UCI plans major shake-up of Olympic track programme

By: Richard Moore
Published: September 26, 17:00,
Updated: September 26, 17:37

Individual pursuit, points race, madison may vanish from Olympics

The UCI is planning a major shake-up of the Olympic track cycling programme and will propose radical changes to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The changes are designed to bring parity to the men's and women's programmes, with five events for each at the 2012 Games in London.

Cyclingnews understands that the individual pursuit, points race and madison would all be removed from the Olympic programme under the UCI's proposals. Instead, the programme would comprise men's and women's individual sprints, a team sprint, a keirin, a team pursuit and an omnium. Racers may compete in the following events as part of the omnium: flying 200m, points race, scratch race and individual pursuit and possibly others to be determined.

"I can confirm that I was mandated yesterday by the UCI to work out how we are going to achieve parity within track cycling for the 2012 Olympics, and it's a matter we're looking at with some urgency," said McQuaid. "The IOC wants to make an announcement about the programme for London by December 12."

Dave Brailsford, the British Cycling performance director, said, "It's always a real shame to lose some events. The madison and individual pursuit are such classics, but I think it's exciting and innovative, and it brings parity from a gender perspective. We will have to change our strategy for 2012 but we are already looking at what we are doing. I like [the proposals]."

Bradley Wiggins, the Olympic pursuit gold medallist in Athens and Beijing, said, "It seems strange to scrap so many events. I'm disappointed because it's my event that is involved, but then, I don't know how exciting a pursuit is to watch - off the top of my head, I don't think I'd be interested in the omnium. I'd probably do the team pursuit, and maybe the individual time trial."

Sir Chris Hoy welcomed the proposed changes. He won all three sprint events at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, after his specialist event, the kilometre, was dropped from the Olympic programme in 2005.

Kepada Semua Umat Islam

Assalamualaikum,

Bersempena dengan kedatangan Syawal yang akan tiba, saya Fairoz Izni Bin Abd Ghani dengan rasa rendah diri memohon ampun dan maaf jika ada keterlanjuran kata-kata yang menyinggung hati dan perasaan selama ini. Semoga kemaafan yang di pohon akan mengeratkan lagi hubungan kita semua selamanya.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2009

Maaf Zahir & Batin

dari: Kami Sekeluarga.

Gelombang R. Ismail

Thanks Ayahanda Saidin MD. Saman

Surat Akuan M.Fauzan Lufti

KENYATAAN AKHBAR MUHAMMAD FAUZAN AHMAD LUTFI
8 SEPTEMBER 2009


Berhubung dengan kes penyalahgunaan dadah perangsang yang membabitkan diri saya, saya ingin memohon maaf di atas kesilapan yang telah saya lakukan dan saya akui ia adalah satu tindakan yang tidak sepatutnya berlaku.

Di sini saya ingin menjelaskan bahawa saya telah mengalami kecederaan pada otot lutut kiri sejak bulan Oktober tahun lalu. Ini telah menyebabkan saya tidak dapat berkayuh selama 5 bulan dan dirawat oleh pakar di Institut Sukan Negara.

Saya telah kembali berkayuh pada bulan April tahun ini, bermula dengan perlumbaan Jelajah Malaysia di mana semasa itu saya masih di bawah program elit lebuhraya. Di masa itu juga saya telah memohon untuk memasuki kembali program elit trek di bawah ketua jurulatih John Beasley.

Keadaan lutut saya yang masih belum pulih daripada kecederaan sepenuhnya serta penyerapan saya di dalam skuad elit yang akan dihantar menjalani latihan lebih keras di Australia telah membuat saya dalam keadaan serba salah.

Saya telah mengambil keputusan untuk mencari kaedah perubatan selain dari yang telah diterima di bawah jagaan pihak ISN. Tanpa saya sedari, ubat yang telah saya ambil itu menyebabkan saya diuji positif untuk dadah jenis nandrolone semasa kejohanan Mini Olimpik tempohari.

Perkara ini amat saya kesali. Saya juga ingin menyatakan bahawa sebelum ini saya tidak pernah menggunakan apa-apa jenis dadah perangsang yang terlarang. Ini adalah pengalaman pertama saya dan ia adalah satu pengajaran yang pedih yang saya anggap kesilapan paling besar pernah saya lakukan dalam hidup saya.

Sekali lagi, saya akui di atas kesilapan dan ketidakmatangan ketika melakukan kesalahan ini dan memohon ribuan maaf kepada semua pegawai sukan khususnya berbasikal, rakan-rakan pelumba dan peminat sukan lumba basikal.

Saya juga menerima dengan hati yang reda apa saja hukuman yang akan dikenakan, disamping ingin meminta jasa baik untuk meringankan hukuman ke atas diri saya.

Saya masih muda dan ingin kembali ke arena berbasikal sebaik selesai tempoh penggantungan kerana inilah sukan yang saya cintai.

Sekian, terima kasih.

5 steps to cycling glory

You've got to push yourself hard- Brad McGee

Brad McGee is one of the leading bright lights in cycling.

The Australian lined up for the 2004 Tour de France having enjoyed his best career result in the Giro d'Italia in May.

He finished in 8th place overall at the end of the gruelling three-week stage race - one of the three Grand Tours.

He won the opening day prologue time trial at last year's Tour to take the leader's yellow jersey and is aiming to grab a top-ten spot in Paris this time around.

Unfortunately Bradley had to pull out of the 2004 Tour during stage 5 with back and hip problems caused by a crash.

Here he gives his five tips to bring the best out of you in the saddle.

1. Consistency: This does not mean you have to cycle every day but at least five days in a week is the way forward on the bike.

You then have to learn to pedal consistently - we're not born to pedal.

2. Enjoyment: If you don't enjoy getting on the bike, what's the point? If the enjoyment level isn't there, when it comes to the tougher times you'll have little inclination to push yourself that much further.

3. Toughness: Cycling is one of the hardest things in the world - even if we do try to make it look easy sometimes!

Bradley McGee in time trial action at the Tour de France

You have to push your body pretty far and, for that, you need mental as well as physical toughness.

The Tour de France is as harsh as it gets and some days you think: "Not today thanks."

But having the toughness to overcome that is the key.

4. Support: Without the support of my family and friends I never would have won a stage of the Tour de France last year.

I'd almost say that's the most important of these five.

People have made sacrifices to get me where I am today and for that I will always be grateful.

5. Dreaming: It's always handy to be a bit of a dreamer.

From a young age I always dreamed of winning a stage on the Tour de France and, if you continue dreaming about these things long enough, they may eventually come true.

These five tips have worked for me. Now you try and put them into practice and be the next big star.


"And, believe it or not, it's been on the go for over 100 years!
The beginning of track racing was as far back as the 1880's.

Apa ada dengan Sekolah Sukan di Malaysia

coming soon....

SportCheck: Ramli's fond memories

Ramli Hashim polishes his racing bicycle. Pic: AIZUDDIN SAAD.



2009/09/09

Vinashal Pillai

UNABLE to stand up without struggling due to diabetes, former national cyclist Ramli Hashim still manages a smile when asked about his exploits with the national team.

Like many greats before him, Ramli began his cycling career from humble beginnings when residing at Clementi, Singapore.

Ramli's interest in the sport started at age 12 but he got seriously involved when he got his first bike at the age of 19 in 1965.

Fitted with 24-inch road tyres, it was purchased on credit from his friend.

"I had been asking my father for a bicycle for a long time but he always found an excuse not to get one," said Ramli.

His love for cycling grew and he would cycle along Ayer Raja Road and Pasir Panjang Expressway in Singapore everyday. Then in 1965 Ramli got his first taste of near-success when he finished second in a sports carnival in a senior category.

"I was supposed to race in the novice category but I drafted myself into the seniors instead. I just wanted to see how good I was racing with the bigger boys," added Ramli, now 63 and living with his wife in Selayang, Selangor.

Ramli joined the Malaysian Police in 1968 when his family relocated to Malaysia and went on to compete in several big events including the Singapore Sea Games and Tokyo Asean Cycling Championship in 1973, the Bangkok Seap Games in 1975 and the New Zealand Commonwealth Games in 1979.

But his proudest achievement was his three-silver haul in the 1,600m time trial, 800m massed start and 4,800m massed start at the Seap Games in Singapore.

Although he did not win gold, Ramli's feat came as a surprise as he had only three months of competitive experience.

"Twice a month for every month I would cycle from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca as part of my personal training regime," he said.

"In those days we had centralised training under the tutelage of Alwi Ahmad where Fraser's Hill was our training ground but individual training was also encouraged."

Ramli would also cycle the Cheras-Kajang-Sungei Besi route to improve his endurance level.


Initially, he would take two hours to complete the route but gradually slashed it to just under 59 minutes.

His last big event was the 1983 Manila Sea Games after which he retired from the sport.

"The difference in parents' attitude towards their children's involvement in sports today has changed dramatically from my days.

"Our young athletes today are blessed with parents who support and encourage them." added Ramli when asked about the role parents play.

The father of two retired from the police force in 2001 but his health deteriorated when he was diagnosed with diabetes which has plagued him for the past seven years. Ramli is also on medication for his weak heart due to a heart attack suffered early last year.

With a monthly pension of RM1,000, Ramli's plight was answered when the National Athletes Charity Foundation (Yakeb) stepped in to help.

Yakeb's 1Ringgit 1Malaysia campaign was launched to assist former athletes like Ramli with their medical needs.

Yakeb is offering two coverage plans -- for former athletes below the age of 69 and for those above 70.

Donations and sponsorship should be channeled to Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan -- Tabung Yakeb, Maybank Account No: 564847005696 or SMS YAKEB1 to donate RM1, YAKEB2 for RM2, YAKEB5 for RM5 and YAKEB10 for RM10 and send to 33898. Each SMS costs 50 sen.

For enquiries, contact 03-89964841/4844 or visit www.yakeb.org.my.

n Watch BersamaMu-Wira Sukan, Anda Tetap Di Hati on TV3 at 9.30pm tonight.

2012 London Olympics: RM16m boost for Olympic hopefuls

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (right) and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek at the Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya yesterday.


2009/09/09

Ajitpal Singh

THE government has allocated a RM16 million budget to prepare 19 athletes from four sports -- badminton, archery, cycling and diving -- for the 2012 London Olympics. The budget will cover all preparation for these athletes ahead of the Olympics which includes exposure, coaching, conditioning and scientific elements.

Cabinet Committee for Sports chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said these athletes will be given full support by the government to prepare for the Olympics.

"They will be depended upon to deliver Malaysia's elusive gold medal in London. However, 19 is not a fixed number as we may add more athletes and sports under the programme," said Muhyiddin after chairing the committee meeting for the first time at the Prime Minister's Department in Putrajaya yesterday.

"We hope that everyone, including the public, will give full support to these athletes. I believe the support from the government will also help promote these sports among youngsters."

The athletes under the 'Road To London' programme are World No 1 Lee Chong Wei, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Fairuzizuan Tazari-Zakry Latif, Wong Mew Choo, Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui (badminton), Cheng Chu Sian, Marbawi Sulaiman, Wan Khalmizam Wan Abd Aziz, Nazrin Aizat Abd Rahim (archery), Azizul Hasni Awang, Rizal Tisin, Josiah Ng, Junaidi Nasir, Edrus Yunus (cycling), Leong Mun Yee and Pandelela Rinong (diving).

Diving was recently added into the programme after Mun Yee-Pandelela won the 10-metre platform synchronised bronze medal in the World Championships in Rome, two months ago.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee for Sports also reviewed the National Sports Policy (NSP) yesterday and jointly agreed that a new policy will be implemented to complement the current economic and social development in this country.

In principle, the new policy is to promote a sporting culture, enhance social integration and also create economic opportunities through sports.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said an improvised version of the NSP will be presented to the Cabinet soon.

"We want to make sports a culture and industry in Malaysia. Under the new policy, sports will be promoted extensively. We want to repackage sports to make it more attractive to the public," he said.

He added that the committee will also propose to the Cabinet to review the Institutions of Higher Learning Policy to give more flexibility to athletes to complete their studies.

"We want to produce thinking athletes by creating more flexibility for them to complete their degree programmes. Our vision is to have 30 per cent of our national athletes studying in public universities," said Muhyiddin, who confirmed that the Asia University Sports Council will also be set up in Kuala Lumpur soon.

Fauzan staring at two-year suspension

Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi tested positive for a banned substance during the Mini Olympics last month.



2009/09/06

Arnaz M. Khairul

JUST when everything seemed to be heading in the right direction, Malaysian cycling has been rocked out of dreamland by a positive doping case.

It is only the second time in the history of Malaysian cycling but it couldn't have come at a worse moment.

Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi, who has just joined the elite training camp in Melbourne, is said to have been called home by the National Sports Council (NSC) on Thursday after the A sample of his urine taken during the Mini Olympics last month tested positive for a banned substance.

The 24-year-old is a former Asian Championships bronze medallist and Sea Games gold medallist. He competed in the Under-23 World Championships twice and also the national road champion in 2008.
Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi tested positive for a banned substance during the Mini Olympics last month.

Fauzan competed in the team pursuit at the Asian Championships in Tenggarong, Indonesia last month.

He has just been roped into the elite track endurance programme based in Melbourne, after two years serving the road programme.

Fauzan allegedly tested positive for anabolic steroids, an outdated form of doping as far as top level cycling is concerned.

The cyclist has chosen not to contest the results of the A sample and will be facing a two year ban from the sport.

National Sports Institute (NSI) director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz confirmed the positive test, stating that the Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia (ADAMAS) will be making an official announcement tomorrow.

"In this case, the athlete concerned had been asked if he wished to contest the result of the doping control. He would not be contesting the results, so this can now go straight to the national body in charge for further action," said Dr Ramlan. "The exact substance will also be revealed by ADAMAS."

The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) had also been notified on Thursday of the positive test.

Officials, when contacted, stated they were aware of the situation but declined comment. MNCF president Abu Samah Wahab is in Mecca, performing the Umrah.

This would be only the second positive dope test in the history of Malaysian cycling, despite it being rampant in Europe and at the top level of cycling.


Former national cyclist Razif Salleh tested positive for steroids in 2006 and completed a two-year ban last year. That was the first ever positive doping case involving a Malaysian cyclist, but it was due to Razif's own ignorance at the time.

Razif, now 25, revealed that he had consumed some tablets taken by bodybuilders to improve his physique in order to raise his appeal to earn some extra income by modeling. That plan had backfired miserably on the once promising keirin rider.

Al-Fatihah

Mari sejenak mendoakan kesejahteraan roh ayah tersayang kepada Dato'Abdul Malek Maidin yang telah kembali kerahmatullah pagi ini. Al-Fatihah.