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A32 sports
Diaranson 4 Mei 2022

De Bruyne seeking career-defining title in Champions League

Lyon in the quarterfinals. last year’s European Cham-
pionship, De Bruyne is in ex-
“We need to learn,” De cellent form and stepping up
Bruyne grumbled afterward. in the big games.
And in 2019, he didn’t even In his last 10 appearances, he
start against Tottenham in the has scored against Manches-
first leg of the quarterfinals, ter United and Liverpool
which City lost 1-0 before in the Premier League and
exiting in agonizing circum- both Atletico Madrid and
stances a week later. Real Madrid in the Champi-
ons League. The assists keep
Even this season could prove flowing from his pinpoint
to be a missed opportunity. crosses and passes.
City battered Real Madrid in
the first leg of the semifinals The world is still waiting,
last week, yet only came away though, for De Bruyne to put
with a 4-3 victory at the Eti- in that man-of-the-match
had Stadium. performance in a major final
like the Champions League,
The second leg is on Wednes- just to cap a bulging résumé
day and De Bruyne is aware at City containing three Pre-
the match is in the balance. mier League titles, six do-
mestic cups (FA and League),
“If we play the way we played and back-to-back Player of
(AP) - Kevin De Bruyne last week, we have the poten- the Year awards (in 2020 and
might still be short of a So, is it in the Champions Just last year, De Bruyne tial to be one of the best teams 2021). For some, that would
crowning, career-defining League where his big mo- didn’t last an hour in his first (in the world),” he said. “But elevate him to greatness.
title that would slot him ment will come? Champions League final be- we have to do that tomorrow
comfortably among the fore needing to be helped off night again — if we’re a little “For myself, I don’t think it
top stars of his generation. “Obviously,” De Bruyne said, the field — dazed and con- below that, there’s a possi- changes the perspective, as a
“winning it would change the fused — after sustaining a bility Madrid can win this player,” he said. “I know what
He may never get it at inter- narrative.” fractured nose and eye socket game.” I’ve done good, I know what
national level, with Belgium’s in a collision with Chelsea I’ve done bad in my career.
“Golden Generation” repeat- It has been a tale of pain and defender Antonio Rudiger. De Bruyne scored an ear- I’m pretty happy with what
edly falling short, and being a massive underachievement De Bruyne had been sub- ly goal and set up another I’ve done. Obviously I want
serial winner of domestic tro- so far in Europe’s top com- dued in a match City went on against Madrid to continue to win every trophy I can
phies with Manchester City petition for the 30-year-old to lose 1-0 in Porto. his run of inspirational late- get, but that’s a hard task. I’d
won’t be enough for many — playmaker with magic in his season displays. Having taken love to win the Champions
even if, apparently, it is for De boots and eyes in the back of In 2020, he was part of a City time to get fully fit after snap- League.”
Bruyne himself. his head. team surprisingly beaten by ping ankle ligaments during

Mo.-based company hired to police drugs in US horse racing

(AP) — A deal for Drug Free will set up the Horseracing Integrity the Authority, but we believe when it diately. The anti-doping and medi-
Sport International to police and Welfare Unit, to be led by a five- comes to the welfare of the horse, no cation rules aren’t expected to begin
medication in horse racing was member advisory council chaired expense should be spared,” said Irby, until Jan. 1, 2023, leaving the 38 states
announced Tuesday, two months by Jonathan Taylor, a London-based who testified before Congress in sup- where horse racing occurs in charge
before the Horseracing Integrity partner at the international law firm port of HISA’s creation. “We are very for now.
and Safety Authority takes effect. Bird & Bird. disappointed and deeply concerned
that the end result is not what we The sport’s lack of uniform rules
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency had He previously served as chair of the sought to achieve.” across the U.S. came into focus af-
been set to become the regulator for World Anti-Doping Agency’s com- ter Medina Spirit tested positive for a
anti-doping and medication control pliance review committee. He also HISA takes effect July 1. It will be banned substance following the 2021
for thoroughbred racing. But in late has experience as outside legal coun- implemented in stages, with the race- Kentucky Derby.
December, the deal stalled. sel to the British Horseracing Au- track safety program starting imme-
thority and International Equestrian
USADA CEO Travis Tygart said his Federation.
group was “disappointed” not to be
hired. The other members of the advisory
council are Dr. Larry Bowers, former
“We wanted to be in the fight to clean chief scientific officer at USADA;
up the sport,” he said. “Unfortunate- Dr. Larry Bramlage, an equine or-
ly, we were unable to reach an agree- thopedic surgeon in Kentucky; Sonja
ment that would allow us a reason- Keating, general counsel of the U.S.
able chance to successfully deliver Equestrian Federation; and Günter
our existing gold-standard programs, Younger, director of intelligence and
including adequate testing, education investigations at WADA.
and investigative capacities.”
Executive director Marty Irby of the
Drug Free Sport International has animal advocacy and federal lobbying
overseen testing and enforcement group Animal Wellness Action said it
with the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA, had hoped USADA would be chosen
both men’s and women’s pro golf to work with HISA.
tours and NASCAR.
“It is our understanding that the cost
The Kansas City-based company of implementation was an issue for