Mayer Arrested for Doping
The Austrian biathlon coach who was caught in the middle of a doping imbroglio during the Turin Olympics was arrested for doping over the weekend.
According to a Reuters report, Walter Mayer was arrested by Austrian authorities for suspicion of distributing EPO and other drugs to athletes. The pharmacists who sold Mayer the drugs were also arrested.
Vienna state prosecutor Gerhard Jarosch would not release any information on the athletes who may have received drugs from Mayer.
On Friday, an Austrian cyclist who received EPO from the same pharmacist was arrested.
Mayer was involved in doping scandals at the Salt Lake City and Turin Games, leading to a suspension that lasts through the 2010 Games.
Commonwealth Games Organizers Confident about Security
Organizers of the 2010 Commonwealth Games are adamant that the games will be secure.
New Delhi 2010 Vice President and Indian Olympic Association and Olympic Council of Asia Secretary General Randhir Singh said "the highest level of security" will be provided.
A terrorist attack in neighboring Pakistan forced the lucrative Indian Premier League cricket competition to be moved to other countries. The attack claimed the lives of six police officers and injured several members of the touring Sri Lankan Cricket Team.
"We're confident of the security arrangements during the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi," Singh said in an Associated Press report. "The security plans are being closely monitored by a high-powered committee headed by the country's top Home Ministry bureaucrat.
"Top-level security will be in place for athletes and spectators. We'll make no compromises in delivering a smooth and safe Commonwealth Games," he said.
Additionally, security is being monitored by the Commonwealth Games Federation and the CGF is also confident in the New Delhi’s preparations.
CGF President Michael Fennell told Around the Rings last week, "We are very satisfied at the attention being paid and that they are taking it very seriously.
"Like any big event that’s taking place, security is a very major concern. Anybody who is organizing any major event anywhere in the world has to pay a lot of attention to security and so are we. And this has been highlighted by the situation which happened in Lahore [Pakistan] a couple weeks ago."
Briefs…
... Japan will attempt to win a second consecutive World Baseball Classic title as it plays Korea in the tournament final at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles today at 6 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time). The game will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Japan defeated the U.S. 9-4 and Korea beat Venezuela 10-2 in the semifinals on Sunday in L.A.
Written by Ed Hula III.