Sports world: Johnson under fire for overly-positive advert

Johnson under fire for overly-positive advert

MELBOURNE • A TV ad for a gambling company that features disgraced sprinter Ben Johnson making light of doping has sparked outrage in Australia, with politicians and sports officials demanding its removal.

The Sportsbet ad has Canadian Johnson, who was stripped of his 100 metres gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Games after testing positive for a banned steroid, promoting a "juiced-up" mobile phone app.

"It tested positive for speed and power again and again," says Johnson in the ad, which includes other doping-related puns.

REUTERS


Pakistan looking for new cricket stars

ROSEAU (Dominica) • As Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq ride into the sunset after long and illustrious careers, Pakistan begin a tricky period of transition looking for a new wave of cricket players ready to fill a huge void left by the retired batting greats.

In a fitting finale, Younis, Pakistan's most prolific Test run-scorer, and Misbah, the country's most successful captain, bowed out together in a blaze of glory on Sunday with the team celebrating a first-ever series triumph against the West Indies in the Caribbean.

REUTERS


Girls' small-sided kickabouts this week

As part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Grassroots Football Day, the Fifa "Live Your Goals" Centre Festivals will take place twice this weekend.

The event, which will see six to 15-year-old female footballers play small-sided games, happens on Saturday, from 3pm to 4.30pm at Queensway Secondary School, and on Sunday (May 21), from 8am to 9.30am at Bowen Secondary School.

Interested participants may e-mail women_football@fas.org.sg or register 15 minutes before the start, at the schools.


Omega to keep Games times until 2032

LAUSANNE (Switzerland) • Swiss watchmaker Omega will continue to be the official timekeeper at the Olympics, after extending its partnership with the Games until the 2032 edition to mark what would be a 100-year partnership.

The deal was announced yesterday at the Olympic Museum. Omega provides timing, scoring and in-venue results at the Olympics.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 16, 2017, with the headline Sports world: Johnson under fire for overly-positive advert. Subscribe