21 November 2018

Sports Integrity Briefs – 21 November 2018

• The PGA Tour and Vijay Singh yesterday settled a case involving his suspension on 19 February 2013, after he admitted using ‘deer antler spray’ in a 29 January 2013 Sports Illustrated article. Singh had launched a lawsuit against the PGA Tour, alleging that it failed to contact the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prior to suspending him. On 5 February 2013, WADA issued a statement clarifying that as deer antler spray may contain the prohibited substance Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), it could lead to a positive test, but it did not consider the spray itself as prohibited. Singh argued that IGF-1 can only be introduced into human physiology through injection, and he had used the spray orally. ‘The parties will make no statement concerning the settlement terms resolving this matter’, read yesterday’s joint statement.

• The Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) has sanctioned Ruben Blanco Rodriguez with a six month ban for breaching its betting regulations. Rodriguez, who plays for Europa, is one of eight players and three coaches set to be banned for breaches of betting rules, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle. It is understood that between 35 and 42 players and coaches have been involved in the investigation, which has been conducted in partnership with the police.

Lou Ann Simon, former President of Michigan State University (MSU), has been charged due to allegations that she lied to State police during investigations into Larry Nassar, reports The Guardian. Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics (USAG) and MSU doctor, was sentenced to between 40 and 175 years in prison in January, after pleading guilty to charges of sexual misconduct. In October, allegations emerged that Steve Penny, former President of USAG, had tampered with evidence during the investigation into Nassar.

• The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has announced that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed Nicola Ruffoni’s appeal against a four year ban. In October 2017, Italy’s National Anti-Doping Agency (NADO Italia) confirmed that a four year ban had been imposed on Ruffoni after he and fellow Italian cyclist, Stefano Pirrazi, were provisionally suspended by the UCI following adverse analytical findings (AAFs) for growth hormone releasing peptides (GHRPs) on 25 April 2017. The ban was upheld by the UCI on 14 December 2017.

• England’s Football Association (FA) has confirmed that it is investigating allegations of corruption concerning Fulham FC, reports The Independent. Allegations of corruption were made against the Premier League club by its former Assistant Director of Football, Craig Kline, through his Twitter account. Kline resigned from Fulham a year ago. Both Fulham and club owner Shahid Khan deny allegations that they were involved in corruption.

• Andy Brown, the Editor of The Sports Integrity Initiative, will be attending UEFA’s Anti-Doping Symposium in London, which takes place tomorrow and Friday. A summary of the main issues discussed, outlined in the programme below, will appear on The Sports Integrity Initiative.

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