| Attempts made to stop athletes betting • Sports Betting Group aims to unify approach to match-fixing• Ricky Hatton still set to make charity appearance on SaturdayAll professional sportsmen and women are likely to be banned from betting on any competition in which they take part. The Sports Betting Group, a coalition of governing bodies convened as a result of a government-commissioned review of sports integrity issues chaired by the former Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry, is likely to propose the idea as one of a series of guidelines to other governing bodies with the aim of unifying their approach. The intense focus on potential match-fixing in the wake of high-profile cases in football, tennis, snooker and cricket has increased the debate's sensitivities.Some sports ban betting outright, as do some overseas governments. Others, such as football, ban players from betting on competitions in which they take part while others still allow players to bet on themselves to win.The Sports Betting Group is likely to be the forum through which recent suggestions for more coordination and cooperation over anti-corruption measures are likely to be pursued. One silver lining of the high-profile allegations of recent weeks is that the issue is now firmly in the public eye and at the forefront of ministers' minds. An event planned by the group for November will seek to maintain momentum.British Horseracing Authority gets levy liftThe British Horseracing Authority, gearing up for a final push in its battle to convince the government that the levy system should be fundamentally overhauled, is taking heart from the first public statement from gambling minister John Penrose on the matter. In a written answer, Penrose confirmed he had met with representatives from both racing and bookmaking – locked in a bitter battle over the levy – to "seek suggestions about how it might be improved or, if possible, suitably replaced". The racing industry is interpreting that as confirmation it is winning the argument and that the minister is considering replacing the levy with a so-called "betting right". Any such arrangement would be bitterly resisted by the gambling industry. The BHA has argued that fundamental reform is required if the sport is to survive in its current form, with the existing arrangements no longer fit for purpose given the way the gambling industry has changed. Bookmakers, meanwhile, claim they already contribute hugely through sponsorship, TV and the levy, and should in fact pay less.Elephant in room gets outedYesterday's sports gambling conference organised by World Sports Law Report was a remarkably friendly affair given the enmity that exists between sports and bookmakers. All were able to agree on the "motherhood and apple pie" issues of improved education for players and working together to stamp out corruption. The elephant in the room remained funding, with speaker after speaker declining to elaborate on who should pay for it. It was left to the British Horseracing Authority anti-corruption chief Paul Scotney to inject a much-needed dose of realism into proceedings when he pointed out the gap he perceives between what sports governing bodies can do and the resources the police are willing and able to devote to match fixing in an era when they are facing cuts to their front-line budgets. "The appetite for dealing with this is pretty minimal," he said of the police's attitude, calling for a beefed up integrity unit across sport rather than the current "sports intelligence unit" housed in the Gambling Commission.Ricky Hatton answers quiz callAccording to organisers, Ricky Hatton will make his first public appearance since being pictured snorting cocaine on the front page of the News of the World at a charity event to raise money for Amir Khan's Gloves Community Centre and the Variety Club in Bolton on Saturday, according to organisers. The black tie Question of Sport-style event will see Hatton appearing as one of four team captains alongside Khan, El-Hadji Diouf and Darren Campbell. A spokesman for Khan insisted Hatton, seeking help for drug and alcohol addiction and suffering from depression according to his representatives, would still be appearing despite his recent well-publicised travails. "Amir wants to show his support for Ricky at what is clearly a difficult time," he said.Sport bettingRicky HattonHorse racingOwen Gibsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Phillips Idowu, Christine Ohuruogu and Lisa Dobriskey out of Commonwealths • Reason for Idowu's withdrawal currently unclear • Ohuruogu and Dobriskey both struggling with injuriesEngland's Phillips Idowu, Christine Ohuruogu and Lisa Dobriskey have all pulled out of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.The reason why Idowu, the world triple jump champion, has withdrawn is currently unclear, but both Ohuruogu and Dobriskey are struggling with injuries.Ohuruogu, the Olympic 400m champion, felt a cramp during a training session last weekend and has decided to pull out of the Games rather than risk irritating the quad problem which saw her miss part of this season.Dobriskey, who won the 1,500m title in Melbourne four years ago, has been advised to rest and focus on winter training after an injury-hit season."I am disappointed to miss the Commonwealth Games after working so hard to get fit since my quad injury in June," Ohuruogu said. "However, with the 2012 Olympic Games on the horizon the last thing an athlete wants to do is risk re-injury to the same muscle."It was very important for me to be cautious in dealing with my previous injury, and although training was progressing well, intense competition over three days may prove to be more harmful than good and may compromise the long-term functioning of the muscle."With three rounds in the 400m in Delhi I would need to be close to my best to win the gold. I had already picked up my team kit and was getting ready to go to the preparation camp in Doha. Instead I will have a short break now and resume winter training in October to get ready for the 2011 season."I would like to wish all my fellow athletes the best for Delhi and I hope they bring home a lot of medals."Dobriskey worked hard to get into shape following a back injury in time for the European Championships in Barcelona, where she finished fourth, but has taken medical advice from UK Athletics doctors to concentrate on working towards the 2011 indoor season."I was really looking forward to competing and I'd worked so hard to get back into shape," Dobriskey said. "I'm really disappointed but I just ran out of time. I want to wish all the best to the athletes out in Delhi."Commonwealth Games 2010Phillips IdowuChristine OhuruoguAthleticsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Hilfenhaus's haul gives Australia hope Australia 428 & 192; India 405 & 55-4Ben Hilfenhaus claimed three India wickets in the final session to bring Australia back into the match after being bundled out for 192 on the fourth day of the first Test in Mohali.The paceman saw off the dangerous Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Suresh Raina before Doug Bollinger accounted for Rahul Dravid to leave India on 55 for four chasing a victory target of 216.Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma claimed three wickets each while the spinners Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha took two apiece, as none of the Australia batsman, with the exception of first-innings centurion Shane Watson (56), showed much resistance.India dominated the first two sessions and much of the third on a day which saw the fall of 14 wickets but frittered away the advantage in the final hour.India started their second innings disastrously, losing Gambhir for a duck in Hilfenhaus's first over. The left-hander was given out lbw even though replays suggested there had been an inside-edge but the wicket of Dravid (13) was a bigger blow, since he was timing the ball well.Bollinger claimed the prize wicket, when the right-hander lunged across to defend a delivery which found an edge and travelled through to the wicketkeeper Tim Paine.Hilfenhaus struck again, first claiming Sehwag (17), who offered a simple catch at gully to Michael Hussey, and then Raina (duck), who was bounced out, to record impressive figures of three for 22 in seven overs.India's fightback hinges on Sachin Tendulkar (10 not out), who carried the battle to the final day along with nightwatchman Zaheer Khan, who was dropped by Simon Katich fielding close and also edged wide of the slips.Australia had lost all 10 second innings wickets for 105 runs and inside 40 overs. The opening stand between Watson and Simon Katich was worth 87 runs, with Watson bringing up his 50 off 51 balls to put Australia on 80 without loss.He then chopped a Sharma delivery on to his stumps and the prize wicket of the Australia captain Ricky Ponting followed in the same over, caught in the boundary. Sharma could have had Michael Clarke first ball but umpire Billy Bowden spotted a no-ball, but the bowler claimed Clarke in his next over to reduce the tourists to 96 for three.Katich and Hussey added 42 but Ojha got through the defence of the obdurate opener, who scored 37 off 118 balls, triggering another collapse just before tea. Harbhajan removed Hussey (28) and Marcus North (10) to leave Australia on 165 for six.Zaheer then came up with a superb spell of reverse swing to account for Mitchell Johnson (3), Nathan Hauritz (9) and Hilfenhaus (6).India Cricket TeamAustralia cricket teamguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Ohio State is No. 1 in AP Top 25 By RALPH D. RUSSO 2010-10-10T16:08:46ZNEW YORK (AP) -- Ohio State is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll.... hosted.ap.org |
Jimin Kang wins LPGA Malaysia for second tour title Jimin Kang won the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia for her second LPGA Tour title, beating Juli Inkster by a stroke Sunday when the 50-year-old Hall ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |