World Anti-Doping Agency Suspends South Africa"s Bloemfontein Lab

South Africa’s Doping Control Laboratory has become the fourth lab to be sanctioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in the past month.

Bloemfontein joins Beijing and Lisbon in being suspended from carrying out any WADA-related anti-doping activities, while Moscow’s lab had its accreditation revoked in April.

The decision leaves 31 WADA-accredited labs in the world, but none in Africa.

WADA said the laboratory may apply for reinstatement before 30 September.

The body did not disclose the reasons for the South Africa facility’s suspension, which can be appealed against at the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 21 days of Bloemfontein being notified.

BBC

World Anti-Doping Agency Suspends South Africa"s Bloemfontein Lab

Video Referees "To Be Used At 2018 World Cup"

FIFA president Gianni Infantino hopes the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be the first tournament where video referees help officials with “game-changing” decisions.

In March, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) said it would test technology over a two-year period to help with goals, red cards, mistaken identities and penalties.

That was set to start no later than the 2017-18 season but Infantino said testing would “start now and will take two years”.

The Swiss, who succeeded Sepp Blatter as boss of world football’s governing body in February, added: “This means that by March 2018 we will see if it works or not.

“I really hope that the World Cup in Russia will be the first World Cup where video refereeing is used to make refereeing maybe better.”

In the experiments, a video assistant referee will have access to video replays during matches and will either review an incident on request or communicate with the referee proactively about an incident that may have been missed by the officials on the field of play.

On a visit to Moscow, Infantino also said he had received assurances from the Russian government that the economic crisis engulfing the country would not affect preparations for the 2018 tournament.

Hawk-Eye to be used at Euro 2016

Meanwhile, UEFA has selected British company Hawk-Eye as the goal-line technology supplier for all matches at Euro 2016.

The camera-based system that is used in the Premier League was chosen ahead of Germany-based Goal Control, which was in operation at the 2014 World Cup.

European football’s governing body UEFA decided to introduce the technology in January after incidents where goals had not been given despite crossing the line.

Co-hosts Ukraine were denied such a goal against England at Euro 2012.

In contrast to the Premier League, Uefa has previously opted to use additional assistant referees in its competitions, including the Champions League, and will continue to use five officials at Euro 2016 in France.

“Goal-line technology and additional assistant referees complement each other perfectly,” UEFA’s chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina said.

Hawk-Eye, which uses seven cameras per goal, was chosen after a selection process in which all four FIFA-licensed goal-line technology providers were invited to provide information and submit commercial offers.

It was the first company to receive a FIFA goal-line technology license and, in addition to the Premier League, it is already used in the Bundesliga and Serie A as well as in the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Credit: BBC

Video Referees "To Be Used At 2018 World Cup"

Ghanaian Trio Fail To Impress At World Indoor Championship

Ghana’s Trio at the track and field event failed to win any medal for the country at the just ended World Indoor Championship in Portland, Oregon, USA.

The Ghanaian Athletics were hoping to win medals at last weekend’s Championship but the trio of Flings Owusu-Agyapong (60m), Emmanuel Dasor (400m) and Sean Safo-Antwi (60m), who earlier this month, successfully had a nationality switch from Britain, all failed to impress.

They all failed in improving either their personal or seasonal best ahead of the Rio Olympics later this year.

Sarfo Antwi who has already qualified for the Olympics went into the competition as the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix champion, winning the 60m event and topping it up with a third place finish at the British Championships were he secured his ticket to Portland

Dasor and Owusu-Agyepong will be looking forward to improving on their performance in the upcoming outdoor championships later in April to stand any chance of qualifying to the Olympics in Brazil.

 

Ghanaian Trio Fail To Impress At World Indoor Championship

World Cup 2018: does Brazil stand a chance?

In 2014, Brazil, who were the favourites to win the competition for the fifth time in their history, fell short of the football world’s expectations.

Even though they managed to reach the semi-final, the memory of the dramatic encounter where they were eviscerated 7 – 1 by Germany is still vivid. For the host nation, the World Cup came to an even more bitter end when they were defeated by the Netherlands in the third-place play-off and said goodbye to the podium.

But does Brazil stand a chance in 2018?

It didn’t take long for sports enthusiasts and bookmakers to start speculating and 2018 World Cup betting odds were released a day after Germany won the 2014 championship.

Bookmakers like Ladbrokes or William Hill estimate the odds of Brazil to win at 8/1-likewise for Spain and Argentina -, but well behind the German title holders, the favorite with odds of 5/1.

But these odds seem pretty generous if we consider all the challenges the Brazilian team is facing.

Firstly, the team’s dependency on Neymar is much too strong. During the World Cup, the 22-year-old player carried Brazil’s hopes on his shoulders and two years on not much has changed.

This was painfully obvious during Copa America where a Neymar-less Brazil were beaten by Paraguay after taking the lead. It was the first time since 1953 that they have lost to their South American neighbours after having scored first! This situation is worrying for a first-class international team, especially since none of the others rely on one player more than Brazil do on Neymar.

Secondly, the Auriverde lack some other first-class players, especially when it comes to their offense: Douglas Costa is more of a mid-fielder than a striker and the next generation of players is rather slow to arrive. However, according to many, PSG star Lucas Moura has matured in Europe and returned a better player. Could salvation come from the Brazilian forward?

And last but not least, the Brazilians are facing another huge question mark with Thiago Silva. It is unclear whether he will be part of the World Cup adventure, even though he seems to have overcome his demons and is back to his best level for now.

Source: Sambafoot

World Cup 2018: does Brazil stand a chance?

Sensational Latif Blessing sets sight on World Youth Championship

Liberty Professionals attacking sensation Latif Blessing has set his sight on winning the U-20 Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) World Youth Championship with the Black Satellites.

The Dansoman based trickery forward is relishing the prospect of flexing muscles with the world’s elite players at the Youth Championship in the 2017 edition.

The Liberty Professionals dribbling magician revealed his long term ambition of inking his name into the archives of Ghana football with a world championship at the U20 level.

The 18 year old much sort after forward, cooled down imminent national call up but firmly believes an African Youth Championship trophy or the ultimate FIFA U20 WYC will be enough to smoothen his way to the Black Stars.

Blessing expressed his readiness to storm the age defined global tournament when given the platform by the national handlers of the Black Satellites.

“My first target is to win the Africa and World cup with the national Under 20 team and my work alone will tell the head coach of the Black Stars who I am. It will also tell the handlers of the Black Stars what I have in me.” Blessing told sports crusader exclusively.

The Dansoman based attacker has been tipped to play a focal role for George Lamptey’s side in the absence of Kennedy Ashia.

Sensational Latif Blessing sets sight on World Youth Championship