News & Notes
Israeli Clubs Will Play Home UEFA Cup Matches Elsewhere
Tuesday, August 1, 2006; Page E02
Two Israeli clubs in the UEFA Cup will play their home qualifying matches in neutral countries.
UEFA said yesterday it made the decision in view of the security situation in the region, where Israel is fighting Hezbollah. UEFA still hasn't decided on the venues.
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Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC will play its home tie against Domzale of Slovenia on Aug. 8, and Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv is at home against Lokomotiv Sofia of Bulgaria on Aug. 10.
Israel Football Association chairman Iche Menachem rejected the decision and asked UEFA officials to visit the country.
UEFA said it will decide next Monday whether Israeli club Beitar Jerusalem will host Romania's Dinamo Bucharest in a second-leg match on Aug. 24.
Meanwhile, UEFA will also decide Monday whether Maccabi Haifa will play in Israel against Liverpool in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
Liverpool is at home for the first leg on Aug. 9, with the second leg set for Israel two weeks later.
· TRACK AND FIELD: Justin Gatlin 's coach could face a two-year suspension if the Olympic and world champion sprinter is found guilty of a second doping violation, the sport's international governing body said.
"Once we have enough evidence to prove it, then we have the power to prosecute him," IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said of Trevor Graham .
The International Association of Athletics Federations will only act should evidence link Graham to any doping violations and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency decides not to take action against him, Davies said. Gatlin said Saturday he had been informed by the USADA that he tested positive for testosterone or other steroids after a relay race in Kansas in April. He said he has never knowingly taken banned substances.
Graham is under investigation by authorities for his links to the BALCO doping case.
· AUTO RACING: The Busch Series team that put David Gilliland on the NASCAR map folded, an indication that the upstart driver has accepted a better ride.
