF is awaiting confirmation of those failures and a final tally from the IOC, who were not immediately available when contacted late on Wednesday by Reuters. Earlier this week the IOC supported the IAAF's decision to continue its ban on all Russian track and field athletes as a collective punishment for the country's systematic doping problems, saying that such a decision was for each sport's federation. Because of those results, and an unprecedented 24 positives at the weightlifting world championships in Houston, Texas, last November, a special meeting was called for this week in Tbilisi, host of this weekend's youth world championships. The IWF, stressing its “zero tolerance” towards dopers, said it had taken 11 places away from teams who had committed four or more doping offences in 2015. Two of those teams were Russia and Kazakhstan, so the sanctions could yet be overtaken by a team ban. The others were Azerbaijan, North Korea and Moldova (two places each) and Belarus (one). As for the banning of entire teams, the IWF said in a statement: “The IWF Executive Board has decided that national federations confirmed to have produced three or more anti-doping rule violations in the combined re-analysis process of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games shall be suspended for one year. Countries thus subject to suspension are Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus." Because the tests were not carried out by the IWF, the sport's administrators are seeking formal confirmation from the IOC that the positives are not subject to appeal or amendment. The executive board also castigated the European Weightlifting Federation for its recent appointment of Sergey Systsov, president of the Russian Federation, as chair of its anti-doping commission. "Given the current environment, the IWF Executive Board strongly suggests that Mr Syrtsov and the European Weightlifting Federation reconsiders the appointment,” said a statement. The IWF has set up an independent commission to investigate the nations who returned three or more positives from the retesting of 2008 and 2012 samples, which was carried out after advances in science enabled better detection of prohibited substances. The worst offender was Kazakhstan. Ilya Ilyin, the world’s most popular weightlifter, is expected to lose his gold medals from Beijing and London, while three Kazakh women who won in 2012 also tested positive. The IWF also vowed to toughen its anti-doping policy in future, threatening to ban nations who had the worst doping record during an Olympic qualifying period. It also said it would set up a task force and aimed to test every athlete, before the Games, who will be competing in Rio. The situation as of now indicates that four nations will not be allowed to compete in Rio. Bulgaria had been excluded last year, after 11 lifters at a training camp tested positive. Romania and Uzbekistan had already lost one quota place each. (Reuters)

Russia faces another Rio ban over dope tests

Malaysia&#39;s badminton association (BAM) has pulled world number one Lee Chong Wei out of this month&#39;s Taiwan Open to let him recover from a leg injury and regain full fitness ahead of this summer&#39;s Rio Olympics. 
 
The 33-year-old suffered the injury on the way to claiming his sixth Indonesian Open title earlier this month and later pulled out of the Australian Open. 
 
&quot;We pulled him out because we&#39;re not completely sure if he&#39;s ready to play after his injury in Australia,&quot; BAM technical director Morten Frost said. 
 
&quot;He&#39;s getting on with the training programme and that&#39;s a good sign for us. We&#39;re also having a nice relaxed atmosphere in our preparations for the Olympics. It certainly helps Chong Wei in his mental preparation.&quot; 
 
Lee, who lost the last two Olympic singles finals to China&#39;s Lin Dan, returned to action in May last year after a backdated eight-month doping ban for testing positive for dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory drug, at the 2014 world championships. 
 
The 2016 Olympics take place from August 5 to 21 in Brazil. 
 
(Reuters)

The world number one decides to recover from a leg injury ahead of the Rio Olympics

Malaysia's badminton association (BAM) has pulled world number one Lee Chong Wei out of this month's Taiwan Open to let him recover from a leg injury and regain full fitness ahead of this summer's Rio Olympics. The 33-year-old suffered the injury on the way to claiming his sixth Indonesian Open title earlier this month and later pulled out of the Australian Open. "We pulled him out because we're not completely sure if he's ready to play after his injury in Australia," BAM technical director Morten Frost said. "He's getting on with the training programme and that's a good sign for us. We're also having a nice relaxed atmosphere in our preparations for the Olympics. It certainly helps Chong Wei in his mental preparation." Lee, who lost the last two Olympic singles finals to China's Lin Dan, returned to action in May last year after a backdated eight-month doping ban for testing positive for dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory drug, at the 2014 world championships. The 2016 Olympics take place from August 5 to 21 in Brazil. (Reuters)

Malaysia's Lee ruled out of Taiwan Open badminton tournament

The Australian Olympic Committee has demanded Rio de Janeiro immediately ramps up security in the city after a Paralympic sailor and team official were robbed at gunpoint over the weekend while training for the Games. 
 
Australia&#39;s Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller said the incident was a &quot;light warning&quot; and that she had written to the Rio organising committee and mayor demanding action. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re demanding that the level of security forces, which number about 100,000, is reviewed and also we are also asking that they are deployed earlier prior to Games time, especially around training and competition venues,&quot; she told reporters in Sydney. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s not an isolated incident,&quot; she added. &quot;It&#39;s got to a point now that steps and measures are taken to ensure that all our team members who go to Rio for the Olympic Games next month are safe.&quot; 
 
Paralympic sailor Liesl Tesch and physiotherapist Sarah Ross said they were taking a bike ride in a park near their hotel at Flamengo Beach early on Sunday when they were confronted by two men, one of whom was carrying a pistol. 
 
Tesch, who won a sailing gold at the London Paralympic Games and has also competed in wheelchair basketball, told Australian television that the armed man pointed the gun at her and then shoved her to the ground. 
 
&quot;It was absolutely horrific, I can see it clear as day in my own head. We are both shaken, but physically we&#39;re both okay,&quot; said Tesch, who trained on her boat later that day. 
 
Chiller said the &quot;extremely concerning and disturbing&quot; incident was all the more worrying because it took place in broad daylight close to the training venue. 
 
The AOC, Chiller said, had decided to engage a private security firm in Rio and were considering extending their existing ban on athletes entering favelas to other areas of the city. 
 
Olympic organisers plan to deploy in excess of 85,000 security personnel for the Games, double the number used in London in 2012. 
 
&quot;It doesn&#39;t seem that 100,000 is enough,&quot; said Chiller. &quot;It&#39;s a lot more than we had in London, but Rio is not London and in my opinion we need to make sure all the competition and training venues are safe. If we take 750 people over in that team, we want 750 people to come back safe and secure.&quot; 
 
Security issues are just one of the concerns facing Rio, which on Friday declared a state of financial emergency to help fulfil obligations for public services during the Olympics. 
 
Emergency measures are needed to avoid &quot;a total collapse in public security, health, education, transport and environmental management,&quot; a decree in the state&#39;s Official Gazette said. 
 
The financial pinch resulted in a 30 percent cut in the state&#39;s security budget, just as Rio has seen a jump in homicides and assaults in recent months, raising concerns about safety ahead of the Olympics. 
 
The September 7-18 Paralympics follow the Aug. 5-21 Olympic Games. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Paralympic sailor Liesl Tesch and physiotherapist Sarah Ross were robbed at gunpoint over the weekend

The Australian Olympic Committee has demanded Rio de Janeiro immediately ramps up security in the city after a Paralympic sailor and team official were robbed at gunpoint over the weekend while training for the Games. Australia's Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller said the incident was a "light warning" and that she had written to the Rio organising committee and mayor demanding action. "We're demanding that the level of security forces, which number about 100,000, is reviewed and also we are also asking that they are deployed earlier prior to Games time, especially around training and competition venues," she told reporters in Sydney. "It's not an isolated incident," she added. "It's got to a point now that steps and measures are taken to ensure that all our team members who go to Rio for the Olympic Games next month are safe." Paralympic sailor Liesl Tesch and physiotherapist Sarah Ross said they were taking a bike ride in a park near their hotel at Flamengo Beach early on Sunday when they were confronted by two men, one of whom was carrying a pistol. Tesch, who won a sailing gold at the London Paralympic Games and has also competed in wheelchair basketball, told Australian television that the armed man pointed the gun at her and then shoved her to the ground. "It was absolutely horrific, I can see it clear as day in my own head. We are both shaken, but physically we're both okay," said Tesch, who trained on her boat later that day. Chiller said the "extremely concerning and disturbing" incident was all the more worrying because it took place in broad daylight close to the training venue. The AOC, Chiller said, had decided to engage a private security firm in Rio and were considering extending their existing ban on athletes entering favelas to other areas of the city. Olympic organisers plan to deploy in excess of 85,000 security personnel for the Games, double the number used in London in 2012. "It doesn't seem that 100,000 is enough," said Chiller. "It's a lot more than we had in London, but Rio is not London and in my opinion we need to make sure all the competition and training venues are safe. If we take 750 people over in that team, we want 750 people to come back safe and secure." Security issues are just one of the concerns facing Rio, which on Friday declared a state of financial emergency to help fulfil obligations for public services during the Olympics. Emergency measures are needed to avoid "a total collapse in public security, health, education, transport and environmental management," a decree in the state's Official Gazette said. The financial pinch resulted in a 30 percent cut in the state's security budget, just as Rio has seen a jump in homicides and assaults in recent months, raising concerns about safety ahead of the Olympics. The September 7-18 Paralympics follow the Aug. 5-21 Olympic Games. (Reuters)

Australia demands extra Rio security after armed robbery

Park In-Bee&#39;s chances of playing at the Rio Olympics golf tournament dimmed further on Tuesday after the South Korean world number three pulled out of an international team event due to a lingering thumb problem. 
 
The seven-times major champion, who was inducted into the LPGA&#39;s Hall of Fame earlier this month, has been plagued by injury this season and is without a victory in 10 starts. 
 
She has missed two cuts, withdrawn after the first round in three events, and posted her worst ever score as a professional, 12-over-par 84, in the first round of the LPGA Volvik Championship in May. 
 
Her management company said on Tuesday she would skip the July 22-24 International Crown event, which pits eight countries against each other at Merit Club, Illinois. 
 
&quot;Park In-bee notified the LPGA that she will be unable to attend the International Crown due to her left thumb injury,&quot; her management company, Galaxia SM, told Reuters. 
 
The 27-year-old, who has raked in almost $13 million in career earnings on the LPGA Tour, said before the Women&#39;s PGA Championship this month that she would not go to Rio if she was not fully recovered from the injury. 
 
&quot;At the Olympics, you play for your country, not for individual honour. If I&#39;m not in top condition, I&#39;d rather give the opportunity to another player,&quot; she said. 
 
Park missed the cut at the event, carding an 8-over 79 in the second round. 
 
The top 15 players in the world rankings as of July 11 qualify automatically for the Rio Games, where golf is making its return to the Olympic programme after a 112-year absence. Each country can send a maximum of four players. 
 
Currently, Kim Sei-Young, Chun In-Gee and Amy Young make up the other three places, but there are five more South Koreans in the top 20 battling for Olympic spots. 
 
(Reuters)

The 27-year-old said before the Women's PGA Championship this month that she would pull out of Rio if she hadn't recovered from injury

Park In-Bee's chances of playing at the Rio Olympics golf tournament dimmed further on Tuesday after the South Korean world number three pulled out of an international team event due to a lingering thumb problem. The seven-times major champion, who was inducted into the LPGA's Hall of Fame earlier this month, has been plagued by injury this season and is without a victory in 10 starts. She has missed two cuts, withdrawn after the first round in three events, and posted her worst ever score as a professional, 12-over-par 84, in the first round of the LPGA Volvik Championship in May. Her management company said on Tuesday she would skip the July 22-24 International Crown event, which pits eight countries against each other at Merit Club, Illinois. "Park In-bee notified the LPGA that she will be unable to attend the International Crown due to her left thumb injury," her management company, Galaxia SM, told Reuters. The 27-year-old, who has raked in almost $13 million in career earnings on the LPGA Tour, said before the Women's PGA Championship this month that she would not go to Rio if she was not fully recovered from the injury. "At the Olympics, you play for your country, not for individual honour. If I'm not in top condition, I'd rather give the opportunity to another player," she said. Park missed the cut at the event, carding an 8-over 79 in the second round. The top 15 players in the world rankings as of July 11 qualify automatically for the Rio Games, where golf is making its return to the Olympic programme after a 112-year absence. Each country can send a maximum of four players. Currently, Kim Sei-Young, Chun In-Gee and Amy Young make up the other three places, but there are five more South Koreans in the top 20 battling for Olympic spots. (Reuters)

Thumbs down for South Korean golfer Park's Rio dream

<div style="text-align: justify;">Rio de Janeiro&#39;s governor declared a state of financial emergency today&nbsp;and requested federal funds to help fulfill public&nbsp;service obligations&nbsp;during the Olympics that start August&nbsp;5. 
 
Emergency measures are needed to avoid &quot;a total collapse in public security, health, education, transport and environmental management,&quot; a decree in the state&#39;s Official Gazette said. 
 
The state&#39;s revenue, largely tied to the petroleum industry, slumped in the last two years as global oil prices collapsed. 
 
The announcement followed this week&#39;s visit to Rio by Brazil&#39;s Interim President Michel Temer, who said the federal government would ensure all obligations are met for a successful Games. 
 
Rio is expecting about 500,000 foreign visitors during the Olympics, which has coincided with Brazil&#39;s worst recession since the 1930s and a political crisis that last month led to the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff. 
 
&quot;The state&#39;s financial emergency in no way delays the delivery of Olympic projects and the promises assumed by the city of Rio,&quot; Mayor Eduardo Paes said on Twitter. 
 
He also underscored that legacy construction projects, with the exception of an 8.79 billion-real expansion of Rio&#39;s metro that is expected to be finished just days before the Games open, are the responsibility of the city and that most have been completed. 
 
The local organising committee for the Games said the state&#39;s fiscal situation did not impact its actual running of the Olympics, which relies entirely on private funds. 
 
While the majority of Olympic infrastructure costs have been spread across city, state and federal budgets, with some financing from private companies, the state is responsible for most day-to-day security and health services in Rio. 
 
The financial pinch resulted in a 30-per cent cut in the state&#39;s security budget - just as Rio has seen a jump in homicides and assaults in recent months, raising concerns about safety ahead of the Olympics. 
 
The state of Rio expects a budget deficit of over 19 billion reais ($5.56 billion) this year as spending planned before oil prices fell outstrips revenue that is tumbling during Brazil&#39;s recession. 
 
Rio state&#39;s debt has been downgraded several times. 
 
On Wednesday, Fitch Ratings downgraded Rio&#39;s debt rating to &#39;B-&#39; from &#39;B+&#39;, saying the state was suffering &quot;a fast-deteriorating liquidity position.&quot; 
 
Since late last year, the state has been forced to delay pension and salary payments and shutter some schools and hospitals, where crucial supplies, including medicines and syringes, are lacking. 
 
Brazil is also facing an outbreak of the Zika virus, which has been linked to the birth defect microcephaly in which babies are born with abnormally small heads frequently associated with developmental issues. 
(Reuters)</div>

Urgent measures are needed to avoid 'a total collapse in public security, health, education, transport and environmental management'

Rio de Janeiro's governor declared a state of financial emergency today and requested federal funds to help fulfill public service obligations during the Olympics that start August 5. Emergency measures are needed to avoid "a total collapse in public security, health, education, transport and environmental management," a decree in the state's Official Gazette said. The state's revenue, largely tied to the petroleum industry, slumped in the last two years as global oil prices collapsed. The announcement followed this week's visit to Rio by Brazil's Interim President Michel Temer, who said the federal government would ensure all obligations are met for a successful Games. Rio is expecting about 500,000 foreign visitors during the Olympics, which has coincided with Brazil's worst recession since the 1930s and a political crisis that last month led to the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff. "The state's financial emergency in no way delays the delivery of Olympic projects and the promises assumed by the city of Rio," Mayor Eduardo Paes said on Twitter. He also underscored that legacy construction projects, with the exception of an 8.79 billion-real expansion of Rio's metro that is expected to be finished just days before the Games open, are the responsibility of the city and that most have been completed. The local organising committee for the Games said the state's fiscal situation did not impact its actual running of the Olympics, which relies entirely on private funds. While the majority of Olympic infrastructure costs have been spread across city, state and federal budgets, with some financing from private companies, the state is responsible for most day-to-day security and health services in Rio. The financial pinch resulted in a 30-per cent cut in the state's security budget - just as Rio has seen a jump in homicides and assaults in recent months, raising concerns about safety ahead of the Olympics. The state of Rio expects a budget deficit of over 19 billion reais ($5.56 billion) this year as spending planned before oil prices fell outstrips revenue that is tumbling during Brazil's recession. Rio state's debt has been downgraded several times. On Wednesday, Fitch Ratings downgraded Rio's debt rating to 'B-' from 'B+', saying the state was suffering "a fast-deteriorating liquidity position." Since late last year, the state has been forced to delay pension and salary payments and shutter some schools and hospitals, where crucial supplies, including medicines and syringes, are lacking. Brazil is also facing an outbreak of the Zika virus, which has been linked to the birth defect microcephaly in which babies are born with abnormally small heads frequently associated with developmental issues. (Reuters)

Olympics to start in six weeks, and host city declares financial emergency

The International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates said on Saturday the committee is unlikely to overturn world athletics&#39; ban on the Russian track and field team at the Rio de Janeiro Games. 
 
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Friday nanimously upheld its ban on Russian athletes competing at international competitions due to state-sponsored doping. 
 
Russia has cried foul over the ban and President Vladimir Putin said he hoped for an &quot;appropriate response&quot; from the IOC. 
 
Coates, also president of the Australian Olympic Committee, said he would be &quot;very surprised&quot; if the IOC tried to overturn the ban at a summit on Tuesday, in Lausanne, where the Olympic body is due to discuss the matter. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s an international federation&#39;s right to suspend a national federation and I don&#39;t think we would overturn that at all, I&#39;d be very surprised,&quot; Coates told reporters in Melbourne. 
 
IAAF president Sebastian Coe said on Friday his governing body had the last word on athletes&#39; eligibility to compete at international events. 
 
Also talking was Jared Tallent, who won silver in the 50km walk at the 2012 London Olympic Games, but has now been boosted to the gold medal. The first man across the line in 2012, Russia&#39;s Sergey Kirdyapkin, received a ban for doping by the Russian anti-doping agency which excluded his 2012 gold medal, and would have allowed him to defend his title in Rio. 
 
In March the IAAF instructed the IOC to strip him of his gold medal and, as a Russian, he will not be at Rio. 
 
On Friday Tallent received his 2012 gold medal from John Coates at a ceremony in Melbourne. Tallent said the extension of the ban was important for his sport in Rio. 
 
&quot;It will change the way the races, in my event particularly, are raced. Athletes will now, who probably thought they&#39;d never had a chance before to win a medal, will now believe they&#39;ve got a chance to win a medal. It&#39;s a very positive day for the event. I&#39;m now very much looking forward to racing in Rio with other clean athletes and seeing who&#39;s the best out of those guys,&quot; Tallent told reporters. 
 
Australian 2016 Olympic team Chef De Mission Kitty Chiller welcomed the decision too but indicated there is still work to do by the IAAF and IOC. 
 
&quot;The steps that have been taken by the IAAF in this instance, by the IOC, to continue absolute zero tolerance to doping is good, it&#39;s a positive step. Is it going to be 100 percent clean in Rio? No, it&#39;s not going to be but at least steps are being taken now, the retesting of samples. Everything is moving in the right direction,&quot; Chiller said. 
(Reuters)

IAAF has the last word on athletes' eligibility to compete at international events, federation president Sebastian Coe said

The International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates said on Saturday the committee is unlikely to overturn world athletics' ban on the Russian track and field team at the Rio de Janeiro Games. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Friday nanimously upheld its ban on Russian athletes competing at international competitions due to state-sponsored doping. Russia has cried foul over the ban and President Vladimir Putin said he hoped for an "appropriate response" from the IOC. Coates, also president of the Australian Olympic Committee, said he would be "very surprised" if the IOC tried to overturn the ban at a summit on Tuesday, in Lausanne, where the Olympic body is due to discuss the matter. "It's an international federation's right to suspend a national federation and I don't think we would overturn that at all, I'd be very surprised," Coates told reporters in Melbourne. IAAF president Sebastian Coe said on Friday his governing body had the last word on athletes' eligibility to compete at international events. Also talking was Jared Tallent, who won silver in the 50km walk at the 2012 London Olympic Games, but has now been boosted to the gold medal. The first man across the line in 2012, Russia's Sergey Kirdyapkin, received a ban for doping by the Russian anti-doping agency which excluded his 2012 gold medal, and would have allowed him to defend his title in Rio. In March the IAAF instructed the IOC to strip him of his gold medal and, as a Russian, he will not be at Rio. On Friday Tallent received his 2012 gold medal from John Coates at a ceremony in Melbourne. Tallent said the extension of the ban was important for his sport in Rio. "It will change the way the races, in my event particularly, are raced. Athletes will now, who probably thought they'd never had a chance before to win a medal, will now believe they've got a chance to win a medal. It's a very positive day for the event. I'm now very much looking forward to racing in Rio with other clean athletes and seeing who's the best out of those guys," Tallent told reporters. Australian 2016 Olympic team Chef De Mission Kitty Chiller welcomed the decision too but indicated there is still work to do by the IAAF and IOC. "The steps that have been taken by the IAAF in this instance, by the IOC, to continue absolute zero tolerance to doping is good, it's a positive step. Is it going to be 100 percent clean in Rio? No, it's not going to be but at least steps are being taken now, the retesting of samples. Everything is moving in the right direction," Chiller said. (Reuters)

IOC vice-president says interference with IAAF ban is unlikely

The Korea Olympic Committee (KOC) has turned down Park Tae-hwan&#39;s appeal to overturn a controversial doping suspension, leaving the swimmer&#39;s hopes of competing at the Rio Games in the hands of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). 
 
The former Olympic champion has already served an 18-month ban imposed by the swimming&#39;s world governing body FINA. However, he is fighting to repeal a KOC regulation that imposed an additional three-year suspension, effectively ruling him out of Rio. 
 
The 26-year-old South Korean lodged a case with CAS but had hoped the KOC might re-consider its hard-line position before going to trial. 
 
The KOC poured cold water on such hopes on Thursday, saying the rule would remain in force. 
 
&quot;The regulation for the selection of national team representatives was made with the aim of demanding a high level of morality of our national team athletes and considering the dignity required of a public figure,&quot; the KOC said in a statement carried on South Korean television. &quot;Doping is against the fair play spirit, a basic requirement of athletes, and we decided that a rigorous response was needed for educational purposes to young athletes.&quot; 
 
Park, who won gold in the 400 metres freestyle and silver in the 200 at the 2008 Beijing Games, was expected to respond to the KOC&#39;s ruling at a media conference later on Thursday. The first Korean to win an Olympic swimming medal, Park&#39;s breakthrough in the Beijing pool made him a huge celebrity at home and a magnet for corporate sponsors. 
 
He finished runner-up in both the 200 and 400 at the London Games four years ago but his reputation was shattered when he tested positive for testosterone ahead of the 2014 Asian Games. Park attributed the failed test to an injection he received at a local clinic, where he said he was being treated for a skin complaint. 
 
Despite the KOC ban, Park entered national swimming trials in April and won all four of his races in times quick enough for Olympic qualification. 
 
Critics of the KOC&#39;s anti-doping regulation say it punishes an athlete twice for the same offence. CAS has previously struck down double-barrelled punishments for athletes banned for doping-related offences. 
 
In 2011, the Swiss-based tribunal ruled that the International Olympic Committee&#39;s &#39;Osaka Rule&#39;, which banned athletes serving suspensions of at least six months from competing at the next Games, violated its own statutes. 
(Reuters)

He enjoys celebrity status at home and has a number of corporate sponsorships

The Korea Olympic Committee (KOC) has turned down Park Tae-hwan's appeal to overturn a controversial doping suspension, leaving the swimmer's hopes of competing at the Rio Games in the hands of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The former Olympic champion has already served an 18-month ban imposed by the swimming's world governing body FINA. However, he is fighting to repeal a KOC regulation that imposed an additional three-year suspension, effectively ruling him out of Rio. The 26-year-old South Korean lodged a case with CAS but had hoped the KOC might re-consider its hard-line position before going to trial. The KOC poured cold water on such hopes on Thursday, saying the rule would remain in force. "The regulation for the selection of national team representatives was made with the aim of demanding a high level of morality of our national team athletes and considering the dignity required of a public figure," the KOC said in a statement carried on South Korean television. "Doping is against the fair play spirit, a basic requirement of athletes, and we decided that a rigorous response was needed for educational purposes to young athletes." Park, who won gold in the 400 metres freestyle and silver in the 200 at the 2008 Beijing Games, was expected to respond to the KOC's ruling at a media conference later on Thursday. The first Korean to win an Olympic swimming medal, Park's breakthrough in the Beijing pool made him a huge celebrity at home and a magnet for corporate sponsors. He finished runner-up in both the 200 and 400 at the London Games four years ago but his reputation was shattered when he tested positive for testosterone ahead of the 2014 Asian Games. Park attributed the failed test to an injection he received at a local clinic, where he said he was being treated for a skin complaint. Despite the KOC ban, Park entered national swimming trials in April and won all four of his races in times quick enough for Olympic qualification. Critics of the KOC's anti-doping regulation say it punishes an athlete twice for the same offence. CAS has previously struck down double-barrelled punishments for athletes banned for doping-related offences. In 2011, the Swiss-based tribunal ruled that the International Olympic Committee's 'Osaka Rule', which banned athletes serving suspensions of at least six months from competing at the next Games, violated its own statutes. (Reuters)

Korea's Olympic Committee turns down banned Park's Rio appeal

The path to the Olympics is paved with potholes for many athletes but few can claim to have overcome hardship like &nbsp;Indian-origin wrestler Vinod Kumar, who was thrown off a speeding train by a rival&#39;s family in India before landing on his feet in Australia. 
 
Melbourne-based Kumar will compete for his adopted country in the 66 kg-class of Greco-Roman wrestling at the Rio de Janeiro Games, six years after landing Down Under, a colloquialism for Australia, with a suitcase in hand and a head full of troubled childhood memories. 
 
Winning the Olympic ticket was karma, according to Kumar, and a reward for forgiving the people who all but killed him when he was a teenager competing on India&#39;s wrestling circuit. 
 
&quot;Wrestling is big in India,&quot; the 31-year-old Kumar told Reuters in an interview at his Melbourne home. &quot;Fathers all want their sons to win... I forgave them because I believe in karma and I believe in God.&quot; 
 
Born in a small village near the Indian capital &nbsp;of New Delhi and raised in a family of wrestlers, Kumar competed at junior national tournaments across the country from a young age. 
 
In 2001, he boarded a long-haul train to an event in southern India with other young wrestlers but never arrived. 
 
BROKEN BONES 
 
As the train coursed through coastal forests in southern Indian state of &nbsp;Karnataka, Kumar was handed a spiked soft-drink and immediately felt dizzy after taking a mouthful. 
 
He went groggily to the carriage&#39;s doorway to get some air and two men, one the father of a rival wrestler, hurled him from the train before it sped into a tunnel. 
 
Bones were broken in his arms and legs as his body careened off the tracks to settle by a body of water. 
 
&quot;The train was going very fast. Maybe 100-130 kilometres (per hour/ 81 mph),&quot; the shaven-headed wrestler said in halting English. 
 
&quot;My clothes were all torn, like I was just wearing my underwear.&quot; 
 
Fifteen years later, Kumar lifts up his shirt and trouser leg to show deep scars along his chest and knee but can now chuckle about the absurdity of what happened. 
 
He was conscious and in searing pain, unable to move as mosquitoes bit him and flies buzzed around his wounds. 
 
Kumar believes he would have died if he had not been discovered by rail workers in the morning, putting him on another train bound for a hospital that could treat him. 
 
&quot;No one knew where I was for 15 days, everybody thought I was dead,&quot; he laughed. 
 
When he returned to his family, police arrested five of the men who were on the carriage. 
 
DIRT WRESTLER 
 
His family took legal action as Kumar lay bed-ridden for a year. One of his brothers refused a compensation payment from the rival wrestler&#39;s father. 
 
Kumar eventually returned to competition and although he appeared in court &quot;two or three times&quot;, the case dragged on for years and he told his family to drop the lawsuit. 
 
His forgiveness was not shared by his family, however, and caused a rift so deep that Kumar left home for good. 
 
He then spent years roaming the country, competing for cash prizes in towns and villages in conventional freestyle events and in &#39;pehlwani&#39;, India&#39;s traditional dirt wrestling. 
 
Australia promised a fresh start but it has been tough since landing in 2010 with little English and no skills. 
 
With no professional wrestling to speak of in Australia, Kumar has worked as a courier and a bouncer at nightclubs to earn money and says he owes friends up to $10,800. 
 
Both &nbsp;parents have died since he left India, his mother of a heart attack only two weeks before his interview with Reuters. 
 
&quot;Sometimes I&#39;m feeling very upset, thinking I am here and I have no money, nothing here,&quot; said Kumar, sitting on his bed with a clutch of medals hanging by the wall. 
 
&quot;I feel it&#39;s too hard here and I want to quit... Then I go to the club (to train) and have a better feeling.&quot; 
 
After earning his ticket to Rio in April at a qualifying tournament in Algeria, Kumar feels the grind has been worth it. 
 
Melbourne&#39;s prominent Indian community have rallied to his cause and he will head to Brazil hoping to become Australia&#39;s first wrestling medallist in more than 60 years. 
 
He said the rival wrestler&#39;s father who threw him from the train is dead and that the man&#39;s wife had hanged herself. Their son has not succeeded in wrestling. 
 
&quot;Now he&#39;s nothing and I&#39;m an Olympian,&quot; Kumar said. &quot;This is karma.&quot; 
 
&nbsp;

Vinod Kumar has endured broken bones, legal battles against his attackers and loss of family to finally achieve his dream of wrestling in the Olympics

The path to the Olympics is paved with potholes for many athletes but few can claim to have overcome hardship like Indian-origin wrestler Vinod Kumar, who was thrown off a speeding train by a rival's family in India before landing on his feet in Australia. Melbourne-based Kumar will compete for his adopted country in the 66 kg-class of Greco-Roman wrestling at the Rio de Janeiro Games, six years after landing Down Under, a colloquialism for Australia, with a suitcase in hand and a head full of troubled childhood memories. Winning the Olympic ticket was karma, according to Kumar, and a reward for forgiving the people who all but killed him when he was a teenager competing on India's wrestling circuit. "Wrestling is big in India," the 31-year-old Kumar told Reuters in an interview at his Melbourne home. "Fathers all want their sons to win... I forgave them because I believe in karma and I believe in God." Born in a small village near the Indian capital of New Delhi and raised in a family of wrestlers, Kumar competed at junior national tournaments across the country from a young age. In 2001, he boarded a long-haul train to an event in southern India with other young wrestlers but never arrived. BROKEN BONES As the train coursed through coastal forests in southern Indian state of Karnataka, Kumar was handed a spiked soft-drink and immediately felt dizzy after taking a mouthful. He went groggily to the carriage's doorway to get some air and two men, one the father of a rival wrestler, hurled him from the train before it sped into a tunnel. Bones were broken in his arms and legs as his body careened off the tracks to settle by a body of water. "The train was going very fast. Maybe 100-130 kilometres (per hour/ 81 mph)," the shaven-headed wrestler said in halting English. "My clothes were all torn, like I was just wearing my underwear." Fifteen years later, Kumar lifts up his shirt and trouser leg to show deep scars along his chest and knee but can now chuckle about the absurdity of what happened. He was conscious and in searing pain, unable to move as mosquitoes bit him and flies buzzed around his wounds. Kumar believes he would have died if he had not been discovered by rail workers in the morning, putting him on another train bound for a hospital that could treat him. "No one knew where I was for 15 days, everybody thought I was dead," he laughed. When he returned to his family, police arrested five of the men who were on the carriage. DIRT WRESTLER His family took legal action as Kumar lay bed-ridden for a year. One of his brothers refused a compensation payment from the rival wrestler's father. Kumar eventually returned to competition and although he appeared in court "two or three times", the case dragged on for years and he told his family to drop the lawsuit. His forgiveness was not shared by his family, however, and caused a rift so deep that Kumar left home for good. He then spent years roaming the country, competing for cash prizes in towns and villages in conventional freestyle events and in 'pehlwani', India's traditional dirt wrestling. Australia promised a fresh start but it has been tough since landing in 2010 with little English and no skills. With no professional wrestling to speak of in Australia, Kumar has worked as a courier and a bouncer at nightclubs to earn money and says he owes friends up to $10,800. Both parents have died since he left India, his mother of a heart attack only two weeks before his interview with Reuters. "Sometimes I'm feeling very upset, thinking I am here and I have no money, nothing here," said Kumar, sitting on his bed with a clutch of medals hanging by the wall. "I feel it's too hard here and I want to quit... Then I go to the club (to train) and have a better feeling." After earning his ticket to Rio in April at a qualifying tournament in Algeria, Kumar feels the grind has been worth it. Melbourne's prominent Indian community have rallied to his cause and he will head to Brazil hoping to become Australia's first wrestling medallist in more than 60 years. He said the rival wrestler's father who threw him from the train is dead and that the man's wife had hanged herself. Their son has not succeeded in wrestling. "Now he's nothing and I'm an Olympian," Kumar said. "This is karma."

Thrown out of a moving train, Indian-origin Australian wrestler gets back on track for Olympics

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