Russian Olympic chief to step down

MOSCOW: The head of Russia’s Olympic Committee, Alexander Zhukov, is stepping down, in the biggest change at the top of Russian sport since a doping scandal led

MOSCOW: The head of Russia’s Olympic Committee, Alexander Zhukov, is stepping down, in the biggest change at the top of Russian sport since a doping scandal led to the country’s track-and-field athletes being excluded from the Rio Games.

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President Vladimir Putin said Zhukov had told him he wanted to leave the role so he could concentrate on his other job as first deputy speaker in the lower house of parliament.

“This is without doubt the right thing, we support it completely,” Putin told a meeting of sports officials attended by Zhukov on Tuesday, adding that he “has done a lot for sport and, I hope, will do more still”.

Zhukov was given the tough task of trying to persuade the International Olympic Committee not to ban Russia entirely from the Rio Games despite damning reports from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that uncovered widespread state-sponsored cheating. His low-key, behind-the-scenes style was in contrast to the forceful approach of Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko.

WESTWOOD WANTS TO LEAD EUROPE IN 2020

WATFORD: Lee Westwood has set his sights on being appointed European captain for the 2020 Ryder Cup despite his poor showing in his team’s recent defeat against the United States.

Westwood failed to score a point in three matches at Hazeltine in the most disappointing of his 10 Ryder Cup appearances.

“I certainly would not want to be captain next time around, as that’s too soon for me, so I think 2020 is definitely on my radar,” he said on Wednesday.

OLAZABAL READY TO END INJURY ABSENCE

WATFORD: Former Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal is set to return to the European Tour after an 18-month injury absence.

Olazabal will tee off in the British Masters, which starts at The Grove, north of London, on Thursday, as the Spaniard competes for the first time since missing the halfway cut at the 2015 Masters. Since captaining Europe to victory in the 2014 Ryder Cup, the 50-year old has contested just six events due to struggles with rheumatoid arthritis in his joints.

MARTIN WINS WORLD TIME-TRIAL TITLE

DOHA: Germany’s Tony Martin won the men’s time-trial title in Qatar on Wednesday for a record-equalling fourth time.

Martin obliterated the field of 66 riders, winning the 40km race by 45 seconds from last year’s champion Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus, with Spain’s Jonathan Castroviejo a further 25sec back in third. Martin previously won the title in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and joins Fabian Cancellara as the only four-time winners.

One of the pre-race favourites, Tom Dumoulin, the Olympic silver-medallist, finished way back in 11th place, more than two minutes off the pace.