The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has defended its handling of Maria Sharapovas drugs ban for meldonium. The administrator of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme denied it had sought a four-year ban for the former world No 1 and, in a statement, rejected suggestions by the Russian that its independent tribunal was not neutral.The ITF also emphasised it had not known, prior to this year when the drug was put on the banned list, that meldonium was in common use by eastern European athletes. Five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova was cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to return to action in April after her two-year suspension was reduced to 15 months on Tuesday.The 29-year-old said then that other sports federations had been more effective at communicating with athletes and hoped the ITF would take note. Sharapova criticised the International Tennis Federation after having her ban for using meldonium reduced to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport Her lawyer John Haggerty described the ITFs procedure for relaying rule changes as a night and day difference to the vivid and direct warnings from others.The ITF did not try to ban Ms. Sharapova for four years, as has been suggested, the tennis governing body said.The ITF stated clearly that it was the responsibility of the Independent Tribunal -- and subsequently the CAS Panel -- to determine what the appropriate sanction should be. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just £6.99. No contract. It added: Ms. Sharapova has stated that the Independent Tribunal was not neutral.Ms. Sharapovas legal team was given the opportunity to object to the appointment of any member of that Tribunal in advance of the hearing, and they agreed in writing that they had no such objection.The ITF believed it had taken appropriate steps to publicise changes to the prohibited list and it was not true to say that it was aware of widespread use of meldonium in Eastern Europe and should have given specific notice. Sharapova will be free to return to tennis in April 2017 In fact, it was accepted by Ms. Sharapova in the hearing before CAS that the ITF did not know before 2016 about the extent to which meldonium was used by athletes from any region, or that Ms. Sharapova herself was using meldonium, it said.The ITF pointed out that the WADA monitoring programme is conducted anonymously and WADA does not inform any anti-doping organisation about the prevalence of such use until it publishes the results of the monitoring programme.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! 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Cheap Chiefs Jerseys Authentic . The Tiger-Cats announced on Friday the linebacker has signed a new contract with the team through the 2016 season.St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Chandler Catanzaro made four field goals as the Arizona Cardinals moved closer to clinching a playoff spot despite not scoring a touchdown in a 12-6 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Thursday. The Cardinals (11-3) now own the leagues best record and can secure a postseason berth this Sunday as long as the Dallas-Philadelphia game doesnt end in a tie. Arizona can also clinch with a Detroit loss against Minnesota and a Green Bay win or tie in Buffalo. Arizona, however, suffered another injury at quarterback at the hands of the St. Louis defense as Drew Stanton left the game with a right knee injury in the third quarter. He was carted off to the locker room and did not return. Stanton, who was 12-of-20 for 109 yards before exiting, started his fifth straight game after Carson Palmer tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a 31-14 win over the Rams on Nov. 9. Ryan Lindley took over for Stanton and completed four of his 10 passes for 30 yards. Larry Fitzgerald (31 years, 102 days old) became the youngest player in NFL history to compile 900 career receptions after finishing with seven catches for 30 yards. Im glad we dont have to play the Rams any more, Fitzgerald said. Both times we played them, they banged our quarterbacks up. Arizonas 11 wins ties a franchise record which was also set in 1925 and 1948. Shaun Hill threw for 229 yards and an interception on 20-of-39 passing and Stedman Bailey caught five passes for 74 yards for the Rams (6-8). St. Louis, which was coming off back-to-back shutouts of Washington and Oakland, turned in another solid defensive performance, limiting the Cardinals to just 274 total yards and 13 first downs, but lacked a spark on offense. Its hard to win football games when you dont score touchdowns, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said. The difference in this game was our inability to get the ball in the end zone. The Rams finally converted a second-half first down as Bailey hauled in a 38- yard strike down to Arizonas 39 with 10:10 to play in the fourth quarter. St. Louis took the ball down to the 1-yard line, but Hill threw the ball away on third down and Greg Zuerlein was true from 19 yards out for a 12-6 game with 6:07 remainiing.dddddddddddd Kenny Britt caught a 22-yard dart between two defenders and Jared Cooks 10- yard catch moved the Rams to midfield. Hill hit Bailey for a 7-yard gain on second down, but his pass intended for Chris Givens on fourth down was knocked down by Jerraud Powers and the Cardinals took over on downs. After Arizona punted on its initial drive, Benjamin Cunninghams 19-yard catch moved the Rams into their opponents territory and Zuerlein kicked a 24-yard field goal for an early St. Louis lead. Frostee Rucker knocked the ball loose from Tre Mason and Larry Foote pounced on it to give Arizona the ball with 1:57 to play in the first quarter. Kerwynn Williams picked up a first down on an 11-yard run. The drive stalled at the Rams 5, but Catanzaro knotted the score with a 23-yarder. Michael Floyd outran Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins down the left sideline and made a 49-yard grab to set up an eventual 44-yard Catanzaro make for a 6-3 lead with 8:25 to play in the first half. The Rams punted the ball away on their first possession of the third quarter to Tedd Ginn Jr., who navigated his way down the field 42 yards to the St. Louis 42. Arizona, however, couldnt capitalize and gained just two yards before punting. On their next drive, the Cardinals benefited from a 36-yard pass interference penalty that moved them to their opponents 28. Two plays later, Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald sacked Stanton for an 8-yard loss. The Cardinals signal-caller stayed on the ground before hobbling off the field. Lindley took over and delivered a 6-yard pass to Floyd, which helped set up Catanzaros 51-yard field goal midway through the third. Arizona went up 12-3 when Catanzaro nailed a 46-yarder with 10:48 to play. Game Notes It was Arizonas first win without a touchdown since a 12-7 triumph over Tampa Bay on Jan. 2, 2005 ... The Cardinals have won their last three games against the Rams ... Catanzaros first field goal in the second quarter was the first points the Rams allowed in 146:33, a span of 10 quarters ... Arizona cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who was carted off the field with a left ankle injury last week, was active ... Williams rushed for 75 yards on 15 carries. 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