Omega Reconsiders Tyson Gay; Snooker Targets Olympics

Omega Reconsidering Tyson Gay Sponsorship

Following the confirmation he used performance-enhancing drugs, Tyson Gay seems poised to lose another sponsorship, Around the Rings understands.

TOP Sponsor Omega said in a statement to ATR, it is "very difficult" to consider extending its sponsorship of the sprinter.

"OMEGA was disappointed to learn that its brand ambassador Tyson Gay was notified by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) that he had tested positive for a banned substance," a spokesperson said in an email.

"OMEGA supports fairness in sport and we are categorically opposed to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

"We respect Tyson Gay as a person, but in the current circumstances it would be very difficult to consider continuing our collaboration."

Adidas said it would suspend its sponsorship shortly after the news of his PED use was announced.

His website lists only those two companies under his sponsorships.

Baseball Softball React to MLB Suspensions

The World Baseball Softball Confederation praised Major League Baseball’s "aggressive action" in a statement on the suspensions handed down yesterday.

The WBSC echoed a statement earlier made by the World Anti-Doping Agency calling MLB a "valuable partner to WADA in the fight against doping in sport."

Twelve players received 50-game suspensions for their roles in the scandal, while New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez received a 211-game suspension. It is the longest suspension handed out by MLB for performance-enhancing drug use.

"Moreover, MLB has worked in partnership with us to adopt anti-doping policies and practices for the World Baseball Classic that are in full compliance with the WADA Code, including blood testing, which shows the seriousness and strength of their overall commitment," said the WBSC in a statement.

"We believe these actions, which are in line with the Olympic Movement's united fight against doping in sport, will only serve to strengthen the case for baseball and softball's inclusion on the Olympic program."

Snooker Targets 2028

Snooker’s commercial rights-holder believes the sport could be included in the 2028 Olympics.

"It’s going to take us between 15-20 years to get into the Olympics, but we are going to get there," World Snooker commercial director Miles Pearce told SportBusiness International.

World Snooker joined the World Confederation of Billiard Sports and received IOC recognition this past year.

Snooker hopes to be reintroduced into the Asian Games program after a successful World Games in Cali, Colombia.

"The great thing about the amalgamation of snooker, pool and carom billiards (through the WCBS) is you tick off everything the Olympic authority is looking for. So the International Olympic Committee (IOC) get its high broadcast penetration as well as great grassroots support."

North Korea to Compete at Sochi

North Korea is planning to compete in its ninth Winter Olympics next year.

Ri Gen Sam, deputy head of North Korea’s leading army sports club made the announcement in an interview with Russian news agency ITAR-TASS.

"We hope that the upcoming Sochi Olympics will become an important event for development of friendship and sports exchanges between different countries," he said, but declined to say what events the Communist country would compete in.

Written by Ed Hula III and Aaron Bauer.

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