Play the Game Newsletter for 2 July 2007

1. Boxing federation bans ex-president and expels secretay general
2. FIFA reorganises before ISL court case opens in march next year
3. IOC asked to prevent evictions and protect Olympic workers
4. Athletes at Pan Am Games may update their websites after all
5. FIVB leaders continue to ignore player registration fraud
6. Prevention programme proposed to stop football trafficking
7. Kenyan runners kickstart local development process
8. Two stafff members leave Play the Game
9. News in brief

Boxing federation bans ex-president and expels sectretary general
The executive committee of the International Boxing Federation (AIBA) has begun a regular show-down with the legacy of corruption the organisation inherited from former president Anwar Chowdhry. Based on a report from its own ethics commission, AIBA banned the former president for life and expelled its suspended secretary general, Caner Doganelli.

FIFA reorganises before ISL court case opens in march next year
Corruption is a touchy subject for FIFA at the moment. Recently, John McBeth from Scotland was deselected as the British associations’ FIFA vice-president after he made remarks to journalists about corruption in FIFA. General Secretary Urs Linsi has also left FIFA as president Blatter circles the wagons before FIFA must defend itself against charges of corruption when the ISL case reaches court in March next year.

IOC asked to prevent evictions and protect Olympic workers  
The International Olympic Committee does not want to get involved with the general human rights situation in China. But now, human rights organisations try to engage the IOC in alleviating human rights problems that are a direct consequence of China’s preparations for the Games or occur in the name of the Olympics.

Athletes at Pan Am Games may update their websites after all  
Athletes going to the Pan-American Games in Brazil next month can update their blogs and websites during the event after all. Four months after telling athletes from 42 countries that they could not “report for on-line sites during the games”, the organising committee has made a complete u-turn on the sensitive topic of athletes’ right to free speech.

FIVB leaders continue to ignore player registration fraud
The president of the Dominican Republic Volleyball Federation (Fedevoli), Ramón García, has refused to address the latest irregularities in the registration of players in international tournaments, reports newspaper Primera Hora in Puerto Rico.

Prevention programme proposed to stop football trafficking

Each year many school-age African boys come to Europe because they believe they have a contract with a professional football club. Unfortunately, the majority have been set up by false agents and end up in the streets as illegal immigrants with no money. Now members of the European Parliament want to put an end to this illegal practice and propose a solidarity fund and prevention programmes.

Kenyan runners kickstart local development process  
In April this year, Robert K. Cheruiyot from Kenya won the annual marathon in Boston and took home 100,000 US dollars in prize money. A week later another Kenyan, Martin Lel, won the marathon in London with a prize of 55,000 US dollars. Prize money from running has become a very important part of Kenya’s economy as many runners take the money home to invest them.

Two stafff members leave Play the Game  
For very different reasons, Play the Game has seen two staff members part in recent weeks.

News in brief  
Upcoming conferences: “Doping and Public Health” in Aarhus, Denmark and “Beyond Engagement: Inclusion, sport and popular culture” in Manchester, United Kingdom.