CBI sets up unit to probe sports fraud
New Delhi: To check fixing in sports, the CBI has set up a dedicated Sport Integrity Unit to look into cases of fraud, including betting in any sporting event. “The stated objectives of this Sport Integrity Unit include investigating and inquiring into matters related to sports fraud, combating malpractices in sports and coordinating with sports federations and law enforcement agencies,” CBI Director Ranjit Sinha said on Tuesday. Currently, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Australian Federal Police and certain European countries have specialised units to check sports fraud. The CBI had held discussions with officials of the International Cricket Council and Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) before setting up the unit. Sinha said the CBI will also actively engage with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports so that a law to deal with corruption in sports is put in place at the earliest. “This (law) would make India one of the very few nations in the world to have a dedicated unit set up as a part of its federal investigative agency to investigate sports fraud,” he said, addressing the 15th D P Kohli Memorial Lecture organised by CBI. “In the years to come we shall further strengthen the unit and hope to make a substantial contribution in the fight against malpractices in sports. We look forward to support and cooperation from all stakeholders in making this initiative of CBI a success,” the agency director said. (PTI)
Man City’s Toure ruled out for 2 weeks
LONDON: Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure will be out of action for two weeks due to a muscle injury, manager Manuel Pellegrini said on Tuesday. The Ivorian will miss Wednesday’s home Premier League game against bottom club Sunderland after sustaining the injury early in the 3-2 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday. “Maybe it’s not as bad as we thought at the beginning but he needs at least 10 days or two weeks to recover,” Pellegrini told a news conference. Striker Sergio Aguero and defender Vincent Kompany are fit to start against Sunderland as third-placed City look to close a seven-point gap on leaders Liverpool. Pellegrini’s team, on 70 points, have two games in hand on Liverpool and second-placed Chelsea who have 75. (Reuters)
Johnson mulls quitting T20, ODIs
New Delhi: Keeping the 2015 Ashes in mind, Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson is mulling his limited-overs future to prolong his Test career. Johnson, who missed the recently concluded World T20 in Bangladesh due to a toe injury, is fit and raring to go in the IPL for Kings XI Punjab but has hinted at reconsidering his T20 future. Johnson, 32, has ambitions of spearheading Australia’s pace attack in the 2015 World Cup but the Ashes battle in the same year is a top priority. “I think I’ve got to be a lot smarter now. Twenty20, I will quite happily say, is not my favourite format – I would rather play Test cricket,” Johnson said. The pacer proved to be Australia’s trump card as they reclaimed the Ashes at home with a 5-0 thrashing of England. He finished as the leading bowler with 37 wickets and his lethal spells continued in South Africa, where he yet again finished on top of the wicket charts with 22 scalps, guiding Australia to a 2-1 series win. Australia’s next Test series will be against Pakistan in the UAE in October, before they host India for four Tests. (PTI)
Phelps ends retirement ahead of Rio
NEW YORK: Michael Phelps, the most decorated swimmer of all time, will come out of retirement next week, the clearest signal yet that he is getting ready to make an Olympic comeback at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. The American, who has not competed since the 2012 London Games, will headline an April 24-26 meet in Mesa, Arizona, with fellow Olympians Ryan Lochte and Katie Ledecky, USA Swimming said in a statement on Monday. Phelps’s return to the pool touched off a wave of excitement on social media that added more fuel to speculation that the 28-year-old is planning to compete in Brazil, but his longtime coach did little to fan the flames. “I don’t think anybody knows,” Bob Bowman told Reuters in a phone interview when asked if Phelps’s return to competitive swimming was a step toward swimming at the 2016 Olympics. (Reuters)