LOS ANGELES: Carl Lewis dismissed a demand by the manager of former Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson to give back his 1988 Olympic gold medal in the 100 metres, saying it was unrealistic.

“It’s ridiculous, who cares?” Lewis said on Tuesday. I did 18 years of track and field and I’ve been retired five years, and they’re still talking about me, so I guess I still have it.” Johnson’s manager and attorney, Morris Chrobotek, told the Sydney Morning Herald last week that he plans legal action in response to documents purporting to show that Lewis and other US athletes were allowed to compete at the 1988 Seoul Olympics after failing drug tests. “So he’s going to sue hundreds of people? Would you expect him to say anything different?” Lewis asked. “It’s a dead issue, it really is.” Lewis was declared the winner in the 100 metres when Johnson was stripped of his gold medal and world record after testing positive for a banned steroid. Lewis also won the long jump and finished his career with nine Olympic golds.

Dr Wade Exum, the US Olympic Committee’s director for drug control from 1991, released more than 30,000 pages of documents to Sports Illustrated last week that he says show Lewis, tennis player Mary Joe Fernandez and others tested positive but were still allowed to compete in Seoul. The Orange County Register published a similar report based on documents it obtained. “The only thing I can say is I think it’s unfortunate what Wade Exum is trying to do,” Lewis said after an appearance at the University of Southern California. The USOC has called Exum’s accusations baseless.  Exum said Lewis tested positive three times at the 1988 Olympic trials for small amounts of banned stimulants found in cold medications. The USOC first disqualified Lewis, then reversed itself after he appealed, claiming inadvertent use. “I don’t know what people are trying to make out of nothing because everyone was treated the same, so what are we talking about? I don’t get it,” Lewis said. He said a different climate existed in drug testing in 1988. 

CHITTAGONG: Bangladesh’s new cricket captain is determined to stop his team’s losing streak and at least try to force a draw in the first match of the two-Test home series against South Africa.

The First Test match between Bangladesh and South Africa starts today at Chittagong’s MA Aziz Stadium. The Second Test will be played in the capital, Dhaka, from May 1. “We are not dreaming about winning the match, but we can certainly try to achieve a draw,” skipper Khaled Mahmud said yesterday. Bangladesh lost their two Test matches — both by an innings — during a tour of South Africa last year. Mahmud, an all-rounder, said his team will expect “better conviction and performance” from their batsmen, who have persistently failed. Spinners, he said, are expected to do better. “Our first target is to bat full session and to score at least 300-350 runs,” said Mahmud. “Though South Africa is the stronger team, they will find it difficult in these conditions,” said Mahmud after a practice session yesterday.

The pitch at the MA Aziz Stadium has a lot of turn and is likely to favour spinners, according to ground experts. South Africa, also led by a new captain — left-handed batsman Graeme Smith — arrived on Wednesday and went straight to the field for practice. “The condition here is very difficult and unfamiliar for South Africans,” said Smith after net practice in hot, humid weather. “We got some positive performance from the one-day series. As captain, I was nervous at the start of the one-day series, but this time everything is OK,” said Smith, 22. South Africa and India became the joint winners of a tri-nation limited overs series on Monday, after rain washed out the final match on two consecutive days. The series, which also featured Bangladesh, was held in Dhaka on April 11-21. Umpires Steve Bucknor of West Indies and Billy Bowden of New Zealand, who will conduct the Test series, also arrived yesterday in Chittagong, a port city 215 kilometres (135 miles) south of capital, Dhaka.

Bangladesh have lost 15 of the 16 Tests they have played since becoming the newest Test-playing nation in 2000. They only managed to draw one Test, against Zimbabwe, because of rain. They have also failed to win any of their 35 limited-overs matches in the past few years. Mahmud took over as the captain after the team’s dismal World Cup performance earlier this year. He replaced Khaled Masud who stepped down as captain and has been dropped for the Test series. Smith, South Africa’s youngest ever captain, also gained the captaincy from Shaun Pollock following the World Cup.

Bangladesh — (from): Khaled Mahmud (captain), Mehrab Hossain, Mohammad Ashraful, Javed Omar, Habibul Bashar, Akram Khan, Sanwar Hossain, Mohammad Selim, Alok Kapali, Mohammad Rafique, Tapas Baishya, Manjural Islam, Mashrafee-bin-Murtaza and Enamul Haq.

South Africa — (from): Graeme Smith (captain), Mark Boucher, Hershelle Gibbs, Boeta Dippenaar, Shaun Pollock, Neil McKenzie, Paul Adams, Allan Dawson, Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Jacques Rudolph, Charl Willoughby.  

ZURICH: Jamaica returned to the number one spot in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) rankings for the first time in over three years when they moved ahead of Trinidad and Tobago in the April rankings released by FIFA yesterday.

Jamaica climbed one place up to 50th in the world, while Trinidad and Tobago dropped two spots to 51st, and Cuba became the world’s biggest movers in the month when they jumped 18 spots to 55th in the world. The Reggae Boyz last led TT on FIFA’s list — and occupied the CFU’s top spot — in February 2000. Trinidad and Tobago, the reigning Caribbean Cup champions, suffered a huge blow at the CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers at home last month when they were beaten 3-1 by Cuba and forced into secondary play-offs — starting this week in Martinique — to get into the Gold Cup. Cuba, who were 73rd in FIFA’s March rankings, won the group.

Jamaica, the 1998 World Cup qualifiers, played unbeaten in their group at home and booked an automatic spot to this summer’s Gold Cup in the United States and Mexico. They whipped St. Lucia 5-0, beat Haiti 3-0, and drew 2-2 with Martinique. St. Lucia, who upset the CFU’s fourth-ranked Haiti 2-1 in the Kingston group, improved eight places to an all-time best 107th on FIFA’s list. In the CFU’s top 10, Barbados — 95th in the world — remain fifth behind Jamaica, TT, Cuba, and Haiti, while the St. Lucians displace St. Kitts and Nevis in sixth spot. The region’s top-10 list is completed by the Kittitians, 117th in the world, Grenada (137th) and Suriname (146th), with St. Vincent and the Grenadines (150th) 10th in the region. Five-time world champions Brazil remain a clear world number one, ahead of Spain and 1998 World Cup winners France. Germany are fourth, followed by The Netherlands, Argentina, England, Turkey, and Mexico, with United States 10th.

RANKING OF CFU TEAMS (World ranking in bracket)
1 Jamaica (50th); 2 Trinidad/Tobago (51); 3 Cuba (55); 4 Haiti (76); 5 Barbados (95); 6 St. Lucia (107); 7 St. Kitts/Nevis (117); 8 Grenada (137); 9 Suriname (146); 10 St. Vincent/ Grenadines (151); 11 Dominican Republic (156); 12 Antigua/Barbuda (158); 13 British Virgin Islands (166);
14 Cayman Islands (172); 15 Guyana (175); 16 Bermuda (176); 17 Dominica (177); 18 Netherlands Antilles (179); 19 Bahamas (188); 20 Aruba (193); 21 Anguilla (196); 22 US Virgin Islands (197); 23 Puerto Rico (199); 24 Turks/Caicos Islands (203); 25 Montserrat (204). (CMC)

TRINIDAD and Tobago players continued to dominate the Boys Under-12 category yesterday in the IBM sponsored ITF Junior Circuit tournament.

The youngsters were in action at the PSA Courts; Country Club and Jean Pierre Complex. Jovani Lewis whipped his compatriot Jonathan Gouveia 6-4, 6-1; while Christopher Brash, Raval Deonarine and Liam Gomez were also in winners’ row yesterday. On Tuesday, Under-14 and Under-12 Boys and Girls players kept Trinidad and Tobago pride winning 19 matches. But in the Under-18 bracket, lone boy Winnington Grazette and six girls including Brittany Delaney were ousted. Raval Deonarine, Christopher Brash, Abdoulaye Camara (Boys) and Olivia Bennett, Kiran Pereira, Yolande Leacock, Raye-Ann Sandy, Jerome Granger, Desdta Sandy, Jared Gouveia, Richard Chung, Kirk da Silva and Kevon Charles all beat fellow Trinidadians to advance.

Tuesday’s results
UNDER-12 BOYS — Raval Deonarine (TT) bt Raphael Samuel (TT) 8-1; Christopher Brash (TT) bt Jovani Lewis (TT) 8-4; Abdoulye Camara bt Liam Gomez (TT) 8-4; Kevin Delighy (LCA) bt Dawoud Kagh (TT) 8-2; Jason David (Gren) bt Janeille Kagli (TT) 8-1; Jerome Branker (TT) bt Jake Delaney (TT) 8-0; Jovani Lewis (TT) bt Ryan Charles (Gren) 8-4; Thibault Bain (LCA) bt Raval Deonarine (TT) 8-2; Christopher Brash (TT) bt Vaughn Wilson (TT) 8-1.

UNDER-14 BOYS — Lendl Smith (TT) bt J’Ameil Hercules 8-1; Karime David (Gren) bt Kibwe Goooding (TT)  8-1; Sourni Meeuwsen (Aruba) bt Ryan Gomez (TT) 8-0; Chad Mitchell (Gren) bt Noah Haynes (Bar) 8-5; Xavier Robles Medina (Suriname) bt Jack Su (TT) 8-7 (3); Desta Sandy (TT) bt Alex Daharru (TT) 8-0; Jared Gouveia (TT) bt Z ayne Clarke (TT) 8-1; Richard Chung (TT) bt Kibwe Gooding (TT) walk over; Theron Charles (Gren) bt Jack Su (TT) 8-7 (3); Kirk de Silva (TT) bt Christopher Koo (TT) 8-1; Kevon Charles (Gren) bt Alex Darbieu (TT) 8-1.

UNDER-14 GIRLS —- Olivia Bennett (TT) bt Amunu Adogwa (TT) 8-0; Fabienne Nassy (Sur) bt Renele Forde (Gren) 8-0; Carusta Mohammed (TT) bt Robyn Lett (Gren) 8-0; Jeneice Ward (TT) bt Kristen Lopez (Gren) 8-1; Kiran Pereira (TT) bt Amrika Ramsewan (TT) 8-0; Yolande Leacock (TT) bt Larissa James (TT) 8-0; Robyn Lett (Gre) bt Renele Forde (TT) 8-0; Shenelle Mohammed (TT) bt Charlwette de Souza (TT) 8-12; Samantha de Gannes (TT) bt Amunu Adogwa (TT) 8-0; Fabienne Nassy (Sur) bt Carlista Mohammed (TT) 8-7 (4); Elviro Sholles (Sur) bt Amrika Ramsewan (TT) 8-0.

UNDER-12 GIRLS —- Akeela Smith (TT) bt Nuicolette Leacock (TT) 8-2; Raye-Ann Sandy (TT) bt Christina Bennett (TT) 8-3; Nicolette Leacock (TT) bt Keilne Teesorle 8-4.

Yesterday’s Results
At PSA Tennis Facility
Boys Under-12: Jovani Lewis (TT) bt Jonathan Gouveia (TT) 6-4, 6-1: Christopher Brash (TT) bt Jabrille Kabli (TT) 6-0, 6-2; Raval Deonarine (TT) bt Jerome Branker (TT) 6-4, 2-6, 7-5; Liam Gomez (TT) bt Jason David 6-0, 6-0.
Boys Under-14: Jared Gouveia (TT) bt Zayne Clarke 6-0, 6-0; Jack Su (TT) bt Jason Phillip (LCA).
Girls Under-14: Monica Winkel (AHO) bt Kiran Pereira (TT) 7-6, 6-2; Robyn Lett (GRN) bt Kristen Lopez (BAR) 6-0, 6-0; Shenelle Mohammed (TT) bt Tiffany Testing (AHO).

At Trinidad Country Club
Girls Under-18 Singles: Lacey-Ann Lloyd (GBR) bt Manijer Ashirafi (PUR) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6; Christy Striplin (USA) bt Ashley Finnegam (USA) 6-0, 6-2; Nathalie Piauion (FRA) bt Adrienne Duenas (USA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; Ashley Spicer (USA) bt Stephania Velasquez (ARU) 6-3, 6-2; Ellah Nze (USA) bt Marianne Eelens (ARU) 6-3, 6-0; Emmy Fritz-Krockow (USA) bt Yelena Litvak (USA) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; Rie Imai (JPN) bt Carla Tamborini (USA) 6-4, 0-6, 6-2; Nicole Shabazz (USA) bt Arielle Von Strolley (JAM) 6-1, 6-2.
Girls Under-18 Doubles: L.A. Lloyd/C.Striplin bt J. Atkinson/N. Piguion 6-4, 6-1; J. Van Aerde/S. Velasquez bt J. Morisrty/E. Nze 6-0, 6-4.

At Jean Pierre Complex
Boys Under-18 Singles: Michael Shabaz (USA) bt Alberto Gonzalez (PAN) 6-3, 6-4; Michael Samara (USA) bt Fabrice Martin (FRA) 6-3, 6-4; Todd Ley (AUS) bt Charles Sator (USA) 6-3, 6-1; Jose Moncade (HON) bt Taylor Striplin (USA) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4; Nikki Peel (GBR) bt Paul Morrisey (IRL) 7-5, 3-6, 6-2; Billy Mertz (USA) bt Michael Johnson (USA) 6-3, 6-1; Dylan Arnould (USA) bt Victor Scmid (GER) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4; Haydon Lewis (BAR) bt Daragh Rowan (IRL) 7-6, 6-3.
Boys Under-18 Doubles: A. Chang/B. Mertz bt K. Hamilton/A. Russell 6-0, 6-0; J. Guzman/R.Van Dijk bt M. Balgobin/Y. Williams 6-3, 6-3.

YOUNGSTERS should be encouraged to play chess as the game helps them acquire positive attributes which serve them in good stead throughout their lives.

This is the view of Srinivasan Gopalan, managing-director of The New India Assurance Company (TT) Limited based in Port-of-Spain. The Mumbai headquartered multinational with assets of US $2.5 billion worldwide, except North America is the leading insurance company in India. Gopalan has pledged his office’s commitment to sponsor the National Chess Championships for the second year running with a generous contribution gleefully accepted by Chess Association president Bhisham Soondarsingh yesterday.

The Madras-born Gopalan, who is on his first overseas assignment for New India Assurance, has been in Trinidad for the past 18 months and is a keen chessist, hence his natural affinity to the local game. There are other attractions however, one being the fact that the game originated in the Indian subcontinent, hotly disputed by the Chinese. Another is the outstanding chessists produced by his homeland within recent times who have won several international tournaments and rank among the best in the world.

The third reason is the undoubted qualities which playing the game can bestow on its adherents especially the very young. “It builds character, helps in their allround development and teaches them most of all the important virtue of patience,” said Gopalan yesterday at his office in the Guardian Building, St Vincent Street. The Indian native, who runs a successful Port-of-Spain operation also suggested that chess experts from his homeland could be lured here to conduct workshops and impart their knowledge once arrangements could be made.

It was a point touched upon by Soondarsingh, who said despite the lack of sufficient funds to successfully run local development programmes, TT chessists are the best in the Caribbean consistently defeating their counterparts from Barbados, Jamaica and the Bahamas. “We still manage to come out on top and do well in international competitions. But more must be given to chess to sustain the impetus,” said Soondarsingh. He said Barbados expend considerable human and financial resources in the game and currently employ several foreign experts teaching and conducting programmes with the top and upcoming players. The National Championships, Soondarsingh said, gets going on May 2 with the Tobago leg from which two players will advance to the national finals.

On May 17 national champion and FIDE Master Ryan Harper will engage 11 qualifiers from the respective zones in a round-robin tournament at the Students Activity Centre, University of the West Indies, St Augustine from 3 pm. Among the chessists bidding for honours are FIDE Masters Mario Merrit, Frank Yee and Cecil Lee from the North Zone. Representing East will be John Raphael, Kirby Hope and Jerome Joseph. The South/Central challenge will be headed by Christo Cave, Andrew Bowles, and Guelmo Rosales. Not to be left out, there will also be a national championship for the women with defending champion Desiree Derrick putting her crown in the line.

Easter Guineas winner, Top Of The Class, heads a list of 26 runners for the Clico Midsummer  Classic at Santa Rosa Park, Arima on June 20.

The runaway winner of the Monday’s feature on the Arima Race Club Day 12 card, stayed on course for triple crown honours after connections paid the required $400 to be eligible to race in  the second leg of the series. Also among the subscribers for the 1900 metres contest are Royal Flush, Golden Honour, and Celebration Time. The trio followed home Top of the Class in the Easter Monday race. Champion trainer John O’Brien holds his usual strong hand in the staying event with six entries. His string includes Ichiban and Due Dilligence, two of the early fancies for the Easter Guineas, who withdrew late because of  injury.

Cornerstone, who had to be re-saddled after breaking open his gate before the start of the Easter Guineas, Hannibal’s Will, Isle Be There and Fresh Mandate are O’Brien’s other hopefuls. Trainer Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj, who failed to have a runner in the Easter Guineas had three listed for the second stanza. Loud Music and Sweet Laura Lee, who raced in separate events on the Easter Guineas card were paid for along with an un-raced son of Trouble Rips It. The total kitty for the event now stands stands at $27,400.

Following are the subscribers in alphabetical order:

AFFIRM DECISION, BOUND TO DOT COM, CELEBRATION TIME, CORNERSTONE, DARE TO DREAM, DUE DILIGENCE, FINEST GEM, FRESH MANDATE, FULL OF PROMISES, GOLDEN HONOUR, HANNIBAL’S WILL, HYARIMA, ICHIBAN, ISLE BE THERE, LOUD MUSIC, NATURELLY CLASSY, RENAISSANCE MAN, ROYAL FLUSH, SIR VIDIA, SUPER GREY, SWEET LAURA LEE, SWEET TEMPO, TOP OF THE CLASS, UNDISPUTED, WILD LIFE, YAA ASANTEWAA.