Tennis: Maria Sharapova May Not Play Again

Former world number one Maria Sharapova may never play again following her failed drugs test, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation says.

The Russian, 29, tested positive for meldonium at January’s Australian Open.

When asked if Sharapova would play any more tournaments, Shamil Tarpishchev told R-Sport news agency it was “very doubtful” and added the five-time Grand Slam winner was in a “bad situation”.

In March, Sharapova said she was “determined to play tennis again”.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) provisionally suspended Sharapova on 12 March.

She is waiting to hear the full extent of her punishment, which could be as much as a four-year ban, although experts say a six-month or 12-month suspension is more likely.

That is because the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) admitted in April that scientists were unsure how long meldonium stayed in the system.

It even suggested athletes who tested positive for the substance before 1 March could avoid bans, provided they had stopped taking it before 1 January.

However, Sharapova has already admitted she continued taking meldonium past that date, saying she was unaware it had been added to the banned list as she knew it by another name – mildronate.

BBC

Tennis: Maria Sharapova May Not Play Again

We Will Not Be Complacent In Final Four Games – Preko

Assistant coach Yaw Preko has said Accra Hearts of Oak will not be complacent going into the last four games of the first round of the 2015/2016 Ghana Premier League (GPL) season.

The Phobians lead the standing by a point after 11 games, and, will next play Sekondi Hasaacas at home as they seek to preserve their leadership of the table.

Further games before the first round ends, will come against Aduana Stars at Dormaa, Liberty Professionals in Accra and Dreams FC at Dawu.

And Preko says they will not be complacent going into these games as there is a lot at stake to be won by the club.

”We have some very tough games ahead of us to close the first round of the league, and will approach them with all seriousness, hoping to win all,” Preko told the club’s official newspaper, the Hearts News.

“These are games that will help define how we will approach the second half of the season, and, we intend to win them all to maintain our position on top of the table,” he added.

The Phobians will head into the Hasaacas game, one point ahead of second place Wa All Stars, and, Preko believes a win will set them up for the rest of campaign.

“We know the quality of Hasaacas, and, we will not take them lightly on Wednesday; they have lost all their away games, but, that does not mean we will have it easy,” the former Ghana international said.

“Playing against a big club like Hearts of Oak will inspire them to put out a performance worthy of note, and, we are aware of this and, have been preparing well for them,” he assured.

“It will be the same approach in the other three games after this, and, we believe we can produce the results that will keep us at the top of the ladder when the first round ends,” the deputy Ghana U-20 coach added.

“These are all difficult games, but, we trust in the quality of our boys to step-up to the table and, perform very well at anytime,” he promised.

We Will Not Be Complacent In Final Four Games – Preko

Zidane Will Not Check Barcelona Score

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane says he will not check Barcelona’s score until full-time on Saturday, despite his side needing the champions to slip up on the final day of the season.

Real would win La Liga with victory at Deportivo La Coruna only if Barca fail to win at Granada at the same time.

“I won’t know what’s going to happen until the end,” said Zidane.

“We don’t depend on ourselves, but we don’t have to think about the other game, just about our game and winning.”

Real were nine points off leaders Barcelona, having also played a game more, when they lost 1-0 to city rivals Atletico Madrid on 27 February.

Since then they have won all 11 La Liga games to take them to within a point of top spot.

Zidane only took over in January, replacing Rafael Benitez, and has won 20 of his 25 games in charge – also taking the club to the Champions League final against Atletico.

But the former France and Real Madrid midfielder and reserve team boss does not know whether he will remain in charge beyond the summer.

“I don’t know if I have earned the opportunity to continue,” he said.

“There were a lot of doubts and I can understand that. I haven’t won anything to make me think that I can stay on. We have two finals to play.”

BBC

Zidane Will Not Check Barcelona Score

Rivaldo Urges Tourists Not To Come To The Olympics

Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo has urged tourists to stay away from the Olympic Games in Rio this summer. The ex-Barcelona winger feels that the climate is too tense in the country, with impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff causing high tensions.

There are also a number of hygiene concerns for rowers and swimmers due to anxieties over the cleanliness of the water. “Things are getting uglier here every day,” Rivaldo wrote, “I advise everyone with plans to visit Brazil for the Olympics in Rio to stay in their country of origin.

“Your life will be in danger here,” he continued. “This is without even speaking about the state of public hospitals and all the Brazilian political mess. Only God can change the situation in our Brazil.”

The country is also in something of a health crisis with an outbreak of the zika virus- which has particularly awful consequences for pregnant women.

Rivaldo posted the comments on his Instagram account.

Rivaldo Urges Tourists Not To Come To The Olympics

Zika Will Not Derail Rio Olympics - IOC

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said that it sees no need to cancel, delay or move the Rio Olympic Games because of the Zika virus threat.

However IOC medical director Richard Budgett said that it would continue to monitor the situation closely.

Dr Budgett was responding to a call by Canadian health Professor Amir Attaran for the Games to be postponed or moved.

Prof Attaran said that the influx of visitors to Brazil would result in the avoidable births of malformed babies.

“If the IOC and the World Health Organisation (WHO) do not have the generosity of heart to delay the games to prevent children being born and disabled their whole lives, then they’re among the cruelest institutions in the world,” Prof Attaran said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press news agency.

“What I’m asking for is a bit of delayed gratification so that babies aren’t born permanently disabled.”

Prof Attaran – a public health specialist – argues that Zika is far worse than the IOC is willing to admit.

In an article for the Harvard Public Review he says that Rio de Janeiro is more affected by Zika than anyone expected and that all it takes is one infected traveler to start a process that could ultimately result in a “full-blown global health disaster”.

He argues that if the Games go ahead, it would be especially unfair on countries like Nigeria, India and Indonesia, which do not have the same resources to fight Zika as Brazil.

But his point of view is hotly contested by Olympic and global health authorities including the WHO, who are adamant the 5-21 August Games will not be derailed by the virus.

The IOC – which adheres to the WHO’s advice – insisted there were no plans to relocate or postpone the games.

“The clear statements from WHO that there should be no restrictions on travel and trade means there is no justification for cancelling, delaying, postponing or moving the Rio Games,” Dr Budgett said.

“The IOC will continue to monitor the situation very closely and work with the WHO, and we’re confident as we’ve been advised by the experts that the situation will improve over the next three months.”

A separate IOC statement said that plans were in place to target mosquitoes and deal with their stagnant water breeding grounds..

The statement said it was important to remember the Olympic and Paralympics Games are taking place in the winter months of August and September, when mosquitoes should not be so abundant.

The Olympics are expected to attract about 500,000 visitors from abroad.

BBC

Zika Will Not Derail Rio Olympics - IOC

Wa All Stars will Not Buckle Under Pressure - Coach Adepa

Coach Enus Adepa insists his Wa All Stars side will not buckle under pressure as they chase a first ever silverware in Ghanaian football.

The northern club has opened a three-point lead at the top of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) after six games and is also unbeaten in the competition.

Last Sunday, All Stars, beat Ebusua Dwarfs 1-0 to record their fourth home win of the campaign as they took their points tally to 17.

And Coach Adepa said their results this season have been measured as they prepared very well for the start of this campaign.

“Many have said our results have been misleading, but, we do not see it as such as we prepared very well ahead of the start of the competition,” he said.

“We had a good pre-season and I believe that it is the result of our hard work which is paying off,” Coach Adepa said after their win over Dwarfs.

He added: “We will manage the situation very well and take the games as they come, the so-called pressure will not affect us as we are well psyched up for the challenge ahead”.

All Stars will next play Bechem United in their next GPL game in Bechem were they will look to keep their lead at the top when the league resumes after this weekend’s MTN FA Cup games.

Wa All Stars will Not Buckle Under Pressure - Coach Adepa

Mario Balotelli Does Not Deserve AC Milan Stay - Galliani

On-loan Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli “does not deserve” to join AC Milan on a permanent basis, says the Italian club’s chief executive.

Balotelli, 25, has scored three goals in 17 appearances this season for Milan, who sold him to the Reds for £16m in 2014.

“He has an immense desire to stay at the club. I hope he shows that with his performances,” said Adriano Galliani.

“I’ve told him that based on what he’s shown, he doesn’t deserve to stay.”

Italy international Balotelli is set to return to Liverpool after his loan spell ends in June.

“I told him to convince me that he should stay, as we want the best for him,” added Galliani.

“He has promised me he will do that and I hope he does.”

On Saturday sixth-placed Milan host Serie A leaders Juventus, who are six points clear of second-placed Napoli with seven games of the season remaining.

Credit: BBC

Mario Balotelli Does Not Deserve AC Milan Stay - Galliani

Wisa Showed A Dildo, Not His Genitals – Lawyer

Lawyer for hiplife artiste, Wisa Greid, Jerry Agbenovor, has mounted a defence for his client, saying he only showed a doodle and not his genitals during a live performance at the Accra International Conference Center.

 

 

Wisa is facing prosecution for exposing his genitals on stage at Citi FM’s Christmas Eve concert, Decemba 2 Rememba concert on Thursday, December 24.

 

 

Social media platforms are awash with videos of Wisa stripping and rubbing his manhood behind his female dancer on stage.

 

He appeared before an Accra Circuit Court today [Wednesday] after he was arrested, charged and admitted to bail  in the sum of Ghc 8,000

cedis.

 

Although Wisa has himself acknowledged his act and called it irresponsible in an apology statement, his Lawyer told journalists after today’s court appearance, that his client will only be proven guilty if it is established that what he showed to the live audience on that fateful day was his genitals.

 

“Do you know what a doodle is? So if you know what a doodle is and you know what you can get from different sex shops all over the world then you can understand where we are coming from basically.

 

 

What you saw in there is a perception. He is dissatisfied with the perception that you have.

 

What you saw, to you it’s a dick or it looks like a dick. Can you prove that it was a dick?,” he queried.

 

 

The lawyer further complained about the negative perception that had been created since the incident occurred, saying “The perception created is very negative. It doesn’t mean what he did or what he’s alleged to have done is an acceptance of whatever people are saying he did basically.

 

 

This matter is in court and it shall be determined in court and we will display and come to the bottom of this matter in court.”

 

“He [wisa] has pleaded not guilty and we will proceed to determine the matter in court. If you run into the definition of art, it runs from paintings to music, to dance and culture and to everything artistic and it is broad,” he argued.

 

 

The case has been adjourned to the 13th of January 2015

Wisa Showed A Dildo, Not His Genitals – Lawyer

I Promised To End Load Shedding, Not ‘Localised Outages’ – Power Minister

The Power Minister, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, has appeared before the Government Assurances Committee in Parliament to set the record straight after comments he recently made to clarify his promise to end the country’s power crisis.

Dr. Donkor, when he was appointed by President Mahama, announced that he would resign if the power crisis persisted after 2015 and has reiterated that promise on different occasions.

However, the Minister recently sought to clarify his promise when answering questions posed to him by pressure group Occupy Ghana, stating that his promises was to end the load shedding programme and not power outages entirely.

Ghanaians who were skeptical of Dr. Donkor’s promise were up in arms following his comments.

According to them, the Minister is only making excuses to absolve himself of any blame and get out of resigning should the power crisis not end entirely at the end of the year, a claim Dr. Donkor dismissed on Wednesday.

“I have been at pains at very places to make a critical distinction that the new lexicon, dumsor does not reflect. Load shedding arises out of generation deficit. In ordinary language we would say power rationing, because we don’t have enough. That is what I promised on the floor of the House to work towards its cessation,” Dr. Donkor said.

According to the power minister, while his ministry was working towards ending the load shedding programme, it would not be possible to curtail outages as a result of faulty transmitters or activities of criminals who steal the copper cables.

“You can have all the generation and also have outages in particular areas. Four weeks ago, in the Tema community alone, five of our transmitters were vandalized because people want to steal copper from our transformers. When that happens, irrespective of our generation available, that locality will not have power until the ECG either repairs the transformers or replaces them. That is the situation we term localized outage.

“Therefore I am very careful of the over generalization, because if you don’t make that distinction, I am not accountable for the thievery and vandalism of some Ghanaians and that it why it is important I make that distinction. Underground cables have also been stolen. Those are acts arising out of criminality.” There are certain occasions with some of our modern transformers; when they are overloaded, they will cut and a transformer serves a particular locality.”

A poll was taken by Citi FM on Tuesday on Twitter to see whether Ghanaians shared the view of the Power Minister on his insistence that load shedding and dumsor should be differentiated.

32 percent of the 263 respondents disagreed with Dr. Donkor while 11 percent thought the Power Minister had a point

Is there a difference between dumsor and load shedding? #CitiCBS

— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) December 22, 2015

An overwhelming 57 percent, however, though the distinction between load shedding and dumsor was unnecessary when all they wanted was light.

–

Citifmonline.com

I Promised To End Load Shedding, Not ‘Localised Outages’ – Power Minister