The ITF does not have a world tennis tournament in China in 2022

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) said there would be no World Tennis Tour to be held in China in 2022.

The source, however, did not say the move was related to concerns over the health and safety of double star Peng Shuai. .

In the final season of 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, China hosted around 25 women's ITF events and 15 men's tournaments.

The world tennis tour event is an elite level professional tournament. The ITF Women's Tennis Tour features around 500 tournaments in 65 countries offering prize money, ranging from 15,000 to 100,000 US dollars.

"No men's or women's ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments are scheduled to be played in China in 2022," the ITF told Reuters on Friday, without providing further details.

ITF did not give reasons for the decision, but followed the lead of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) which suspended tournaments in China following Peng's statement about sexual assault she suffered from a former deputy prime minister China.

Peng, the former world number one in women's doubles, has not been seen in public for nearly three weeks after she posted a message on social media in early November alleging that former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli forced her to have sex, and her whereabouts drew international attention.

Unlike the WTA, the ITF does not have a major professional tournament in China and focuses more on grassroots development events. 

Task Force signals WADA sanctions could be lifted before March 2022

WADA's Task Force for the Acceleration of the Settlement of Sanctions signaled that Indonesia could regain its rights in international sporting events before March 2022, earlier than the initial duration of the sanctions that were in effect for a year.

Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Raja Sapta Oktohari said that WADA gave a positive response when receiving a visit from the task force to his office in Lausanne, Switzerland. He said there was hope that the sanctions could be lifted sooner since they were enforced on October 7, 2021.

“In yesterday's meeting, we told WADA that Indonesia was waiting for international events, including the ASEAN Para Games, all of which were waiting for WADA's decision. And the answer from them, just convey it to all relevant institutions so you don't panic," Okto said at a press conference that was attended virtually in Jakarta, Friday.

"I think this is firm language and there is hope that this sanction can be lifted and eased in a short time," he added.

The Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency (LADI) has so far almost completed the pending matters requested by WADA to return to compliance status. The requirements that have been completed include administrative issues such as the fulfillment of a full-time workforce to technical matters such as the completion of a doping test plan (TDP) which includes tests inside and outside the competition.

Another work that needs to be completed is regarding the legislative aspect which requires that the law related to doping be adjusted to WADA rules.

Doping rules have actually been contained in the National Sports System Law (UU SKN) Number 3 of 2005 Article 85. However, WADA requested that these regulations be revised in order to create a clean, professional, modern and independent sport.

Meanwhile, Article 85 Paragraph 3 states that doping control is carried out by the government. Whereas WADA requires that doping be monitored directly by the national anti-doping agency independently without government intervention.

WADA sanctions, continued Okto, could have been lifted sooner than March 2022 if the revision of the SKN Law, which is currently still being discussed in the DPR RI, is completed sooner.

Meanwhile, the Expert Staff of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Gatot S Dewa Broto ensured that his party continued to move so that the revision of the SKN Law could be completed faster.

"You don't have to wait for March 2022. So Article 85 Paragraphs 1 and 3, later the scenario will be changed and revised, for example Paragraph 3, LADI will be supervised by the government, it will be eliminated," explained Gatot.

The Sangi Run competition commemorates Sangiran as a World Heritage

The Sangi Run: 25K Night Trail 2021 will be held on November 20-21 as a sporting event combined with culture and technology in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the UNESCO designation of the Sangiran Cultural Conservation Site as a world heritage.

According to the press release of the organizers, Tuesday, the 2021 Sangi Run Night Trail will take place on November 20-21 2021 involving 25 runners from the elite trail community and 75 general participants, including influencers and celebrities, who will run through the natural environment near the Sangiran site in Sragen, Central Java, along 25 kilometers with light installations at several points.

In addition to running at night, Sangi Run Night Trail 2021 also features a forest video mapping decorated with torches andcheers zone in the form of art performances from the villages around the Sangiran Site.

Not only aims to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sangiran Site as a World Heritage, this activity also intends to reintroduce the Sangiran site to the wider community and encourage the development of a tourist destination for the Sangiran archaeological site which is expected to have an impact on the welfare of the surrounding community.