Why I love the News

Chess players to face anti-doping measures

DOHA (Reuters) - Chess's world governing body will introduce dope testing at the Asian Games this week, although the sport's top official in Doha said he had no idea how drugs could enhance chess performance.

"I would not know which drug could possibly help a chess player to improve his game," competition manager Yousuf Ahmad Ali said.

"But, yes, there will be official monitors who may demand that players undergo a drugs test after the rounds."

Drug testing is the latest move by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) to raise international standards in the hope of making chess an Olympic sport in the future.

Along with triathlon, chess is making its debut at the Asian Games, where more than 60 players will compete for the medals.

Among them are ex-world champions Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan and Zhu Chen, a former Chinese international who has switched nationality to represent hosts Qatar.

The Asian Games take place from December1-15.

This is quite possibly one of my favorite mental images. A bunch of geeks, getting together to smoke dope, in the hopes that it'll improve their chess-playing abilities...

Also, Guess Jack Bauer didn't end up in China Afterall...

Father hangs onto roof pursuing car thief

BERLIN (Reuters) - A father of two in Germany stunned authorities when he chased down an auto thief by car, leapt onto the roof of the stolen vehicle and then phoned through instructions to police as the crook sped off with him.

Police in the western town of Siegburg said Tuesday the 43-year-old had first called in to say he had spotted the thief by his suspicious driving and was in pursuit -- despite the fact he had his wife and two young children in the car.

The man stopped the thief by crashing into the stolen car, slightly injuring his wife and one of the children.

Then, as the 29-year-old thief put the car in gear and drove off again, the father jumped onto the roof.


"The witness held onto the roof of the vehicle, phoned through his position to the local station and audibly attempted to pacify the car thief," police said in a statement.

After driving about half a mile, the thief let the man climb down, and was shortly afterwards apprehended by traffic police.