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Roy Hodgson hits back at Gary Lineker and defends long-ball tactics

Englands manager, Roy Hodgson, has said he is disappointed by Gary Linekers criticism after his players drew 0-0 in Ukraine with negative tactics Page2

Hillsborough: police, FA, council and club could face manslaughter charges

Lead detective reveals scale of investigation, which will be pursued under 1989 gross negligence manslaughter law Page3

Bradley Wiggins almost quit 2012 Tour de France, says Sean Yates

According to a new book, Bradley Wiggins was so upset after an unplanned attack by his team Sky team-mate Chris Froome that he wanted to leave the 2012 Tour de France Page4

Heineken Cup heads towards mediation but at least everyone is talking Page5 Floyd Mayweather cashes in as Oscar De La Hoya fights his demons Page6

Essendon confident of keeping hold of players Page7 Jessica Smith uses Paralympic pain to fight body image dangers Page7

Waca loses Test for India series in 201415 Page9 Lance Armstrong and Chris Froome are supreme athletes, says Sean Yates Page9

Ricky Stuart leaves Parramatta Eels for Canberra Raiders Page10

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Roy Hodgson hits back at Gary Lineker and defends long-ball tactics
England manager instructed players to bypass midfield Disappointed by former England captains sniping
Daniel Taylor

Englands manager, Roy Hodgson, looks on during the World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in Kiev on Tuesday. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA Roy Hodgson has admitted he deliberately set out his England team to play long-ball football in the World Cup qualifier against Ukraine that has led to prolonged criticism of the teams methods under his management tinyurl.com/pcpxpna . Hodgson said he had given his team specific instructions not to attempt to play the ball around in their own half and instead to hit it long to Rickie Lambert, bypassing midfield if necessary, and then look for the knockdowns. The England manager made the admission, explaining it as tactical, as he sought to defend his team in the wake of Tuesdays 0-0 draw in Kiev tinyurl.com/qykkqtu , a result that keeps England top of Group H but with their chances of qualification still on a knife-edge. Hodgsons information was that Ukraine played a high pressing game and, to counter this, his players were encouraged to play the ball over the top rather than risk being caught in possession. Did we play longer balls forward early? Yes, we did. We didnt want to play out from the back and invite pressure. That style of football was described as woeful by Gary Lineker, a former England captain, and Hodgson has responded by directing some criticisms of his own in the direction of the Match of the Day host. Im surprised anyone who has played for England, captained England and played in games of this nature can be that critical, he said. This is the second time. My disappointment would be that I saw Gary Lineker play, I remember him captaining the team and playing some great games for England but Im also pretty sure he played in some games when it wasnt that easy and I dont think every game he played for England was a total success. I try to placate most people but Im afraid Ive just seen a group of players missing seven first-team members beat Moldova 4-0 and come to Ukraine and draw 0-0. You can criticise us or praise us or do whatever you want to do but
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dont think youre going to put words into my mouth or get me agreeing with these opinions. Ive been in football for 38 years and I will stick to my opinions. You can have yours, he can have his and anyone else can have theirs for that matter. This is the beauty of football. There are 60 million opinions out there but I will be surprised if I am walking down the street in the next few weeks and people arent actually saying: You did well in those two games. Id be surprised. But well see. Hodgsons views were echoed by Frank Lampard who made his 100th appearance for his country in Kiev. The first thing here was not to lose and it was a shame that we couldnt win the game but we have to believe in ourselves that we can go and do it next month, said the Chelsea midfielder. While England top the group, they have managed victories against only the bottom two teams, Moldova and San Marino. The captain, Steven Gerrard, however, feels sure they will go on to finish in first position and qualify for Brazil. I am really confident we can go and get the job done. It was a really difficult game away from home in Ukraine. The manager asked for a clean sheet before the game. He asked us to be difficult to beat and make sure that the group was still in our hands after the game. We would have liked to have won but I have always been taught, since I was a young kid: if you cant win a match, make sure you dont lose it.

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Hillsborough: police, FA, council and club could face manslaughter charges
Lead detective reveals scale of investigation, which will be pursued under 1989 gross negligence manslaughter law
David Conn

The Liverpool flag at half mast by the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA Manslaughter charges could be brought against the South Yorkshire police force and senior officers on duty when 96 people died at the Hillsborough football stadium on 15 April 1989, according to the senior detective leading a new criminal investigation into the disaster. Speaking for the first time about what he labelled a criminal inquiry of unprecedented scale, Jon Stoddart, former chief constable of the Durham force, said his team were exploring the culpability of not just the police, but Sheffield Wednesday football club, the city council and the Football Association. All were being investigated for possible gross negligence manslaughter, he said. Stoddart is one of the countrys most experienced detectives. He oversaw a review into the new phone hacking investigation run by the Metropolitan police and for 10 years was the leading expert on homicide investigations in England and Wales. In an interview with the Guardian marking a year since the Hillsborough independent panel published a devastating report into the disaster, Stoddart said his criminal investigation was investigating all agencies involved in the tragedy. We are exploring all liability, both public and individual, he said. We are looking at unlawful killing; who is responsible for the deaths. Those 96 people went to Hillsborough to watch a football match and didnt return home. We want to know what happened, how it happened and why, and who is responsible. Obviously we are looking at the command and control [of the 54,000 crowd at Hillsborough by South Yorkshire police] on 15 April. But clearly it is about more than just command and control and what happened with the emergency services response. It is about the safety of the stadium, certification, the planning and preparation, the engineering and design that went into the Leppings Lane end [where the 96 people died]. His investigation, called Operation Resolve, is operating under the laws that existed in 1989, when organisations could be charged with gross negligence manslaughter if a single
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person was identifiably at fault as the controlling mind. The new crime of corporate manslaughter that entered the statute books in 2008 cannot be used retrospectively. The investigation will examine the role of Sheffield Wednesday football club, which offered to host the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at its ground despite serial breaches of the Home Office guide to ground safety and a safety certificate 10 years out of date. Sheffield city council, which was statutorily responsible for licensing the stadium as safe, and the FA, which commissioned the ground for its semi-final despite Hillsboroughs safety breaches and previous crushes at semi-finals there in 1981, 1987 and 1988, are also being investigated for potential manslaughter charges. Asked if South Yorkshire police, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield city council and the FA were being investigated for possible criminal culpability, Stoddart said: Yes, absolutely. Stoddart rejected any accusation that as a police officer he had any institutional sympathy for those on duty on the day in South Yorkshire. I have no qualms about this, he said. We are entirely independent. The office emphasised that his team, which will number 171 by the end of September, including approximately 50 serving police officers from eleven forces, has no connections with South Yorkshire police, West Midlands, or any other force which had an involvement with Hillsborough. For the investigation, which has a Home Office budget of 9.6m, Stoddart said he has sought police officers and other investigative staff with the very highest skills. He spoke as the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is running a parallel criminal inquiry into the actions of the police in the aftermath of the disaster, said they had been handed new evidence in the form of 90 pocket books written by South Yorkshire officers on duty on the day. In addition, the police watchdog said it had uncovered evidence that 238 police statements had been altered 74 more than previously believed and that witness accounts might have been amended by West Midlands police, who were charged with investigating the actions of the South Yorkshire force. Besides unlawful killing offences, Stoddart said other potential criminal offences under investigation include breaches of health and safety law, and for individuals working in public bodies, including the police: Misfeasance and malfeasance amounting to misconduct and neglect in public office. Misfeasance in public office is a criminal offence; it is a very serious offence, he said.While chief constable of Durham police, Stoddart was from 2002 the national Association of Chief Police Officers lead on policy, practice and training for homicide investigations. Two months after his retirement in October last year, the home secretary, Theresea May, appointed him to lead the new criminal investigation into Hillsborough. The panel report, based on more than 450,000 documents disclosed by South Yorkshire police, Sheffield Wednesday, the FA and other organisations, highlighted profound safety failings in the Leppings Lane end, on the day and in the years preceding the disaster, and a failure of the emergency services to provide prompt medical care. Yet the original investigation by West Midlands police, headed at the time by Geoffrey, now Lord Dear, resulted in no prosecutions of any organisation or individual for any offence.
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Stoddart said he recognised his new investigation into how the 96 people, most under 25, died under the care of South Yorkshire police at Hillsborough was incredibly important for confidence in the polices ability to scrupulously investigate the police. Terry Sweeney, Stoddarts deputy, is a serving assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester police, which has also seconded detective chief superintendent Gerry Donnellan to Operation Resolve. Criticised by solicitors representing 19 bereaved families this week for slow progress, Stoddart said his team had really pushed on to staff, structure and begin work on an investigation of unprecedented scale. His investigation is also providing evidence for the new inquest and Stoddart said they would meet the deadline set by the coroner, Lord Justice Godring, for the inquest to start by 31 March. Sweeney added: It is not about whether you are a police officer, a member of the [Sheffield city] council, or Sheffield Wednesday or the FA, the families deserve this issue to be investigated to the highest possible standard, with the best rigour and the most professional skills and abilities we have in the service. That is what we have to do. Whether [the people under investigation] are police or not, doesnt matter to us. South Yorkshire police told the Guardian in a statement: We continue to fully co-operate with all inquiries into the Hillsborough tragedy and will not be making any further comment so as not to compromise the investigations. Solicitors representing the former South Yorkshire police chief superintendent David Duckenfield, who was in command at Hillsborough, and superintendents Roger Marshall and Roger Greenwood, said it would be inappropriate to comment given the ongoing inquiries. Sheffield city council and the FA said they were co-operating with the Stoddart inquiry. Sheffield Wednesday declined to comment.

Thursday September 12 2013

14:01 GMT

Bradley Wiggins almost quit 2012 Tour de France, says Sean Yates
Chris Froomes attack on Stage 11 upset eventual winner Wiggins felt stabbed in the back by Team Sky team-mate
Press Association

Bradley Wiggins, according to the former Team Sky general manager Sean Yates, wanted to go home during the 2012 Tour de France. Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images Sir Bradley Wiggins felt that Chris Froome stabbed him in the back during a crucial stage at last years Tour de France, according to the former Team Sky general manager Sean Yates. Wiggins became Britains first Tour de France winner in 2012 and Froome rode to victory this year. He was Team Skys leader in 2012, but Froomes unplanned attack on stage 11 tinyurl.com/ nh3x4tc to the Alpine ski station of La Toussuire four kilometres from the end prompted Wiggins to send Yates a text message which, according to Yates, said: I think it would be better for everyone if I went home. Yates, in an extract from his new book serialised in the Times, said: He [Wiggins] was upset and felt like Froomey had stabbed him in the back after the discussion wed had before the stage [where it had been agreed Froome would attack only in the last 500 metres]. He couldnt understand why hed gone back on the agreement, especially when everything was going so well. There were only four kilometres left at that point and Brad went on to win by three minutes, so the maths say that he would still have been comfortably on top in Paris. However, his mental state was always fragile, and that psychological blow could have been a knockout one. Yates left Team Sky in October last year tinyurl.com/qxd7gbf after speaking with the team principal Dave Brailsford as part of his policy of zero tolerance to doping. The 53-year-old denies ever doping despite being on the same teams as the disgraced Lance Armstrong and Bjarne Riis. Yates said: Dave said to me, I am under pressure and having to answer questions about you. I said: OK Ill walk. I am not interested. I dont like the fact that people think I am some sort of baddie. I cant be dealing with that. Ill walk. End of story.

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Heineken Cup heads towards mediation but at least everyone is talking

Anglo-French initiative knocked back by RaboDirect Another TV rights war looms between BT and Sky
Paul Rees

Toulons captain Jonny Wilkinson celebrating with the trophy after the 2013 Heineken Cup final in Dublin. Photograph: Julien Behal/PA The dispute over the future of the Heineken Cup may be resolved by a mediator as the organisers of the tournament start planning a power summit that will bring the feuding parties together to work out a new agreement. The board of European Rugby Cup Ltd met in Dublin on Wednesday, little more than 12 hours after Premiership Rugby and the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, two bodies that in June last year gave the requisite two years notice to leave the Heineken Cup, issued a joint statement saying they would launch a new cross-border tournament for next season and, if anyone from the RaboDirect wanted to join them, they would be welcome. If the intention of the English and French clubs had been to prompt the three Celtic unions and Italy to resume Heineken Cup negotiations after a four-month impasse, it worked. The ERC board, which includes a representative each from Premiership Rugby and LNR, issued a statement which, if not exactly sympathetic to the clubs, had a note of urgency. It was agreed that negotiations towards a definitive solution needed to begin in earnest, said the ERC in a statement. It was pointed out that there was a range of proposals made by stakeholders, none of which were acceptable to all parties. Surprise was expressed at the timing and content of yesterdays media announcements [by the English and French clubs] and representatives of both bodies [Leicesters Peter Wheeler and Toulouses Ren Bouscatel] were invited to explain their positions. Wheeler and Bouscatel argued that, with the last round of talks over a new Heineken Cup held back in May, they were obliged to look at alternatives. While they reaffirmed their commitment to the negotiation process, they made it clear that taking part in a Heineken Cup that continued to be run by unions, with proceeds split six ways rather than divided between the three leagues that feed into the tournament, they would go their own way.
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If you spend two years hitting your head against a brick wall, sometimes you have to turn round and walk the other way, said the Gloucester chairman, Ryan Walkinshaw on Twitter. Its been two years that PRL and LNR have been trying to resolve Euro problems and we have been ignored. That is why we must act. The board meeting lasted more than three hours. While the four unions that make up the RaboDirect Pro 12 acknowledge there will need to be changes in the agreement, they are resolute in their opposition to the alternative competition planned by the English and French clubs. The four all emphasised they would not allow any of their teams to take part in it. The four Welsh regions and the Welsh Rugby Union are united in our ambition to make sure the Heineken Cup continues, said the WRU chief executive, Roger Lewis. We have always adopted a conciliatory tone to the negotiations. We realise there has to be give on both sides. We are prepared to consider a raft of possibilities for improving the competition but we now need to cut to the chase because the midnight hour is fast approaching. We agreed today all parties will sit around the table. I also said we will consider an external mediator to help us with the discussions and that was agreed in principle. In the coming weeks we will lock ourselves in a room and not leave it until a consensus is agreed on the way forward. There are two major points of difference. The first is the desire of PRL and LNR to reduce the number of teams taking part from 24 to 20 and divide revenue between the three leagues, rather than the six countries taking part. It would more than double the income of the French and English clubs while giving the RaboDirect unions a more modest increase of around six per cent. The second is the television contract. The Premiership clubs will take part in the Heineken Cup only if they are able to bring their broadcaster, BT, with them. ERC last year agreed a contract extension with Sky. Someone will have to climb down. PRL representatives met RFU officials on Wednesyesterday evening to discuss the impasse over the Heineken Cup. The union would need to give its consent to any new cross-border tournament and it will not commit itself as long as there is a prospect of a new Heineken Cup agreement being signed.

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Thursday September 12 2013

14:01 GMT

Floyd Mayweather cashes in as Oscar De La Hoya fights his demons

Mayweather faces De La Hoya protg Saul Alvarez De La Hoya will not watch fight as he is in rehab
Kevin Mitchell in Las Vegas

Floyd Mayweather Jr at a press conference as he prepares to fight Saul Canelo Alvarez on Saturday. Photograph: Steve Marcus/Reuters If Oscar De La Hoya is the self-named Golden Boy of boxing, Floyd Mayweather Jr is surely the sports golden goose. When Floyd is in town, everyone makes money. When they join forces, the cash flows like smooth honey. Whether Saul Canelo Alvarez is the man to cook that goose or not at the MGM Grand on Saturday night, De La Hoya, who signed the exciting young Mexican to a promotional contract in January, 2010, will not be there flashing his smile at ringside. Yet this is Mayweathers most dangerous assignment since he narrowly beat De La Hoya in the same ring six years ago and De La Hoya, seizing on the size of the task and the money to be made, has for weeks been ramping up his fighters chances. He desperately wanted to be there to watch his protg do what he could not, although that ambition puts him squarely at odds with Showtime, who last year took Mayweather away from HBO and signed him to a six-fight deal that could make him as much as $300m, fighting each May and September in the MGM Grand, until the day he quits the business. So clearly the substance addiction that has put De La Hoya into rehab must be serious. He shocked Las Vegas and the boxing community when he announced in a statement issued by his promotional company: I will not be at the fight this Saturday to cheer Canelo to victory, since I have voluntarily checked myself into a treatment facility. I explained this [to] Canelo and he understood that my health and long-term recovery from my disease comes first. His business partner, Richard Schaefer, described the fight at a catch weight of 152lbs to accommodate a small rise in poundage for Mayweather and a bigger drop for Alvarez, and for the Mexicans WBC light-middleweight belt as well as Mayweathers WBA version as, the biggest in many years. It has been difficult to put together, as Schaefer revealed: There were times during negotiations when I was not sure it was going to happen, said the former banker. It took a lot
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of hard work. But, when we closed Times Square and 10,000 people showed up for the first part of a 10-city tour, it was then I knew we had something special. There are two ways to view the absence of the copromoter: the cynical take is that there has been a fallout with Mayweather Promotions behind the scenes; the truth, says Schaefer, is more serious. The timing isnt the best, he said before the final press conference, but Im happy Oscar is going to get the help he needs. If you have the issues hes dealing with, you dont wait a week or two. This is an illness that demands an immediate response. Perhaps that explained probably the flattest pre-fight bash Mayweather has been involved in for a decade. In a quarterfilled auditorium in the MGM complex on a quiet Wednesday afternoon, there was no rancour between the fighters, no shouting from their teams and barely a ripple of applause from a mixed gathering of media and fans normally rammed with sycophants. Mayweathers trainers, his father Floyd Sr and uncle Roger, sat quietly in the half-dark at the side of the hall. Alvarez was a model of cool. Yet the fight, which Mayweather announced on Twitter on 29 May and which sold out within 24 hours, not only will again earn him north of $50m but might even wreck his spotless record. It is a fight not to miss. Sure its a risk to fight a guy that is younger and bigger than me but I love taking risks, Mayweather said. He craves excitement and he also loves the money and has taken an increasing interest in that side of his own fights. In the defining contests of his mid-career he spent a total of around 180 minutes defeating De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, tinyurl.com/ qyzlf9u Juan Manuel Mrquez, Shane Mosley, Victor Ortiz and Miguel Cotto. They earned him $180m. That is a million dollars a minute. You see that arena Saturday? he asked in an interview with the New York Times. Its all Mayweather money. Want a hot dog? Mayweather money. Want a T-shirt? Mayweather money. I need all that. Such avarice would represent danger for anyone but Mayweather, whose boxing skills remain peerless. It is only four months since his 44th bout, a masterclass points win over Robert Guerrero tinyurl.com/o98lpyw . Even at 37 he will take some beating.

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Thursday September 12 2013

14:01 GMT

Essendon confident of keeping hold of players

Bombers embroiled in supplements scandal Asada investigation still ongoing
Australian Associated Press

Football manager Danny Corcoran was suspended for four months and the AFL fined senior assistant coach Mark Thompson $30,000. Club doctor Bruce Reid was also charged and he has taken his case to the Supreme Court. Dodoro also said on Thursday that the Bombers are optimistic about re-signing ruckman Tom Bellchambers. They have also made a revised three-year offer to forward Stewart Crameri, who has attracted strong interest from the Western Bulldogs. We have increased our offer, but he does have a monster offer put in front of him from a rival club, Dodoro said. We need to respect that and he needs to make a decision. The Bombers added Tayte Pears, Jason Winderlich, Kyle Hardingham, Scott Gumbleton and Travis Colyer all remain out of contract.

Jessica Smith uses Paralympic pain to fight body image dangers

The swimmers medal hopes were hit by bulimia, and now she is educating others about eating disorders
Tristan Lavalette

Essendon say the supplements scandal hasnt discouraged players from staying at the club. Photograph: Dean Lewins/ AAP Image Essendon are confident no players want to leave because of the AFL clubs ongoing supplements scandal. The AFL Players Association is lobbying the league, arguing any Essendon player who wants out because of the crisis should be classified as a delisted free agent. That means the Bombers would not be entitled to any trade or draft compensation if the player goes to another club. But Essendon have posted on their club website, saying they have had no indication that any player wants to leave because of the ongoing Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (Asada) investigation. While the AFL hit the Bombers with severe penalties late last month, there is no indication when Asada will wrap up its investigation into the club. We have been in contact with every player agent that manages our players and we have not received any information that would suggest a player wants to leave the club under those circumstances whatsoever, said the Essendon list manager, Adrian Dodoro. Obviously at this time of year, there are players that are seeking opportunity but that is just usual business practice. As far as the Asada investigation is concerned, not one player wants to leave under those circumstances. While Essendon are yet to appoint their caretaker senior coach, Dodoro said the players were looking forward to next season. The players are all united and cant wait to get stuck into pre-season and, to be honest, every one is just looking forward to having a great year next year, Dodoro said. We are seeing a lot of boys filtering in already in their time off to do voluntary gym work and I think they are really looking forward to a big pre-season. The AFL suspended coach James Hird for 12 months and took Essendon out of this years finals because of the supplements scandal.
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Jessica Smith is a state finalist in the Pride of Australia Medal. Photograph courtesy of Jessica Smith It was the event she had been training towards for years, and the dream of winning a medal for her country was agonisingly within reach. It should have been the most exciting time in her life, an experience she would cherish and remember fondly forever. However, the 2004 Athens Paralympics were a nightmare for Jessica Smith, dark and depressing. The Australian swimmer performed below expectation and failed to take a medal in the 50m and 100m freestyle, and 100m butterfly. Her disappointment wasnt merely confined to underachievement. The sorrow had mounted after years of deceit, personal abuse and self-loathing. After five years of torment, her body betrayed her when she needed it the most. Smiths eating disorders had conquered her body and mind, whilst destroying her Paralympic dream in one fell swoop. My performances in Athens werent up to scratch, Smith admits. I was really struggling with life and my eating disorders were very secretive. I lied to everybody. My family knew but not to any great extent. I convinced
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everyone that the dieting was part of my strict training. Life had always been consumed with hardships for Smith, who was born without her left forearm. As a toddler struggling to feel comfortable with her prosthetic arm, she knocked a pot of boiling water onto herself. She suffered third degree burns to 14% of her body. From an early age, Smith was conscious and sensitive of her disability. She always felt different to other children, exacerbating her introversion. Smith was a natural swimmer and it became her sanctuary. The water was catharsis and provided relief from her angst. Training gave her focus and competition provided the impetus to succeed, where she often raced against able-bodied swimmers. I always had self-esteem issues and was a really quiet kid, Smith says. Sport was the positive in my life. I went into swimming because I could do it individually and didnt have to join a team. Swimming made me feel comfortable with myself. At age 13, Smith was a rising star as an Australian representative. But success in the pool only masked her insecurities, which continued to develop dangerously. It was not as easy as swimming away from her problems. Smiths dwindling self-esteem morphed into an eating disorder. It started with dieting and skipping meals, and ended in bulimia. Superficiality sometimes overwhelms society. Perhaps weve been indoctrinated by media and popular culture, but theres often an obsession with perfectionism. Success stalks the beautiful or handsome, were subliminally told. Societal expectations combined with the pressures of being an athlete poisoned Smith. Sometimes she would go days without eating, juxtaposed with sudden binges. As a form of self-punishment, Smith would run 15km daily rain, hail or shine. She reinforced the self-loathing through harsh monologue laced with invective. I was trying to be perfect in every way, she says. To have a perfect body, I needed to lose weight. Im not sure how I had the energy to run daily but it got to the point where my bones hurt, and body ached. I hated myself so much that I felt I deserved the pain. Depression followed at 16. Its testament to Smiths courage, relentless application and natural aptitude that she reached the Paralympics. Her anguish in Athens was followed by more turbulence, culminating in six weeks hospitalisation, brought on by her eating disorders, at the age of 22. It all but ended her swimming dreams. Now 28, Smith has survived the ravages to emerge more resolute and self-assured and six years since her line in the sand moment, she has become an advocate for positive body image. The quiet kid has transformed into a mature motivational public speaker. Smith, who lives in Perth, has started Join The Revolution tinyurl.com/p6e7dl2 , a campaign raising awareness of positive body image through social media. Smith also visits high schools across the country to provide students with a personal and genuine perspective on eating issues. Her advocacy was acknowledged by the federal government at the Positive Body Image awards in August. She is also a state finalist in the Pride of Australia Medal, announced on 21 September tinyurl.com/opnh67z , recognising people making an indelible community contribution.
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Thursday September 12 2013

14:01 GMT

But this isnt a Hollywood movie feel good ending. Eight years of internal damage has consigned a lifetime of health problems. Expensive dentist bills, digestive problems and constantly low electrolytes are hallmarks of the abuse.Ill be in recovery for the rest of my life and the issue with eating disorders is that it is not taken seriously, Smith says. The commercialisation of professional sport has prompted some clubs to resort to great lengths to find an edge on the competition (cut to Essendon supporters sheepishly nodding). Smith worries young athletes may find themselves in vulnerable positions and says eating issues are often wrongly stereotyped by gender.Eating disorders are rife in the sporting world, due to pressures to have the perfect physique, she says. Its not just girls but also guys who have to deal with the issue. Theres pressure on guys and the trend for them is to be more slender, which means losing weight. The lengths and obsession guys will go to have a perfect body is just as serious and complex. Advocacy, maintaining health and mental stability, and rekindling relationships have been a priority in Smiths life during the past few years. But sometimes her mind wanders back to Athens and she contemplates what could have been. Athens is bittersweet in many ways, she says. I wouldnt call it regret but I wasnt able to enjoy the experience. It was a huge achievement to represent my country but unfortunately I didnt want to be there. These days, Smith makes sure shes there for those struggling with eating disorders. Shes hoping her story will deter youngsters from making the same mistakes. I have a responsibility to be a voice, Smith says. Thats worth its weight in Paralympic gold.

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Thursday September 12 2013

14:01 GMT

Waca loses Test for India series in 201415

Four-match series means Perth misses out Western Australian Cricket Association devastated
Australian Associated Press

Lance Armstrong and Chris Froome are supreme athletes, says Sean Yates
Armstrong is the biggest engine ever to get on a bike Yates publishes autobiography Its All About the Bike
Press Association

The Waca will host limited-over matches to replace Tests. Photograph: Jason OBrien/Action Images  A devastated Western Australian Cricket Association has expressed its disappointment at missing out on hosting a Test during the 2014-15 season. Cricket Australia released its Test schedule on Wednesday night, the Waca a notable absentee in what is a rare four-match series. The Tests, against India, will be held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide with the dates to be determined. Whilst CA will provide additional limited-overs matches to replace the Test match, there is no compensation for losing a Test, the Waca chief executive Christina Matthews said in a statement. The ongoing effect this loss will have on the Waca and cricket in Western Australia will be devastating and we are extremely disappointed by the decision, not only for the association, but for our members and WA cricket supporters. We will continue talks with CA and will be seeking an understanding from them of all the elements behind the decision. CA defended the decision, describing it as unique because it was a World Cup year for one-day internationals. This was certainly one of the more difficult programming issues that Cricket Australia has faced and all the pros and cons of each option were weighed up very carefully before making our decision, the Waca chief executive James Sutherland said. It is still a big summer and there is plenty of cricket to go around but in regard to only having four Tests, this is a oneoff situation that we dont see happening in the foreseeable future. Sutherland said that the Waca had the smallest capacity of the five major cricket grounds in Australia and typically the lowest attendances for Tests.

Chris Froome won the Tour de France in 2013, a year after his fellow Brit Bradley Wiggins. Photograph: Garrett Ellwood/ Getty Images In Sean Yates eyes Lance Armstrong and Chris Froome share similar characteristics. Yates, one of six Britons to have led the Tour de France, knows both well, having been a team-mate and then sporting director of Armstrongs before leading Froome at Team Sky. Froome was the first Tour winner since Armstrong was stripped of seven titles after a United States Anti-Doping Agency investigation which was followed by his public confession of using performance-enhancing drugs. I still believe he [Armstrong] is a phenomenal athlete and still the biggest engine ever to get on a bike, apart from maybe Chris Froome, Yates said. He is not an Armstrong apologist, merely pointing out that the American was a supreme athlete, even before he was chemically enhanced. Yates is living the quiet life in Sussex, after more than 30 years as part of the peloton, in part due to his friendship with Armstrong, which included riding alongside the Texan at Motorola and managing him at Astana in 2009. Yates even asked Armstrong to write the foreword for his autobiography, Its All About the Bike. He did not. Armstrongs admission of doping related to his period of dominance, from 1999 to 2005 a period when he and Yates were in touch irregularly but he maintains he did not dope during his two-year comeback in 2009 and 2010, despite Usada suggesting otherwise. Asked if Armstrong rode clean in 2009, Yates said: I dont know. He came out and said he did whatever. I believe he was [clean] and certainly his performances were nothing out of this world. Yates watched from afar as Froome survived attacks on his character unfounded accusations of doping throughout his spell in the yellow jersey and on the road to become the second Briton to win the Tour tinyurl.com/mo39og6 , after Sir
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Bradley Wiggins a year earlier. Of Froome, Yates said: He was so strong. He was untouchable. Yates had left Team Sky the previous October, at the same time as the British squad restated its zero-tolerance policy. To many, particularly on Twitter, Yates was guilty by association by his friendship with Armstrong and his work alongside other convicted or confessed drug cheats in Alberto Contador and Bjarne Riis. In his book Yates details how the Team Sky principal, Sir Dave Brailsford, was struggling with justifying Yatess position on the team against those insinuations. Yates had had enough. Ill health he has had two strokes and has a pacemaker fitted to his ailing heart meant he did not need the hassle. The decision for Yates to leave had been made but the official announcement came only after a Sunday newspaper reported he was going as part of an anti-doping cull, putting two and two together to make five, Yates wrote. Some even suggested Yatess health issues were associated with doping in his riding career. He ignores those comments. The departure of Yates left a large knowledge gap at Team Sky, whom he was tempted to oppose after recently being approached to return as a senior sporting director with a rival team. But the decision to retire was final. Family his three teenage children and newborn son now comes first. He added: Initially I was pretty upset. In hindsight it was the perfect scenario, the way things have panned out since. He leads a different team, Team Yates, with the Team Sky bus replaced by a Transit van, and his two eldest sons will go full-time this autumn, with his support. During the 2013 Tour the trio rode Mont Ventoux and Alpe-dHuez together. Yates, whose legendary training regimes made him feel invincible, is still racing, despite his ill health, and works as a coach three days a week. Now those closest to him can benefit from his knowledge, which helped Wiggins to a historic triumph. One of the most testing moments in his time with Team Sky, which Yates details in his book, was when Froome attacked his leader on stage 11 to La Toussuire. Wiggins threatened to go home in the aftermath but was talked round. Yatess career highlight above wearing the yellow jersey himself for a day in 1994 was when Froome won the seventh stage of the 2012 Tour and Wiggins claimed the race lead. Every win is sweet, Yates said. But the way the stage to La Planche des Belles Filles panned out was pretty special. It was a special Tour de France last year for everyone.

Thursday September 12 2013

14:01 GMT

Ricky Stuart leaves Parramatta Eels for Canberra Raiders

Coach uses get-out clause in contract Eels finished bottom of NRL ladder
Australian Associated Press

Eels coach Ricky Stuart said his period at the club was extremely challenging. Photograph: Renee McKay/Getty Images Ricky Stuart has walked out on Parramatta to take up a threeyear contract to coach Canberra. The 46-year-old told the Eels board of his decision on Wednesday evening having led the club to a second successive NRL wooden spoon with just five wins all season. The Eels have been plagued with boardroom dramas all season and the former NSW coach insisted on a get-out clause in his contract when he accepted the role at the start of this season. The period I have been at the Parramatta Eels has been extremely challenging, Stuart said in a statement released through his manager John Fordham. Not only for me but for people like [the chairman] Steve Sharp who clearly have the clubs best interest at heart. I sincerely hope the stability the club is entitled to will return and reward those people who have a genuine commitment and passion for the Eels. The Eels co-captain Jarryd Hayne said he was surprised by the decision but had yet to be informed by the club. The NSW star said the news rounded off a difficult season for him and the club. We always knew there were rumours but I havent got confirmation yet and I havent been told by club officials, Hayne said. Its obviously a huge shock but as I said I havent had anything official, until then I will just have to wait and hear it from the horses mouth. But its definitely been the toughest year of my career. Its been tough. This news comes out it just makes it worse. We all knew there were rumours going around. We heard bits and pieces about it. We had a meeting with Sticky (Stuart) a couple of the senior players and for us we had an idea what was going on. Stick sat us down and gave us his side of things. It was one of those things. NSW coach and close friend Laurie Daley said he was
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delighted to see Stuart return to their old club and said he was the man to sort out the off-field issues that have blighted the playing squad this year. Its good. He is going back home, Daley said. I am really happy for him. The club has had some dramas this year and they need fixing and they will certainly add some discipline. It doesnt surprise me. He was always the man they wanted, whether he could have moved on was the issue. Its a match that everyone wanted to see, being a local boy.

Thursday September 12 2013

14:01 GMT

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