Kritik und Anregungen » Pittsburgh Pirates in a Dece

MOSCOW -- As far as Vladimir Putins anti-doping troubleshooter is concerned, Russias doping problems are nothing more than a glitch.Brought out of retirement by Putin to lead Russias future strategy on doping, 81-year-old Vitaly Smirnov is being called on to use his contacts from five decades in Olympic politics to lobby for Russian interests and play down the accusations of state-sponsored cheating.Even as Smirnov tries to build bridges with the IOC and World Anti-Doping Agency, and plans to address WADAs board on Sunday, Smirnov vehemently denies that the Russian government ran an industrial-scale doping program and cover-up, including at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.What has happened is a glitch. It doesnt have roots in any kind of practice which was happening over a long period of time, Smirnov, a former Soviet minister who spent 44 years as an International Olympic Committee member, told The Associated Press in an interview in his spacious office at the Russian Olympic Committee. There was no organized doping system on the state level. We believe that the participants in this were individuals, who were pursuing their own goals.Putins love of sports as a judo black belt and recreational hockey player means the Russian government couldnt have sponsored an East German-style doping scheme, Smirnov said.Ive known our president for 25 years. I got to know him when we were preparing the Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg in 1994. I know him still. I know hes an athlete, Smirnov says he told Richard McLaren, the Canadian lawyer who produced the WADA report accusing Russian officials of complicity. And as an athlete and head of state, its incompatible.Among those named in McLarens report in July were Deputy Sports Minister Yuri Nagornykh and the ministrys anti-doping adviser, Nataliya Zhelanova, both of whom are facing investigations from the Russian authorities and have since left their jobs. Even if officials like Nagornykh and Zhelanova are found to have been complicit, they should be seen as bad apples rather than part of a government conspiracy, Smirnov argues.Certain officials ... it doesnt mean the whole system, the whole ministry was taking part, he said.The second part of McLarens report is due out next month and could further tarnish the legacy of the Sochi Games. Smirnov has been in contact with McLaren and WADA President Craig Reedie.However, Smirnov is scathing in his condemnation for Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory who turned star witness for WADA. Rodchenkov said he was involved in state-backed doping for years, providing doping substances to athletes and helping swap dirty samples for clean ones at the Sochi Games.Now living in the United States, Rochenkov is facing an investigation by Russian authorities over the destruction of doping samples.Smirnov suggests Rodchenkov was motivated by money, not Russian state prestige.If you take the case of Rodchenkov, theres pure criminality. They were just, over the course of a fairly long period of time, falsifying results and getting money for that, Smirnov said, later adding: I am counting on objectivity in this whole case. The McLaren report is sadly built on the evidence of just one man. That man is facing a criminal case and an investigation is under way.Formally, Smirnovs role is as head of the Independent Public Anti-Doping Commission, a body set up at Putins suggestion and backed by the Russian Olympic Committee to lead the charge against what the Russian government perceives as unfair accusations. Putin didnt formally appoint Smirnov, but nominated him on state TV as a man with an absolutely unimpeachable reputation. He was swiftly approved.The commission, which last met in October, includes numerous sports officials but also doctors, a state TV executive and even a concert pianist, though none of the commissions members are anti-doping scientists.Our commission is absolutely independent. The commission contains people, many of whom have no connection to sport at all, but carry a lot of weight in society, Smirnov said, defending the participation of pianist Denis Matsuev. Hes not just there because he can play 47 piano concertos, but because he loves sport and was invited to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics because of his musical skill, Smirnov added, though the commission also works with two experts from Australia and Lithuania sent by WADA to Russia to help with reforms.Smirnov is eager to repair relations with the IOC and WADA after a year of fierce rhetoric on all sides, and refers to former WADA president Dick Pound, author of last years first report into Russian doping, as my old friend. In a recent conversation with Reedie, Smirnov offered to appoint a foreigner to Rodchenkovs old job as head of the Moscow lab to reactivate its colossal capacity of 20,000 tests a year.Smirnovs overall message is clear though -- Russia is not a country of drug cheats.In the spirit of our people there is nothing about trying to deceive, to find a dishonest shortcut, he said.Dikembe Mutombo Jersey .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Gary Harris Nuggets Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. http://www.nuggetsproshop.com/Michael-Porter-Nuggets-Jersey/ . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. Alex English Jersey . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. Carmelo Anthony Nuggets Jersey .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. BOSTON -- Red Sox closer Joel Hanrahan will be sidelined at least two months and is scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews for an examination that could determine whether the pitcher needs surgery. Boston transferred Hanrahan from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list Thursday with what the Red Sox said was a strained right forearm. It is the right-handers second stint on the DL this season. He previously was on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. Manager John Farrell said Hanrahan was told he might need surgery. Farrell said an MRI on Hanrahans arm appeared to show no structural damage to the ligament that connects bones in the upper and lower arm but that hasnt been ruled out. "Thats where (Fridays) exam will be valuable," Farrell said of Hanrahans visit to Andrews, a noted orthopedist. Even if surgery isnt necessary, recovery from the injury should take at least two months, Farrell said. "Once we got the initial MRI, it seemed that was a possibility," he said. "Not knowing the extent or total number of days, we felt it was still going to require some recovery time. Then, when you factor in the buildup back from that, we felt like this was going to be a couple months total at a minimum."t; Hanrahan last pitched Monday night when he allowed a tying homer in the ninth inning to Brian Dozier.dddddddddddd The Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 6-5 in 11 innings. In nine games during his first season with Boston, Hanrahan is 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA and four saves in six opportunities. The Red Sox acquired him from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a December trade after he went 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA and 36 saves in 40 chances last year. An NL All-Star each of the past two seasons, Hanrahan is earning $7.04 million this year and can become a free agent after the season. Andrew Bailey, who became the closer when Hanrahan was on the disabled list from April 14-29, went on the 15-day DL on Monday with a strained right biceps. Farrell said Junichi Tazawa will take over the closers role. The Red Sox also called up Jose De La Torre from Pawtucket and optioned Allen Webster to the Triple-A team in moves involving right-handed pitchers. De La Torre, in the majors for the first time, was acquired from Cleveland last July. He was 1-0 with a 1.56 ERA in 10 relief appearances for Pawtucket this year. Webster was sent down one day after allowing eight runs in 1 2-3 innings in his second major league start. ' ' '