Wada is 'fox guarding the hen house': Usada chief

LAUSANNE • The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) is not an independent body and, in its current state, cannot police sport as it lacks the powers of a global regulator, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) chief Travis Tygart said yesterday.

During a Wada meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, he said as long as sports bodies were represented on Wada, the anti-doping organisation could not deliver on its promise to crack down on cheats.

"It is the fox guarding the hen house," Tygart said when asked whether Wada was independent.

"No question about it."

REUTERS

Wins for top seeds at Women's Snooker C'ship

The top five seeds at the World Women's Snooker Championship all posted opening-day wins at Safra Toa Payoh yesterday.

Defending champion Reanne Evans of England, who has won the event 11 times, defeated Hong Kong's Ho Yee Ki 5-0. Ho's compatriot Ng On Yee, the 2015 winner, beat India's Chitra Magimaraj 4-1.

Singapore's Charlene Chai also secured a win. She beat Ronda Sheldreck of Ireland 5-0.

The £15,000 (S$25,779) tournament, which features 32 players split into eight groups for the round robin stage, ends on Sunday.

Derby give McClaren the chop once more

LONDON • Former England manager Steve McClaren was on Sunday sacked by Derby County for the second time, with the English second-tier football side saying the club had lacked "focus, passion and commitment".

Friday's 3-0 defeat by Championship high-flyers Brighton left Derby 10 points adrift of the top six in the division and with little realistic hope of being promoted to the lucrative English Premier League.

Another Championship side Wigan, meanwhile, dismissed manager Warren Joyce yesterday after just four months in charge, while Norwich had axed Alex Neil last Friday.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE