Federations Roundup -- New USATF COO; FEI Bans Norwegian Rider

The hiring of Michael McNees as chief operating officer is the latest change made by USA Track & Field.

(Getty Images)USATF Names McNees Chief Operating Officer

USA Track & Field continued its restructuring by selecting Michael McNees as its new chief operating officer, effective March 1, 2009.

The hiring of the 53-year-old McNees, currently the administrator of Blaine County, Idaho, is the latest change made by USATF. The organization has selected a new chief executive officer (Doug Logan), elected a new president (Stephanie Hightower) and restructured its board of directors – reducing the number of members from 31 to 15 – this year.

As chief operating officer, McNees will be the chief deputy to Logan, supervising USATF’s administration, operations and marketing department and will be the chief staff liaison with its newly-revamped board.

“Bringing Michael McNees on board is the first, crucial step for remaking USATF as a highly functioning business,” Logan said. “He has a unique blend of qualities that make him extraordinarily well-suited for the particular challenges of this new role. He truly understands our sport on every level, and most important, he understands how to make even the most complex public bodies function on the highest levels.”

Adds McNees, “I am thrilled to take on the new challenge, which will enable me to apply my professional skills to the sport that has been so instrumental in making me the person I am today. I am energized about the possibilities for USA Track & Field and I look forward to having a role in fulfilling Doug’s vision for the sport.”

FEI Bans Norwegian Rider for Doping

The International Equestrian Federation has banned Norwegian rider Tony Andre Hansen for four and a half months and stripped him of the bronze medal he won at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing after his horse Camiro tested positive for capsaicin, an illegal substance.

Norweigan rider Tony Andre Hansen was given a three and a half year ban by the International Equestrian Federation for doping. (Getty Images)Hansen, whose ban began retroactively on Aug. 21 and lasts through Jan. 2, 2009, was also fined $2,653 by FEI.

The Norwegian rider was one of four equestrians whose horses tested positive for capsaicin at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Hansen can appeal the ban and fine to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 30 days.

IAAF Sets Golden League Events for 2009

The IAAF has set six meets and 10 events for its 2009 AF Golden League series, where a grand prize of $1 million will be at stake.

Athletes will try to win the $1 million in the men’s 100-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 3,000-meter run, 5,000-meter run, 110-meter hurdles and javelin throw and the women’s 100, 400, 100 hurdles, high jump and pole vault. The competitors have to win one of the events in all six meets to claim the jackpot.

Said IAAF President Lamine Diack, “As usual, we have tried to ensure an interesting mix of events qualifying for the $1 million AF Golden League Jackpot as this is the surest way to add interest to what is already shaping up to be an exciting 2009 season. We are all excited at the prospect of seeing the most charismatic stars of our sport in action on the AF Golden League stage.”

The Golden League meets will be held in Berlin (June 14), Oslo, Norway (July 3), Rome (July 10), Paris (July 17), Zurich, Switzerland (Aug. 28) and Brussels, Belgium (Sept. 4).

Nadal, Jankovic Named 2008 ITF World Champions

The International Tennis Federation has named Rafael Nadal of Spain and Jelena Jankovic of Serbia its 2008 men’s and women’s world champions, the first time that either player has received the honor.

Serbian tennis player Jelena Jankovic is the International Tennis Federation’s 2008 women’s world champion. (Getty Images)The 22-year-old Nadal is the first Spanish player to be selected as men’s world champion. He won the French Open and Wimbledon championships, won the Olympic gold medal in men’s tennis at the Summer Olympics in Beijing and led Spain to the Davis Cup title.

The 23-year-old Jankovic is the first Serbian world champion, having reached her Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open and won four tournaments this year. She also helped Serbia qualify for the World Group in the Fed Cup for the first time and represented the country in the Olympics.

Nadal and Jankovic will receive their awards at the annual ITF World Champions dinner on June, 2, 2009 during the French Open in Paris.

BWF Reaches Sponsorship Deal with YONEX Japan

The Badminton World Federation has agreed to a four-year sponsorship deal with YONEX Japan, making the company the official badminton court and equipment supplier for BWF events until 2012.

The deal covers all BWF Events for the next four years, including the World Championships, Thomas & Uber Cups, Sudirman Cup and World Junior and Senior Championships.

“This marks the 16th year of our relationship with YONEX,” BWF President Kang Young Joong said. “The YONEX relationship is a very important one for the BWF and the world badminton community. We are very pleased to be working with YONEX Japan again on our major events and we look forward to significant support towards London 2012.”

Aracu Re-Elected Italian Roller Sports Federation President

International Roller Sports Federation President Sabatino Aracu was re-elected president of the Italian Roller Sports Federation Sabatino Aracu was re-elected president of the Italian Roller Sports Federation. (FIRS)at its General Assembly in Rome last weekend.

Aracu won 77 percent of the votes to defeat Ferrucio Govoni and earn another four-year term, with his supporters maintaining control of the executive board.

“I’m honored by the fact that after so many years, the clubs still want to entrust me and my team with the job of leading the federation – it is a sign of appreciation of the work that we have carried out,” Aracu said.

As FIRS president, Aracu is spearheading roller sports’ campaign for inclusion in the program at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Briefs…

…Jon Deeble, who was the manager of Australia’s silver-medal winning baseball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, will return to manage the Australian team at the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Deeble, who has been the Australian National Team manager since 2000, will lead a six man coaching staff that includes former Major League Baseball players Graeme Lloyd and Pat Kelly. Australia will play in Pool B of the World Baseball Classic in Mexico City along with host Mexico, South Africa and Cuba.

…Alltech expanded its sponsorship role with the International Equestrian Federation. The global animal health and nutrition company agreed to sponsor the 2009 FEI European Jumping & Dressage Championships, which will be held at Windsor Castle in England Aug. 25-30. Alltech, which is already the sponsor of the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, is now the title sponsor of two of the federation’s largest championships.

…Germán Vaccaro has been selected by the Argentinean Basketball Confederation as its new president for a four-year term. Vaccaro, who was CABB vice president, succeeds Horacio Muratore, who is stepping down as president after 16 years in office and will remain with the federation as its honorary president. Muratore will also continue to work for FIBA and FIBA Americas.

…The Paraguayan Basketball Confederation selected Ricardo Ozuna and Marta Peralta as its male and female players of the year for 2008. Ozuna was the leading scorer in Liga Metropolitana, while Peralta led Paraguay in scoring in the South American U15 Championship for Women. The federation also named Juan Pablo Feliu, of Paraguayan national champion Sol de America, as its coach of the year.

…Rowing New Zealand has named Simon Peterson, the head of Sport Auckland, as its new chief executive. Peterson replaces Craig Ross, who resigned in September after being convicted of knowingly using forged documents to gain around $210,000 worth of charitable grants for RNZ. Peterson has also been chairman of Paralympics New Zealand since 2002.

Written by Greg Oshust.