Olympic Newsdesk-- UCI Congress; Cheune Keeps Post

UCI president Pat McQuaid addresses the UCI congress in Lugano, Switzerland after winning re-election to a second term. (Getty Images)McQuaid Vows “Endless Fight” Against Doping

International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid said the fight against doping will continue to be a major priority after winning a second four-year term as President at the UCI Congress in Lugano, Switzerland on Friday.

McQuaid, who was first elected in 2005, was unopposed in his bid for a second term.

The UCI president said doping remains an issue despite an apparently drug-free Tour de France this year.

“It is an endless fight for the UCI and one which I am determined that the UCI will continue,” McQuaid said in a speech to the congress.

“There is no place for cheats in our sport. We have had a good Tour de France and at this stage, I am not aware, for the first time in years, that there are any positive controls.”

The UCI congress is being held in conjunction with the world road cycling championship in nearby Mendrisio.

South African Athletics Chief to Keep Job

Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene will not lose his job after admitting he lied about his role in the gender test conducted on world women’s 800-meter champion Caster Semeneya. Athletics South Africa gives President Leonard Chuene a vote of confidence. (Getty Images)

Chuene will retain his post after receiving a vote of confidence from the Athletics South Africa council on Thursday.

“Mr Cheune is the president of Athletics South Africa. I can confirm that,” said ASA board member Chris Britz in an interview with the Associated Press.

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress criticized the decision, adding that it was expecting ASA to censure all leaders who were involved in the Semenya case.

A governement spokesman told the AP that the ASA “failed to rise up to the expectations above, thereby failing the South African public, Caster Semenya and the sporting fraternity.”

Cheune has been under fire since admitting last week that he lied when he denied knowledge of gender tests conducted on Semenya in South Africa, with politicians, newspaper editorials and other sports organization calling for his dismissal.

Two Golds for Japan at Wrestling Worlds

Japan led the way with two gold medals in the women’s competition at the world wrestling championships in Herning, Denmark on Thursday.

Saori Yoshida won the 55 kg weight class and Mio Nishimaki claimed the 63 kg title for Japan.

Other weight class champions crowned were Azerbaijan’s Yuliya Ratkevic Saori Yoshida won one of Japan’s two gold medals in the women’s competition at the world wrestling championships. (Getty Images)( 59 kg) and Russia’s Martine Dugrenier (67 kg).

During Thursday’s session, wrestling federation FILA honored its best wrestlers of 2008 – Ukraine’s Vasyl Federishin (free style), Azerbaijan’s Royshan Bayramov (greco roman) and Bulgaria’s Stanka Zlateva (female wrestling), as well as 3-time Olympic champion Banasar Saitiev.

The world championships continue on Saturday with the beginning of the Greco-Roman competition.

Briefs…

…Switzerland’s Fabien Cancellara won the gold medal in the men’s elite time trial at the UCI road world championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland on Thursday. Around 23,000 spectators were on hand to watch Cancellara ride to victory on the 49.8km course. Kristin Armstrong of the United States won the women’s time trial on Wednesday.

…A Russian court sentenced the man convicted of killing Russian Olympic gold medal cyclist Dmitry Nelyubin to 18 years in prison on Friday, according to a report in ITAR-Tass. Alim Azhagoyev was sentenced in a city court in St. Petersburg for the New Year’s Day 2005 murder of Nelyubin, who won a gold medal in team track cycling at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

Written by Greg Oshust.

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