´óÏó´«Ã½

´óÏó´«Ã½ BLOGS - Matt Slater

Archives for April 2009

Beijing busts are better late than never

Post categories: ,Ìý

Matt Slater | 18:27 UK time, Thursday, 30 April 2009

at the Beijing Olympics. Kenya climbed from 15th to 13th in the , Switzerland from 35th to 33rd and New Zealand squeezed into the top 25.

That, and the personal accolades involved, is the good news.

The bad news is that the finished over eight months ago and these adjustments to the medal tally only came about because two medal-winners have just been uncovered as drugs cheats.

If Bahraini athlete and Italian cyclist thought they had got away with it in China they have been given an almighty, but overdue, shock.

These two were the biggest losers when the results of the 's (IOC) re-tests of 948 blood and urine samples taken in Beijing were announced on Tuesday.

Read the rest of this entry

Woodward's shot at Olympic contribution

Post categories:

Matt Slater | 23:26 UK time, Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Like , reports of Sir Clive Woodward's demise at the over the last couple of years have been greatly exaggerated. I should know; .

The good news is that Clive is alive and thriving at Team GB HQ, a place he has no intention of leaving until after .

It also seems he might at last be given a chance to actually do something, although I should qualify that statement before I'm permanently placed in Woodward's pile.

The 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning coach is finally going to be allowed to do what most people thought he would be doing for our Olympic athletes (and what he himself has so desperately wanted to do), and that's coach them.

Read the rest of this entry

Wembley may welcome women's boxing

Post categories: ,Ìý

Matt Slater | 16:17 UK time, Friday, 24 April 2009

Trips abroad to see "the big five" is the kind of thing honeymooners do so it was fitting that this week ended with a love-in.

But just like icebergs and synchronised swimming, the real business during these visits happens below the surface.

While team can be proud of what they've achieved in they will know there are still punches to be ducked and the first is likely to come from the Olympic boxing fraternity.

One of the items discussed this week was the decision to scrap plans to build a temporary venue for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics in North Greenwich.

Those sports will now be squeezed into the , the cavernous barn in London's that recently hosted the , alongside the likes of fencing and table tennis.

Read the rest of this entry

´óÏó´«Ã½ iD

´óÏó´«Ã½ navigation

´óÏó´«Ã½ © 2014 The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.