Olympic Newsdesk -- Vuvuzelas Will Remain at World Cup; Rare Loss for IOC at CAS; Rio Office Opens in Lausanne

Blatter Won’t Ban Vuvuzelas

FIFA president Sepp Blatter says the distinctive vuvuzelas can continue to blare at World Cup matches.

The plastic horns are a fixture at South African football matches. Blatter said on Twitter "I have always said that Africa has a different rhythm, a different sound. I don’t see banning the music traditions of fans in their own country. Would you want to see a ban on the fan traditions in your country?"

A ban on the horns was considered after broadcasters and players both complained about the vuvuzelas. Broadcasters say the horns drown out the other crowd noise while players say they can’t hear team members which negatively impacts their performance.

CAS Confirms IOC Loss in Doping Appeal is Rare Event

The Court of Arbitration for Sport says last week’s overturning of an IOC Disciplinary Commission decision is a rare event.

In an email to Around the Rings, Katy Hogg, a CAS spokeswoman said to the best of the court’s knowledge, only two other appeals of an IOC Disciplinary Commission have been overturned.

Norwegian Olympic Committee, Thomas Alsgaard et al vs. IOC and Canadian Olympic Association & Beckie Scott vs. IOC were overturned following the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

Hogg pointed out "However, the IOC disciplinary procedure at that time might have been different to the one currently in force."

Vadim Devyatovskiy and Ivan Tsikhan of Belarus failed drug tests at the Beijing Olympics. The Disciplinary Commission ruled that the two must return their silver and bronze medals from the hammer throw.

The ruling last week by CAS said irregularities in the drug lab’s testing procedures should nullify the results.

In a statement, CAS "emphasized" that its ruling does not prove that the athletes did not dope.

Former IOC Official to Lead Rio Lausanne Office

Rio de Janeiro organizers plan to announce the opening of a new office in Lausanne next week when they report to the IOC Executive Board.

Around the Rings understands that the two-person office will be led by Francoise Zweifel, who worked for years as secretary general for the IOC, stepping down after Juan Antonio Samaranch retired in 2001.

Since then, she worked with the Rio bid, helping with international relations.

The office is charged with coordinating the organizing committee’s work with the IOC. It will open later this month. Rio de Janeiro is believed to be the first Olympic host city to have an office in Lausanne.

Gold Medalist Stalker Convicted

Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson’s stalker was convicted June 11 of felony stalking, burglary charges and two misdemeanor concealed weapons violations.

Robert O’Ryan traveled to Los Angeles to meet her in March as she was filming "Dancing with the Stars".

He was arrested in an ABC studio lot after jumping a fence. Police found love letters, two loaded guns, duct tape and a map inhis car.

O’Ryan pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and waived his right to a jury trial. O’Ryan was found to be legally insane at the time of his arrest. He could serve his sentence at a mental hospital.

Johnson won gold in the 2008 Olympic Women’s Gymnastics competition.

Briefs...

...The IAAF Diamond League will be known as the Samsung Diamond League after the electronics giant signed on as the title sponsor for the next two seasons. Samsung will sponsor the league beginning this year and has the option to extend for another year. The Diamond League is IAAF’s premier athletics competition with meets taking place around the world.

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Written by Ed Hula III.