Federation Focus: Tennis Fed Offers Corona Relief

(ATR) The International Tennis Federation finalizes a total relief fund of more than $2.6 million to support stakeholders impacted by the suspension of professional tennis due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The majority of the money, $1.449 million, will be going to national associations in the form of national and junior tournament grants, top-ranked junior player grants, and a $350,000 fund for players ranked from 501-700 in singles and 176-300 in doubles.

There will also be development support available for officials, as well as funding to facilitate the return of Beach Tennis.

This latest support follows previously announced measures including a more than $6 million Player Relief Program funded by the seven tennis stakeholders for players in the top 500, as well as financial support for wheelchair tennis and free training resources for coaches.

More than 1,100 ITF events have been canceled or postponed since professional tennis was suspended on March 12.

"Despite the significant challenges that have resulted from this pandemic, the ITF has been resolute in our desire to help as many of our stakeholders as possible. We do not have unlimited resources, so we have focused our efforts where they are most needed," ITF President David Haggerty said in a statement.

"There remains much uncertainty, but I am confident that as we continue to pull together and make the right decisions, tennis will make a strong recovery."

IBU Cancels Summer Event, Postpones Congress

The International Biathlon Union (IBU) cancels the Summer Biathlon World Championships for this year and postpones the federation’s congress by two months due to the pandemic.

The 2020 Summer World Championships were originally scheduled for Ruhpolding, Germany from August 19-23 but the organizers withdrew from hosting after the German government decided to cancel all mass events in the country until August 31.

"We fully understand and support the decision by the Organising Committee in Ruhpolding and the German Ski Federation to return the hosting rights," IBU President Olle Dahlin said in a statement.

"We are committed to delivering fair and safe competitions but with the challenges and uncertainty caused by COVID-19 it was agreed that it was not possible to hold the event this year."

The 2021 edition is scheduled for Nove Mesto na Morave in the Czech Republic.

The 14th Ordinary IBU Congress later this year will still be in Prague, but has been postponed from Sept. 10-13 to Nov. 13-15.

The hosts for the 2024 and 2025 editions of the IBU World Championships will be chosen at the congress.

Nove Mesto na Morave is the sole candidate for 2024 while the Czech town is facing competition from Lenzerheide, Switzerland and Minsk-Raubichi, Belarus for 2025.

FEI Tribunal Hands Down Record Sanction

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) imposes a record 20-year ban in an endurance horse abuse and anti-doping violation case.

The sanction for the rider, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Faisal Al Qasimi of the United Arab Emirates, will run until June 2040. He was also fined 17,500 Swiss francs ($18,555)and ordered to pay 15,000 Swiss francs ($15,904) toward the cost of the proceedings.

The horse, Castlebar Contraband, was euthanized after suffering a fractured front leg during an endurance race in France in October 2016.

Blood samples collected from the horse post mortem revealed the presence of Xylazine, which is used as a sedative, analgesic and muscle relaxant but is prohibited in competition.

The substance, which is rapidly excreted from the body, is known to be used in endurance racing to lower the heart rate. It also allows the horse to run through pain, which increases the risk of a catastrophic injury.

Al Qasimi was banned 18 years for horse abuse and two additional years for the anti-doping violation.

"This is a really great result for horse welfare and the fight against doping in equestrian sport", FEI Legal Director Mikael Rentsch said. "We are very happy to see such a strong sanction handed down by the FEI Tribunal and it offers a stern warning to others that the Tribunal will not tolerate cases of horse abuse."

Al Qasimi has until June 24 if he wants to appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Written by Gerard Farek

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