CYCLING: The International Cycling Union has announced plans for a radical new anti-doping measure to combat the use of EPO, reports Shane Stokes. The measures, which will be introduced in March and thus cover races from the spring classics onwards, feature a combined protocol of random blood testing, urine tests and a modification to the current rules governing hematocrit (red blood cell) levels.
Under the new regulation, riders whose hematocrit reading is above 47 per cent will be required to provide a urine sample, which will be analysed for traces of EPO. In addition, the UCI will continue to enforce the current practice of suspending riders whose hematocrit levels are above 50 per cent. The measures rank among the strictest anti-doping measures introduced by an international sporting federation.
RUGBY: Buccaneers RFC have announced the appointment of Simon Allnutt as coach in place of the recently-resigned Brian Rigney. Allnutt, a New Zealander, who joined the club from Corinthians in 1997, was a key figure in the club's rise from Division Three to Division One in successive seasons.
SKIING: A bag said to belong to the Finnish Ski Association and containing doping products was found in Helsinki and turned over to police last week, the Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat reported yesterday.
The bag contained some 30 vials of drugs, some of which had been prescribed by Finnish Ski Association team doctor Juha-Pekka Turpeinen and some of which were classified as banned substances, the newspaper alleged.
Among the drugs was plasma-expanding hydroxyethyl (HES) starch, a banned bloodthinner for which Finnish skier Jari Isometsa tested positive last week at the World Nordic Championships in Lahti. He was disqualified.
HOCKEY: While Nigel Henderson, Gordon Elliott and Justin Sherriff will be away in Bangladesh with the Irish squad next month, Pembroke Wanderers are set to play Corinthians in the Leinster Senior Cup final on the scheduled date, St Patrick's Day, writes Dermot Ashmore.
This decision, made by the branch management committee, will be to Corinthians' advantage with their powerful Australian contingent capable of earning winners' medals but Pembroke, the trophy holders, will be hoping that the reserve players in the squad can make the most of the occasion.
League leaders Pembroke, though, will be granted postponements for their next three championship fixtures but Glenanne, without Ireland midfielder Stephen Butler, will be obliged to continue with their programme as they battle with Corinthians for second place in the run-up to the all-Ireland play-offs. This includes a game against YMCA next Saturday which will be a "rehearsal" for the Irish Senior Cup final on April 7th.
