South African cricketer gets drugs ban

Durban: South African batsman Vaughn van Jaarsveld has been banned from cricket for three months following an appeal from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the South African Cricketers` Association (SACA) said on Thursday.

The 26-year-old Van Jaarsveld, who has played two one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches for South Africa tested positive for the banned stimulant sibutramine in November after taking weight loss medication prescribed by his doctor.

Sibutramine is a stimulant which, although present in certain medications, is also on WADA`s prohibited list.

Initially, Van Jaarsveld received a reprimand from the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport (SAIDS) after it found that the medication had been taken for legitimate weight loss reasons and not to enhance performance.

But WADA appealed against the decision, resulting in SAIDS handing down the three-month ban.

"This is a particularly harsh outcome for Vaughn, given the circumstances of this matter," SACA`s chief executive Tony Irish said in a statement.

"It seems likely that Vaughn will not be in a position to appeal and so will have to live with this suspension which comes at the worst possible time for him. We, as his player association, will be supporting him through this period.

"The decision does, however, illustrate the dangers for all sports persons unwittingly taking medication, or supplements, which may potentially contain prohibited substances. It has become so important that players and athletes actually check and double check the contents of all medications," he added.

Bureau Report

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Underdogs Cobras aim to upset young New South Wales side

Chennai: Underdogs Cape Cobras will aim to rock the boat of a young New South Wales team when they clash in their Group A match of the Champions League T20 in Chennai on Saturday.

Cobras have two former Champions League T20 titlists -- Chennai Super Kings and New South Wales -- in their pool and captain Justin Kemp has admitted that his team is not as fancied as the others.

"The other teams have players, who have done exceptionally well in the last few years. But we`re confident and if can play good cricket and able to put up a good performance, it would be a great opportunity for a lot of young guys as well as the older ones," Kemp had said.

However, Cobras enjoy the advantage of having a clutch of experienced campaigners to rely on, including speed demon Dale Steyn, allrounder J P Duminy, the supremely gifted Herchelle Gibbs, English batsman Owais Shah and Kemp himself.

The South Africa-based unit also has good spin options in Robin Peterson (left-arm orthodox), Duminy (offbreak), Justin Ontong (offbreak) and 19-year-old Michael Rippon (chinaman).

Former champions New South Wales, back in the competition after a hiatus of one year, are basically a young side with a few experienced players in their ranks.

Skippered by battle-hardened Australian opener Simon Katich, the team finished second in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash to qualify directly for the group stages.

The Australian side`s trump card will be Shane Watson, the burly allrounder with whom Katich used to open the batting for his country.

PTI

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South Korea clinch women`s Asian Champions Trophy hockey

Ordos (China): South Korea fought their way back from two-goal down to overpower China 5-3 and win the women`s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Saturday.

The partisan crowd at the packed stadium were on their feet after China took a 2-0 lead midway into the first half but the Koreans dashed their hopes with some brilliant goals on the counter-attack. The home side were also let down by poor finishing at the Korean striking circle.

South Korea scored through Ju Ok Kim (19th), Eun Bi Cheon (23rd), Jong Eun Kim (44th), Jong Hee Kim (45th) and Mi Hyun Park (64th) while Yibo Ma (12th), Baorong Fu (18th) and Lihua Gao (48th) found the target for China.

With a stadium brimmed to the full for the first time in the tournament, China raced away to 1-0 lead with Yibo Ma converting a penalty corner in the 12th minute. The lead was enhanced in the 18th minute through a run from the right flank and Baorong Fu flicking home.

It seemed that China would run away with the trophy with an upset victory but the Koreans were far from being jolted by the reverse as they reduced the margin in the very next minute when Ju Ok Kim shot home.

It took another four minutes for the Koreans ti restore parity with Eun Bi Cheon finding the target from the top of the circle in the 23rd minute. Suddenly the match was thrown wide open as the Chinese found the Koreans too dangerous on the counter-attacks.

In the 44th minute, an error in the midfield saw the Koreans power through and earn a penalty corner. Jong Eun Kim deflected the ball brilliantly past the Chinese goalkeeper. Korea made it 4-2 the next minute with Jong Hee Kim reverse-flicking home after she ran past a host of Chinese defenders.

China managed to cut the scores to 3-4 in the 48th minute when Lihua Gao struck a beautiful reverse shot.

China pressed for the equaliser but utilising the space given by the home side midfielders, Korea struck their fifth goal in the 64th minute when Mi Hyun Park raced down the right flank, dodged past two defenders and placed the ball into goal past the Chinese goalkeeper.

PTI

First Published: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 18:43

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