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SPORTS Thursday 14 February 2019
New athletes group formed to tackle doping in sports

By EDDIE PELLS group will reach out to
AP National Writer the IOC and WADA, the
An Olympic gold medal- athletes involved in the
ist and a former executive group — more names will
at the World Anti-Doping trickle out later this week —
Agency are forming an have to ultimately decide
organization designed to the best way to push for
give athletes a stronger change. Skinner said he'd
voice in the fight against like to collaborate with ath-
doping and the powers letes committees at WADA
that police it. and the IOC, but is also
The group, called Global aware of their limitations.
Athlete, is being organized "We're not looking to dis-
by British cyclist Callum Skin- credit the athletes commit-
ner. Rob Koehler, who quit tees," he said.
his post as deputy director But there's definitely a gap
general at WADA last year, in terms of their ability to
will be the group's director represent the entire body
general. of athletes."
Athletes have spoken out IOC athletes commission
in large numbers to pro- chair Kirsty Coventry said
test what they perceive At left, in an Aug. 14, 2016, file photo, silver medalist Callum Skinner smiles during the podium "it's disappointing that
ceremony for the men's cycling sprint final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
as lax treatment of Rus- At right, in a Feb. 28, 2017, file photo, then-World Anti-Doping Agency Deputy Director General this group seems to be-
sia by the International Rob Koehler testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. lieve that none of us care
Olympic Committee and Associated Press about athletes," and that
WADA in the wake of the she didn't believe athletes
country's doping scandal. is saying Russia shouldn't be have no say over Global "The whole idea of dissent- should differentiate them-
Many have felt insulted by back in some form. We are Athlete's decision-making. ing voices being cast off selves as West vs. East or
the response to their con- where we are. But let's try Koehler said the group and not being listened to, rich vs. poor. She said rep-
cerns, which were often to change the system, so won't be focused only on or being portrayed as un- resentatives on the com-
portrayed as politically mo- it's a fairer situation going doping issues — sex abuse informed and not seeing mission are democratically
tivated by Western ideals. forward." and the environment are the big picture, doesn't elected by peers from 206
"What we can all agree on The nonprofit group FairS- two other causes that have fly," Koehler said. "The ath- countries.
was the way the ... athlete port and individual donors led to athlete movements letes we talk to get the big WADA responded by reit-
voices were treated by will provide funding for the of late — though clearly picture. They want to grow erating a series of gover-
WADA and the IOC was new group, and Koehler the Russian doping crisis sport together with sporting nance reforms designed to
well below par," Skinner said sports, governments has served as a wake-up leaders." increase athlete represen-
said. "It's not that everyone and anti-doping groups will call. While Koehler said the tation on its board.q

Heavyweight champ Joshua to make U.S. debut against Miller

LONDON (AP) — The An- But Joshua has been in- undefeated after winning
thony Joshua roadshow is creasingly aware that he 23 of his 24 fights. He was
finally heading to the Unit- needs to fight in the United born in New York, so fight-
ed States. Not to fight the States to raise his global ing at the Garden is a natu-
only other heavyweight profile. ral for him.
champion, though. "AJ has created an incred- "AJ is making a huge mis-
The four-title champion will ible 'Lion's Den' atmosphere take coming over here to
make his American boxing in the U.K. and we plan to fight me in my own back-
debut when he defends bring that energy to New yard," Miller said. "He wants
his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO York," said Joshua's promot- to announce himself on
belts against Jarrell Miller er, Eddie Hearn. the American stage, but all
at Madison Square Garden He won't be doing so he's doing is delivering me
on June 1. against WBC champion those belts by hand."
"I plan to embrace the cul- Deontay Wilder, who also The fight will be broad-
ture and leave with an ap- is undefeated and most cast by DAZN, the stream-
petite for more," said Josh- recently fought to a draw ing service that also has a
ua, whose 22 professional with Tyson Fury in Decem- huge monetary deal with
fights have all taken place ber. Wilder has been openly middleweight champion
in Britain. He has won all of critical of Joshua, claiming Canelo Alvarez. It will be on
those bouts, 21 by knock- Joshua has been ducking live television in the U.K.
out. him, and that boxing fans "I am looking forward to
His last five fights have want to see a matchup to taking on another chal-
been in stadiums, with consolidate all the heavy- lenge with a good boxer
nearly 400,000 spectators weight titles. and a brilliant talker," Josh-
attending in total. The high- Joshua has said he is look- ua said. "It will be an excit- In this Sept. 20, 2018, file photo, boxer Anthony Joshua, of Brit-
est-profile bout was against ing to unify the belts, but ing fight, I will leave nothing ain, foreground, poses with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn after
Wladimir Klitschko in front negotiations with Wilder to chance, and plan on a press conference for Joshua's fight against Russia's Alexander
of 90,000 fans at Wembley broke down last year. dismantling Miller in style to Povetkin, at Wembley stadium in London.
Stadium in April 2017. Miller, meanwhile, also is make my mark."q Associated Press