More companies will follow the example of Dutch Rabobank and quit cycling unless the sport can show it is serious about rooting out doping, a sponsor says. Rabobank ended the sponsorship of its cycling team last month because of the doping scandal that led to United States rider Lance Armstrong being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles. "I'm not surprised that Rabo went, naturally I'm disappointed for the sport," said Australian Jaimie Fuller, chairman of the SKINS sports clothing company that sponsors several teams and national federations. "I know that there are other sponsors contemplating leaving and they are looking for some sort of reassurance that this isn't going to continue to happen." Reuters
Sebastian Vettel committed no infringement during the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, Formula One's governing body the FIA said yesterday, meaning the German keeps his world title. Ferrari wrote to the FIA in the aftermath of the race to seek official clarification of whether Vettel had illegally overtaken Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne. Had a protest been upheld, Vettel could have been dropped to eighth and Alonso would have been champion. Reuters