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SPORTS Thursday 9 May 2019
Pegula relinquishes control of NWHL Buffalo team

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Kim ment saying the NWHL was
Pegula's desire to grow pleased to regain operat-
women's professional hock- ing control.
ey will no longer involve "The fans of Western New
a relationship with North York are among the most
America's remaining pro- dedicated in the world,
fessional league. and we have had four ex-
The owner of the Buf- ceptional seasons of win-
falo Beauts announced ning hockey and large
Wednesday she's relinquish- crowds in Buffalo," the
ing control of the team in league said.
a move that could further Questions remain over how
jeopardize the future of the easily the NWHL can move
National Women's Hock- forward after losing one of
ey League as it struggles its most influential backers.
to keep its five franchises Pegula and her husband
afloat and without the sup- Terry also own the NHL's
port of the world's top play- Sabres and NFL's Bills, and
ers. became the NWHL's first
"Our main goal has always private owners upon pur-
been fostering the growth chasing the Beauts in De-
of women's hockey across In this Dec. 23, 2018, file photo, Buffalo Bills co-owner Kim Pegula stands on the field as the team cember 2017.
all ages," Pegula said in a warms up before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, in Foxborough, Mass. Their departure comes at a
statement. "We thank our Associated Press time the NWHL was raising
Beauts players, staff, and the possibility of expanding
fans for their support this America next season. league were determined facility fees if the league in- into Toronto and Montreal
past season. We will contin- The group of players fea- during a conference call tends to continue playing after the Canadian Wom-
ue to look for ways to suc- tured a vast majority of the Tuesday, two people with at the Pegula-owned Har- en's Hockey League shut
cessfully grow the women's Beauts roster, including U.S. direct knowledge of the borCenter. The league also down as of May 1, citing
game." national team defenseman discussions told The Asso- will have to resume paying financial woes.
Pegula did not cite reasons Emily Pfalzer and Canadian ciated Press. The people players' salaries and team The CWHL's demise along
behind her decision, but it national team goalie Shan- spoke to The AP on the travel costs, which will put with questions regarding
comes on the heels of the non Szabados. condition of anonymity be- an estimated $200,000 the NWHL's long-term vi-
league still dealing with the Pegula informed NWHL cause the discussions were dent in the NWHL's budget. ability led to the players'
fallout from last week's de- Commissioner Dani Rylan private. Rylan thanked Pegula pledge in a bid to start over
cision made by more than of her decision last week, The NWHL will re-assume Sports for running the and establish a single eco-
200 players pledging not to and the terms of the team's control of the franchise, Beauts, before the league nomically sustainable pro-
play professionally in North handover back to the but will have to renegotiate issued a separate state- fessional league.q

Boxing chief criticizes IOC

comments on Olympic competition

By STEVE MOORE is also not rocket science," statement ... is disappoint-
Associated Press Bach told a meeting in ing because I think we play
GOLD COAST, Australia Sydney on Saturday. "So a much more important
(AP) — The head of the I guess we will be able to role."
international boxing fed- manage it in the end. It's a Virgets said the AIBA had
eration has criticized IOC very universal sport, so we the institutional knowledge
president Thomas Bach's want to have boxing on and "we understand the
comments that Olympic the program. If the case politics and all the behind
officials could organize the arises ... we would have the scenes things that take
Tokyo 2020 boxing tourna- to make an effort then to place." International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, top
ment if the sport's federa- have such a tournament." "We've spent a year and a left, speaks at the Australian Olympic Committee annual gen-
tion can't get its affairs in AIBA executive director half reforming and I think eral meeting in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, May 4, 2019.
order. Tom Virgets said Bach's we're in the best position Associated Press
Bach said last weekend comments belittled the job because we have made
that the IOC wants the of international sports fed- all these corrective ac- mov has links to organized June 24-26 can then con-
sport at next year's Tokyo erations. tions." crime and placed him un- sider derecognizing the
Games and is prepared to "We're very concerned Relations between the IOC der sanctions. Rakhimov AIBA.
organize both the qualifi- about it," Virgets said in and AIBA have been tense denies the allegations. Until then, AIBA is banned
cation and the competi- an interview with SNTV on since Uzbekistan business- AIBA risks being derecog- from contacting 2020 To-
tion if boxing's troubled Wednesday. "We have man Gafur Rakhimov was nized next month after an kyo Olympic organizers.
international governing concerns about it mostly elected AIBA president in IOC inquiry panel reports. Virgets said he hopes
body, the AIBA, loses its for the athletes and for the November, beating Ka- An IOC board meeting on an agreement can be
Olympic status over lead- programs. zakh candidate Serik Kon- May 22 will receive the in- reached between his or-
ership and financial prob- "We're in the best position akbayev. quiry report and can de- ganization and the IOC
lems. to ensure a good quality The U.S. Treasury Depart- cide on what to do about ahead of next year's
"Organizing a sports event games. I think Mr. Bach's ment has alleged Rakhi- the Tokyo tournament. The games.q