• Two people close to the entourage of Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana are understood to be in custody following a police search at the Arkea Samsic team hotel last week, according to a statement reported by Reuters. It is understood that following the search, investigators are examining the administration and prescription of a prohibited method without medical justification, as well as confiscated health products and drugs. Emmanuel Hubert, General Manager of the Arkea Samsic team, has confirmed that a police search took place at the team hotel during the Tour de France last week. “It concerned only a very limited number of riders as well as their close entourage, which are not employed by the team”, he said in a statement. “We support – of course – our riders, but it has turned out that after the ongoing investigation, elements confirm the veracity of doping practices”. A statement from the international cycling union (UCI) ‘welcomed’ the action from France’s Central Office for the Fight against Environmental and Public Health Damage (OCLAESP). 

• Jabulani Nxumalo, President of the Umkhanyakude Region, has been murdered, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced. “From what I have gathered so far, this cold-blooded assassination looked like it was a well-planned hit”, said KZN SAFA Provincial Chairman, Kwenzakwakhe Ngwenya, who survived an attempt on his life in 2018 ahead of the SAFA Elective Congress. “A lot of our members have been receiving all sorts of threats and we are going to report this to the police commissioner to look into these incidents”, said SAFA President Danny Jordaan. “Nxumalo’s killing and the various threats on our members are not isolated incidents but well-orchestrated and this must stop. These latest threats started to grow in March and some disgruntled individuals even solicited the support of one political party to push a hate agenda against the elected leadership. The SAFA NEC will come up with a united position after Saturday’s meeting on this disturbing trend.”

• The Cyprus Sports Ethics Committee is investigating whether match-fixing played a part in Apollon Limasol’s 3-1 victory over Anorthosis Famagusta on Sunday, reports the Cyprus Mail. A statement from Anorthosis Famagusta dismissed the claims as ‘ridiculous’, adding that they may be related to an argument with AC Omonia President Stavros Papastavrou about corruption in Cypriot football earlier this month. The Sports Ethics Committee has also asked Papastavrou to provide evidence for his comments about corruption.

• The New York State Gaming Commission has voted to uphold a 20 year suspension of Michael Temming’s harness training licence, after two of his horses returned positive tests for a blood doping agent. In a July hearing, the violations were established and a 20 year ban was imposed.

In post-race testing two horses trained by Temming were found to have the blood doping agent iOX2 in their systems.

— NYSGamingCommission (@NYSGamingComm) September 21, 2020

Following a hearing in July of this year, the Hearing Officer determined that the violations were established and that Temming’s licensed should be suspended for 20 years.

— NYSGamingCommission (@NYSGamingComm) September 21, 2020

The Commission duly deliberated and considered this matter and determined by a 5-0 vote to sustain Hearing Officer’s report.

— NYSGamingCommission (@NYSGamingComm) September 21, 2020