Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/680790
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 2016 20 Sport SPORTTODAY OLYMPICS FOOTBALL IOC reveals 31 new doping cases from 12 countries out of Beijing THIRTY one athletes from six sports could be banned from this year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics after 454 doping samples were re-tested from the 2008 Bei- jing Olympics, the International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday. The IOC also said it would start re-testing Sochi 2014 winter Games samples after allegations of tarnished samples surfaced last week. In an effort to crack down on cheats during the Olympics, the IOC said those found to have test- ed positive for banned substances would not be competing in Rio. "The aim is to stop any drugs cheats coming to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro," it said. An IOC official told Reuters no names would be made public at this stage until athletes had been informed and a second sample, or B-sample, tested as well. The re-tests, a regular proce- dure by the IOC as it looks to re-test using newer methods or looking for new substances, were carried out in conjunction with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and international fed- erations. They focussed on athletes who could potentially take part in the Rio Games, the first to be held on the South American continent. Twelve national Olympic as- sociations will be informed in the coming days, the IOC said. Another 250 samples will be re- tested from the London 2012 Olympics. The IOC said it had called on the WADA to launch a "fully f ledged investigation" into al- legations that testing during the Sochi 2014 winter Olympics by the on-site accredited laboratory had been subverted. The former head of Russia's anti-doping agency Grigory Rod- chenkov claimed last week that the Sochi lab had tampered with samples. "All these measures are a power- ful strike against the cheats we do not allow to win. They show once again that dopers have no place to hide," said IOC President Thomas Bach. "The re-tests from Beijing and London and the measures we are taking following the worrying al- legations against the laboratory in Sochi are another major step to protect the clean athletes, ir- respective of any sport or any na- tion." "By stopping so many doped athletes from participating in Rio we are showing once more our de- termination to protect the integ- rity of the Olympic competitions, including the Rio anti-doping lab- oratory, so that the Olympic mag- ic can unfold in Rio de Janeiro." Urine samples from Chinese athletes are recorded upon arriving at China's Anti-Doping Agency in Beijing in June 2008 Diego Costa, Juan Mata & Fernando Torres left out of Spain squad PREMIER League-based trio Diego Costa, Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla were among a list of high-profile absentees for de- fending champions Spain when coach Vicente Del Bosque named his provisional 25-man squad for Euro 2016 on Tuesday. Atletico Madrid striker Fernan- do Torres also failed to make the cut despite showing improved form towards the end of the sea- son, as did Valencia forward Paco Alcacer, who is overlooked de- spite being top scorer in Spain's qualifying campaign. "We didn't want to have an overload of players who were in an uncertain situation. We pre- ferred not to bring them," Del Bosque told a news conference on Tuesday. Costa injured his hamstring against Liverpool in Chelsea's pe- nultimate game of the season. Also missing from the squad are Barcelona's Sergi Roberto and Villarreal's Mario Gaspar, who were involved in the March friendlies against Italy and Ro- mania. Uncapped pair Atletico Ma- drid midfielder Saul Niguez, who scored a breathtaking individual goal in the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Mu- nich, and Real Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez are called up for the first time. They are joined at the age of 35 by Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz, who scored 36 goals this season, and was named in a squad for a major tournament for the first time. Spain will play three more friendlies, against Bosnia, South Korea and Georgia, before be- ginning the defence of their title against the Czech Republic on June 13. Del Bosque also named an 11- man reserve list -- including Ar- senal defender Hector Bellerin -- who will join the squad on May 23 to compensate for the absence of the 17 players still involved in domestic and European competi- tions. The team for that Group D opener will become clearer after the Georgia friendly, when the players involved in the Champi- ons League final between the two Madrid clubs become available. Del Bosque's easiest selec- tion decision is in defence, with a back four of Juanfran, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba practically assured, not- withstanding injuries. But who will be in goal behind them remains less certain. Del Bosque has shown continued loyalty to captain Iker Casillas despite the veteran's difficult sea- son with Porto, although David de Gea is in far better form. Andres Iniesta, Koke, Sergio Busquets and Cesc Fabregas are in pole position to start in mid- field with David Silva further for- ward and Alvaro Morata the lone striker, despite having made just 16 league starts with Juventus. Provisional Spain squad for Eu- ro 2016GoalkeepersIker Casillas (Porto)David de Gea (Manches- ter United)Sergio Rico (Sevilla) DefendersSergio Ramos (Real Madrid)Gerard Pique (Barcelo- na)Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) Jordi Alba (Barcelona)Marc Bar- tra (Barcelona) Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea) Mikel San Jose (Athletic Club) Juanfran (Atletico Madrid)Mid- fieldersBruno Soriano (Villar- real)Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) Koke (Atletico Madrid)Thiago (Bayern)Andrés Iniesta (Barcelo- na)David Silva (Manchester City) Isco (Real Madrid)Pedro (Chel- sea)Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea) Saul Niguez (Atlético Madrid) ForwardsAritz Aduriz (Athletic Club)Nolito (Celta Vigo)Alvaro Morata (Juventus)Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) Spain's head coach Vicente del Bosque announces his squad for Euro 2016