Asian Tour objects to Aussie ‘invasion’

Singapore: Asia’s peak golf organisation has accused the PGA of Australia of attempting to “invade Asia” and is appealing to the international federation to stop a proposed rival tour.

The PGA of Australia announced last week it had an agreement with the Japan golf tour organisation and national associations in China and South Korea to create a new Asia-Pacific Tour from next January.

An initial 20 tournaments, each offering minimum prize money of $ 1.5 million, was proposed.

The Asian Tour immediately reacted by saying it would not endorse the new tour and on Tuesday said it was making a formal request to the international federation of PGA Tours to discuss “recent developments initiated by the PGA of Australia.”

Zlatan in doubt

Milan: Inter Milan could be without striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the trip to Genoa after his knee problem returned. He may be rested with an eye on the weekend clash with Juventus.

Luis Figo and Dejan Stankovic are also doubtful but left back Maxwell may be available after an ankle knock. Marco Materazzi is suspended so Cristian Chivu, playing with an injured shoulder, may move from left back to central defence.

New role for Todt

Maranello (Italy): Jean Todt resigned as CEO of Ferrari on Tuesday and will assume a “special appointment” within the company’s racing department.

Amedeo Felisa, formerly Ferrari’s general manager, was appointed to replace Todt as CEO, the company said in a statement following a shareholders meeting.

Todt already handed over his position as director of Ferrari’s Formula One team to Stefano Domenicali in November. Todt will remain a member of Ferrari’s board and maintain his positions as president of the boards of directors of Ferrari Asia Pacific and Ferrari West Europe. He will also continue to represent Ferrari at the FIA World Council.

Klochkova fails

Eindhoven: Four-time Olympic champion Yana Klochkova failed to qualify on Tuesday for the final of the women’s 400m individual medley on the opening day of the European Swimming Championships.

The 25-year-old Ukrainian, who won the 200 and 400 individual medley at both the Sydney and Athens Olympics, finished her heat in 4 minutes, 50.36 seconds — 17 seconds slower than her own European record and 12th overall.

Klochkova took a break from training after Athens and is working her way back to full fitness for the Beijing Olympics.

Doping in billiards

Duesseldorf: Germany’s first case of doping in billiards was announced on Monday after national champion Axel Buescher tested positive for an EPO masking agent.

Buescher’s positive test came at November's German championships, where he captured the carrom billiards title, the German Billiard Union said.

Buescher said the masking agent was in prescription medicine he failed to have approved. The Union suspended Buescher for one year and stripped him of his title after he passed on his right to have the ‘B’ sample tested.