Sydney FC to unveil new striker

Replaced ... Sydney FC have been quick in finding cover for axed player Jason Culina. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Young Australian striker Jarrod Kyle looks set to become the latest Sydney FC recruit in the wake of Socceroos midfielder Jason Culina's axing.

The Sky Blues are expected to unveil the 19-year-old as their newest signing on Wednesday.

Kyle has returned to Australia after spending three years playing with Sheffield Wednesday's academy, youth and under-21s teams.

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The Gold Coast teen was a standout in the Championship club's academy side last season, top scoring with 10 goals and named as the Owls' academy Player of the Year.

Despite his strong showing, he failed to secure any first-team opportunities this season and decided to look for opportunities elsewhere.

The pacy attacker was highly sought-after in the A-League with Sydney reportedly beating Central Coast and Western Sydney in the race for his signature.

Kyle, who arrived in Sydney last week, has been training with the Sky Blues and revealed on Twitter last Thursday his excitment over the club's marquee star Alessandro Del Piero.

''Was training with the Italian god today mate. He was so bothered haha. Still sick though!,'' he tweeted.

In a timely boost to the Sky Blues' finals charge, Kyle could come straight into the squad for Saturday night's crucial home clash with Adelaide.

News of Kyle's signing comes just a day after Sydney decided to terminate Culina's contract following his bust-up with coach Frank Farina at training last week.

Kyle will add much-needed depth to Sydney FC's attack, which is still without the suspended Joel Griffiths for another week.

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Hird will be condemned: Parkin

Responsibility ... James Hird is likely to keep his job despite scandal. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

AFL coaches association (AFLCA) president David Parkin says Essendon coach James Hird can expect condemnation for his role in the AFL club's supplement saga, regardless of what the investigation uncovers.

But Parkin says he will be flabbergasted if it ends up costing Hird his job.

Parkin, a four-time premiership coach, said he had contacted Hird to offer his support after the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) investigation was launched into the club last week and he had enormous respect and sympathy for the Bombers mentor.

But he said a senior coach ultimately had to take responsibility for the way an AFL club treated their players.

"He came back and was very pleased for the support obviously,'' Parkin told Melbourne's SEN radio on Tuesday.

"But I felt he was in a position of no-win now.

"It won't matter whether he knew, didn't know, was encouraging or not knowing, he'll be condemned for the position he's held.''

Parkin said it was possible, given the size of AFL football departments, that Hird would not have known everything that was happening to players at the club.

But he said that didn't absolve him of responsibility.

"Coaches are responsible, in the finish they're responsible for the health and wellbeing of their players,'' Parkin said.

"We know they're responsible for their performance, but in hand with that if they're not looking after them as people, particularly in the broader sense of their health and wellbeing, then they shouldn't be in the job either.''

But Parkin said while some were suggesting Hird should be sacked, he had great values and behaviours and was the kind of person anyone would want as a leader in their club.

"I've got great faith in James as a person and as a leader of that organisation and I would be absolutely flabbergasted if that was the end result of this investigation,'' he said.

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Maxwell fails in India audition

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Audition ... Glenn Maxwell failed to make an impact against an Indian Board XI. Source: Theron Kirkman / AP

Steve Smith was the only one of Australia's three candidates for the Test allrounder's position to pass 20 as the tourists were bowled out for 241 on Tuesday against an Indian Board XI.

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Striving to reclaim his Test spot for the series against India which starts on February 22, Smith came in at No.4 and made a stylish 41 in two-and-a-half hours on a turning pitch.

Uncapped allrounders Glenn Maxwell (0) and Moises Henriques (16) will get another chance to impress selectors with the ball on day two of the two-day game in Chennai.

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Opener Ed Cowan made 58 in an important knock given the ongoing speculation that Test No.4 Shane Watson might be better suited at the top of the order.

Usman Khawaja (32) and Cowan shared an opening stand of 77 at the tree-lined Guru Nanak College Ground where the genteel atmosphere was heightened by having two waiters in black suits carry trays of drinks out during the morning session.

Cowan was given out caught behind to offspinner Parvez Rassol at 2-109 after Australia were 1-81 at lunch. The uncapped Rassol, 23, was the star of the day with figures of 7-45 off 28.3 overs.

Rassol removed Matthew Wade who was caught at long-off for 35.

Maxwell, whose international profile soared after being bought last weekend by Mumbai Indians for $US1 million ($A977,000) in the Indian Premier League auction, was caught behind off paceman Stuart Binny at 4-169 just before tea.

Henriques was caught at short cover off the bowling of legspinner Sarabjit Ladda and Smith popped a catch to short leg off Rassol six runs later at 6-198.

Peter Siddle (22) and James Pattinson (nine) added 30 for the seventh wicket before Rassol removed both batsmen in the 83rd over.

Australia lost 4-13 to end their innings five minutes before the scheduled stumps.

Monday's arrivals Watson, Xavier Doherty, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Phil Hughes are likely to play in the three-day game starting on Saturday.peSkipper Michael Clarke and David Warner, who are nursing hamstring and thumb complaints, were due to arrive shortly.

Western Australia spinner Ashton Agar, 19, has been included in the Australia team for the two-day game as part of his development and is heading home this weekend.

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Manly cleared by ASADA: report

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David Perry ... claims Manly has been cleared by ASADA. Source: Sam Ruttyn / News Limited

NRL club Manly say they have been cleared of doping by the Australian Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).

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Sea Eagles officials, including club chairman Scott Penn and chief executive David Perry, attended a meeting on Tuesday with ASADA and Tony Whitlam QC, who heads the new NRL integrity unit.

The club late on Tuesday night then released a statement claiming all its players been cleared.

"The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have been told by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) that none of the club's players, past or present, have tested positive to illegal performance enhancing substances,'' the statement read.

The six NRL clubs mentioned in the Australian Crime Commission's (ACC) report were briefed by ASADA in Sydney on Tuesday.

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Representatives from the Sea Eagles, Penrith, Cronulla, Canberra, North Queensland and Newcastle were spoken to both as a group and individually.

"ASADA outlined to Manly and five other NRL clubs the processes it is undertaking as part of its on-going investigation into the use of banned substances in Australian sport,'' Perry said in the statement.

"We will continue to assist ASADA in its investigation.

"Confidentiality precludes the Sea Eagles from discussing details of that investigation.''

Meanwhile, Penrith general manager Phil Gould says the NRL clubs mentioned in the Australian Crime Commission now have a greater understanding of the investigation being undertaken by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

The Panthers boss joined representatives from the five other clubs mentioned in the ACC report - Manly, Cronulla, Newcastle, North Queensland and Canberra - at a group briefing in Sydney on Tuesday.

The clubs were also briefed individually by ASADA.

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No specific details or players were identified by ASADA, though Gould - who was last week highly critical of the broad-brush nature in which the report was made public - was nonetheless encouraged by the update provided.

"I've been well informed of what they are looking at and how long this process will take and how serious it is and at the end of the day we totally support the process and totally support the work the NRL is doing,'' Gould said.

"I'm far clearer today than I was yesterday.''

Asked if the clubs had been informed as to what investigators were looking into, with allegations of illicit drug use and match-fixing mentioned in the report, Gould said:

"Basically we're bound by the same confidentiality (as the NRL) now.

"All I can say is that we're very clear on what ASADA has had to say and we understand this is a drawn out process and totally support it.''

Earlier on Tuesday, NRL chief executive David Smith said he could not give a timeline on how long the ongoing investigations would take or when specific details might be made public.

"It (the briefings will ASADA) will take the ongoing investigations to the next stage,'' Smith said.

"I can't pre-judge how long that will take.''

Investigators from auditors Deloitte visited the Knights last week, and seven-time premiership-winning coach Wayne Bennett said they checked on records as far back as seven years ago.

Bennett, who only took over as Knights coach for the 2012 season, said he has quizzed all staff and players and was confident the current Newcastle set-up have nothing to worry about.

"They want us to confess to something. I'm racking my head what we've got to confess to,'' said Bennett.

"I've been through the staff, I've checked with all the players.

"Whatever they're looking for, it hasn't happened in the past 18 months. So after that I've got no idea.

"The information we're getting when they arrived here last week looking for records ... they were certainly talking about other years as far back as 2005 perhaps.

"We've just got no idea. We've complied with everything they've asked for and we'll continue to do that.

"We've got nothing to hide, not since I've been here anyway.''

Penrith captain Kevin Kingston said he was confident the club does not have a 'drug problem'.

"We trust our sports scientists. We don't take anything out of the ordinary. I barely take protein myself,'' Kingston said.

"I don't think there is a drug problem at our club.''

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Olympics dump wrestling

Tradition .. Wrestling must now fight for its place in the Olympics. Source: Paul Sancya / AP

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday opted to remove wrestling from the program of sports at the 2020 Games, a spokesman said.

The decision, taken at the IOC's executive board (EB) meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, means wrestling now faces a fight against seven other sports for inclusion at the Games, the location of which will be decided later this year.

The sport, which includes freestyle and greco-roman wrestling, still has a slim chance of regaining its berth but, if the example of softball and baseball are anything to go by, it is unlikely to be successful.

For both of those sports were ejected in a vote in 2009 and subsequently confirmed in Berlin at the EB meeting where golf and rugby sevens were accepted for the 2016 edition in Rio de Janeiro.

There would be one last hope in that when the decision is put to all the IOC members in the Congress in Buenos Aires in September that it is rejected.

Some IOC members not on the EB could simply vote against the decision because they are annoyed that such matters are presented to them almost as a fait accompli and not debated by all the members.

Ironically softball and baseball have united this time round in order to regain its spot and will learn their fate at the EB meeting in St Petersburg, Russia, in May.

Also lobbying for inclusion are squash, roller sports - who both failed in their bids in 2009 - karate, wushu, which is very popular at the Asian Games, the nautical sport wakeboard and sport climbing.

Squash and karate are generally seen to be leading the race to win the sole spot for the 2020 Games which will be held in either Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul.

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AOC introduces stat decs

Declaration ... Torah Bright will be one of Australia's medal hopes in Sochi. Source: AFP

Australian athletes competing at next year's Winter Olympics will be the first in the world to sign statutory declarations saying they have no history of doping in sport.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) announced the introduction of the landmark rule on Tuesday in the midst of the current doping scandal engulfing the NRL and AFL.

With those competing at the 2014 Sochi Games kick-starting the process it will now be mandatory for all future Australian Olympians to sign a statutory declaration about doping, with those who lie facing up to five years' imprisonment.

All members of the AOC's executive, its committees and commission as well as AOC staff will also be required to make the statutory declaration in the coming weeks.

Anyone refusing to sign will be ineligible for the Australian Olympic team or AOC employment.

The AOC board first discussed the reform at a meeting last November after the US Anti-Doping Agency stripped cyclist Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles and banned him from sanctioned sport for life.

AOC president John Coates circulated final details of the Ethical Behaviour By Law amendment to his executive last Thursday - the same day the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) tabled its findings about widespread banned drug abuse in elite sport.

Coates last week said the reform could be a template for organisations like the AFL and NRL.

"I would encourage them to look at what we've done, even down at a club level,'' he said on Saturday.

The AOC have also vowed to share information with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority relating to the statutory declarations.

"Consistent with our obligations under the WADA Code to co-operate with ASADA and vigorously pursue all potential anti-doping rule violations'' Coates said on Tuesday.

"This may include verifying the contents of a statutory declaration, reporting suspected false declarations or identifying instances where a person or group of persons refuses to sign the statutory declaration altogether.''

In the wake of the ACC report, the federal government has moved to strengthen ASADA's investigative powers and resources, introducing a bill which would give them police-like enforcement to compel suspect athletes and others to turn up for questioning and hand over documents on request.

The AOC is currently preparing a submission and Coates, who last week welcomed the move, will attend a public hearing in Canberra next month.

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Probe scientist worked for Manly

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Probe ... Stephen Dank (right) used to work with NRL premiers Manly. Source: Alan Pryke / News Limited

He's the mystery man who made a name for himself with innovative sports science methods including delving into the genetic build-up of players.

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Stephen Dank would research the DNA of star NRL players to help structure their training programs.

He worked at Manly with Dean "The Weapon" Robinson before the pair reunited at Windy Hill.

But 2012 didn't go to plan and Dank was a quick casualty. The club and Dank parted company late last year. The Weapon has been stood down by the club pending the investigation from the AFL and ASADA.

Most of us had not heard of Dank before the Essendon press conference, and while it is not known if he is linked to the current investigation, let's find out more about him...

WHO IS STEPHEN DANK?

- A physiologist from Sydney who became known in Australia's sporting landscape a decade ago, when working for NRL outfit Manly Sea Eagles

- Dank grabbed headlines in 2004 when, working for NRL club Manly, he pioneered testing players' DNA to increase performance.

- This allowed Manly to tailor speed, power, weight and endurance programs to suit the make-up of their stars.

- In 2008 Dank put it on the record that he did not do media interviews

- Dank was known to work with calves' blood, altitude training machines, while his DNA program made Manly global pioneers

- Dank worked closely with Manly coach Dessie Hassler before joining Essendon

- Dank was sacked from the Bombers at the end of last season amid the fallout from the injury epidemic and Essendon's dramatic demise in the second half of the year

- It is believed Dank has since taken up a role at a different AFL club.

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Voges, Marsh put WA on top

Strong ... Adam Voges helps WA get on top of Queensland. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Western Australia coach Justin Langer heaped praise on skipper Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh after the internationals dug their side out of a massive hole in the Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland on Tuesday.

The pair compiled a record fourth-wicket partnership for WA at the Gabba after coming together with their side in strife at 3-62 on a green-tinged wicket.

But their 162-run partnership threatened to take the game away from the Bulls, who joined Victoria at the top of the table on Monday when they secured first-innings points.

The Warriors went to stumps at 5-240, a lead of 183 runs, to set up an intriguing day three.

Langer said Voges had blossomed since taking over the WA captaincy from Marcus North, who quit the post in late October.

"I've said for five years he's a terrific leader, an excellent bloke and a good cricketer,'' Langer said.

"He's done a good job so far and that's what you expect from the captain.''

Voges and Marsh continued their purple patch after compiling a 229-run stand during the Warriors' 110-run win over Queensland in the domestic one-day clash at the same venue on Saturday night.

"They were good for the (Perth) Scorchers (in the Big Bash League) and for them to both play for Australia together is a great credit to them,'' Langer said.

"I think they complement each other well, left and right hander, and they've both played together for a long time. They're both craving success for Western Australia.''

Marsh is probably wishing Australian selectors had this week picked their 17-man squad for the four-Test tour of India after his sparkling knocks with the bat recently.

"Every time he gets a few runs people ask whether he's going to play for Australia and about his Test career,'' Langer said.

"If he keeps making good decisions on the field and off the field, he'll make runs because he's a very talented player.

"If he concentrates on that, then I'm sure higher honours will come.''

Medium-pacer Alister McDermott (1-65) trapped Marsh lbw for 84 (10 fours and a six), with the 29-year-old not playing a shot.

Bulls skipper James Hopes (2-25) snared the key wicket of Voges (72), who played on, late in the final session.

The Bulls resumed on Tuesday morning at 5-144 but the bottom-placed Warriors tore through their tail after ending a 50-run partnership between Hopes (43) and Chris Hartley (23), with Nathan Coulter-Nile (3-41) and Michael Hogan (4-43) doing the damage.

The home side were dismissed for 168 and at lunch the Warriors were 3-62 - a lead of just five - before Voges and Marsh bailed them out of trouble.

Hopes had former Test batsman Michael Hussey, who scored just five in the first innings, caught in the covers for eight.

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AFL probes Bombers training

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Training methods ... the Bombers are under investigation. Source: Jay Town / News Limited

The controversial fitness regime that helped ruin Essendon's AFL season last year could now bring the club to its knees.

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Ten days before Essendon's first NAB Cup match, they announced a joint investigation by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and the league's integrity unit.

The investigation will look into unnamed supplements that the club gave to players.

ASADA's involvement raises the worst-case scenario for the the club and the AFL that Essendon players took substances that are banned under the World Anti-Doping Agency code.

If that has happened, it will be one of the biggest crises in AFL history.

Essendon's stunning revelation on Tuesday came after months of rumours surrounding supplement use by their players.

AFL commentator Gerard Healy has claimed that 12 months ago, the Bombers were inquiring at a Gold Coast sports medicine conference about the banned growth hormone GHRP6.

He added another club might be involved, but at this stage only Essendon are under investigation.

"There had been some officials from Essendon quietly asking about the substance known as GHRP6,'' Healy said on 3AW.

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"From what I've heard over the last 12 months and today, it could not look any worse for the Bombers and, sadly, possibly one other club.''

Essendon's fitness program had already come under intense scrutiny last season when they suffered a shocking run of soft-tissue injuries and plummeted out of the top eight.

Sports scientist Stephen Dank has since left the club.

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Former Essendon player Kyle Reimers has accused the club of pushing the boundaries with supplement use.

There are also explosive claims that last year the players were asked to sign a form that effectively made them responsible for their supplement use.

Reimers, who was delisted at the end of last season, told Channel Nine he had concerns about what the players were being asked to take.

"Speaking to blokes from other clubs, I don't think anyone has ever thought about signing it or doing some of the stuff we were doing,'' Reimers said.

"They gave a brief outline, but never really went into too much detail about it.

"They admitted to us it was right on the edge.''

Essendon will not comment on any specifics - who is involved, the supplements involved or the circumstances of the controversy.

They claimed on Tuesday they only became aware of the issue in the last two days.

"Over the last 48 hours, Essendon have received information about supplements that have been given to our players as part of the fitness program in 2012,'' said club chairman David Evans.

Acting AFL football operations manager Gill McLachlan called the claims serious and concerning.

Evans and coach James Hird are confident that performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) are not involved.

But the grim looks on the faces of Evans, Hird and Bombers chief executive Ian Robson as they fronted the media highlighted the seriousness of the investigation.

"We certainly don't want to be sitting here, talking about this,'' Hird said.

"We want to get this investigation started. We want to get it done. We want to come out with a clean bill of health.

"We want to move on with the footy season.''

Evans described the issue as a minefield, while Hird admitted the potential scandal had blindsided him.

"The supplements our players were given, in my opinion and my knowledge, were all approved and within the regulations we all play the game by,'' Hird said.

"I'm very disappointed - shocked is probably the best word.

"I believe we followed processes, we put in place the right sort of processes.

"My understanding is we worked within the framework given to us by the AFL and WADA.

"I'm shocked to be sitting here.''

Evans and Hird said the club wanted a clean bill of health about the supplements that players had taken

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Gatland: I feel sorry for Deans

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Sympathetic ... Gatland (R) with Lions and Wales assistant coach Rob Howley. Source:AAP

British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has revealed he feels sorry for fellow New Zealander and Wallabies counterpart Robbie Deans.

As both Lions and Wales head coach, Gatland is no stranger to the pressure that comes with the job, but he sympathises with the extreme scrutiny Deans comes under.

"I feel a little bit sorry for him, as a fellow kiwi, for the expectations he's had in Australia," said Gatland.

"Continually Robbie's been under a bit of pressure."

The Lions are coming to Australia to face the Wallabies in June this year and, despite Australia's rough patch in 2012, Gatland worries about the prospect of facing a, albeit rare, full-strength side.

"I think they're going to improve by having some real quality come back into the side," he said.

"You look at players like Will Genia, Quade Cooper, (James) O'Connor and James Horwill."

"So when you put in that x-factor, and if they're all available to them when we play them in June/July, it's going to be a really top quality series."

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