Chairman Moynihan Leaves BOA

Lord Moynihan is stepping down as chairman of the British Olympic Association.

Moynihan, who has helped steer Team GB to 29 golds and third place in the medal table at the London 2012 Olympics, has written to the BOA executive board, the National Olympic Committee and the BOA advisory board to confirm his decision.

He intends to stay on as chairman until an election is held in November to find a successor.

A BOA spokesman revealed: "Lord Moynihan has decided that he is going to step down as chairman of the BOA once a successor is elected to the position later this year."

He revealed that his priorities include a smooth handover to his successor and ensuring there is a strong sports policy so the momentum from the Games is not lost.

In his letter, Lord Moynihan wrote: "Firstly, I want to congratulate you all on a magnificent Olympic Games and to thank you for all that you have done to ensure their success.

"The last two weeks have united and inspired the whole country and have surpassed all expectations.

"I am enormously proud to be able to say that with your help, Team GB has not only succeeded at London 2012, it has excelled.

"The years of hard work and preparation undertaken by everyone at the BOA have paid historic dividends through the delivery of so many outstanding personal bests by our athletes.

"After their incredible performances, securing an historic third place for Team GB in the medal table, the 541 athletes of Team GB truly deserve to be called our 'greatest team ever'.

"The Prime Minister's announcement that funding for our Olympic athletes is now guaranteed for the next four years in the run-up to Rio represents the successful culmination of our campaign for secured lottery funding.

"It means that our athletes' success in Beijing 2008, now built on and furthered during London 2012, can be carried forward with renewed confidence in Rio 2016.

"As a result of the success of Team GB, the reputation of the BOA, its staff and volunteers is rightly at an all-time high. We now have a unique opportunity to capitalise on this success and to build a stronger and even more victorious team in the future.

"Over the last seven years, the BOA has striven to become a modern, accountable, performance-driven, highly professional, athlete-centric organisation, of which we can all be extremely proud. On a year-by year basis, the athletes have been increasingly supportive of the backing they have received from the BOA performance teams in the Olympic villages and at the venues.

"Put simply: this was a job outstandingly well done by everyone who works at the BOA, the governing bodies and the volunteers who joined the BOA team in the run-up to the Games and I am exceptionally grateful to you all."

HIndes Crash Not to be Investigated

Philip Hindes's crash in Great Britain's gold medal-winning team sprint will not be investigated.

German-born Hindes appeared to admit falling off his bike to help the team to victory at the London Velodrome.

"I just crashed, I did it on purpose to get a restart, just to have the fastest ride," said the 19-year-old.

But British Cycling said Hindes had been misunderstood because English is not his first language, while Olympic bosses said they would not investigate.

"People were not deprived of a competition, unlike in the badminton. A race took place and best efforts were made by the British team," said the IOC's Mark Adams.

"They see no reason to question the result and neither do we. This is a matter of degree and judgement. In the case of the badminton it clearly crossed the line."

Hindes, Sir Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny won the three-man, three-lap team sprint in a world record of 42.600 seconds, beating France in a repeat of the final four years ago in Beijing.

Hindes, the specialist starter, wobbled and lost control of his bike before tumbling to the track at the beginning of the first bend. His team-mates went past him but officials decided to restart the heat.

Teams are allowed a second start, but Hindes, who only moved to the United Kingdom two years ago, appeared to say he intentionally crashed because Britain's start was not good enough.

French coach Florian Rousseau has called for a rule change but conceded Great Britain were worthy winners.

"There was no cheating," he said. "The British team was much stronger than the French team and I congratulate them on their success.

"However, I do think the rules need to be more precise so we don't find ourselves in an identical situation at another Olympic Games."

Grainger and Watkins Row to Gold

Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins won Britain's second rowing gold with victory in the women's double sculls.

The British duo held off a determined challenge from Australia to finish a length ahead of their rivals with Poland coming home a distant third to take bronze.

The victory was especially sweet for Grainger who had to settle for silver at the past three Olympic Games.

Britain's women are leading the way at Eton Dorney, with Grainger and Watkins following the women's pair Helen Glover and Heather Stanning into the winners' circle.

Grainger provided the image of the day, and potentially the image of the Games, punching the air as Britain crossed the line.

She fell into an embrace with Watkins and acknowledged the support of the 30,000 crowd after finally tasting victory at an Olympics.

Grainger had been Britain's first female Olympic medallist, at Sydney in 2000. In 2006 she was awarded an MBE for services to rowing and four years ago Grainger became the first British female athlete to win medals at three successive Olympic Games.

But they were all silver and Grainger was so distraught at missing out in Beijing that, for four months, she considered whether to retire.

But her decision to carry on was richly rewarded on Friday and she and Watkins, a bronze medallist from Beijing, did not just win - they stormed to victory, as they have done for most of the last two years.

After coming together in 2010, Grainger and Watkins have now won 23 consecutive races.

But none of them were as emotional as this as Grainger finally received the gold medal she craved.

Picture of the Day - Golden Breakthrough

Helen Glover and Heather Stanning of Great Britain celebrate with their gold medals during the medal ceremony after the Women's Pair Final A on Day 5 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Eton Dorney on August 1, 2012 in Windsor, England. Australia won silver and New Zealand won bronze.

(July 31, 2012 - Source: Harry How/Getty Images Europe)

Moynihan States TeamGB Shiwen Position

Teenage Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen is not a drug cheat, the British Olympic Association's chairman has said, after a US coach cast doubt on her world record-breaking swim.

Lord Colin Moynihan said Ye, 16, had passed drug tests, was "clean" and deserved recognition for her talent.

Ye smashed her personal best by at least five seconds in the 400m Medley.

Senior US coach John Leonard said her performance was disturbing and hinted that doping could have been involved.

Mr Leonard, executive director of the World Swimming Coaches Association, said the performance reminded him of the East German women swimmers in the 1980s, who were doping on a systematic basis.

"History in our sport will tell you that every time we see something, and I will put quotation marks around this, unbelievable, history shows us that it turns out later on there was doping involved," he told the UK's Guardian newspaper.

But Ye, who will compete later in the 200m Medley final, has strongly defended herself and denied that she would ever use banned substances.

China's anti-doping chief has said Chinese athletes have undergone nearly 100 drugs tests since arriving in London, and that not a single Chinese athlete had tested positive.

Former swimmers, other Olympic champions and experts have all given their support to Ye.

Lord Moynihan told a news conference that the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) was "on top of the game".

"She's been through Wada's programme and she's clean. That's the end of the story. Ye Shiwen deserves recognition for her talent," he said.

International Olympic Committee officials also insisted that if there were any drugs cheats, they would be caught.

The US Olympic Committee (USOC) has distanced itself from Mr Leonard's comments, and Patrick Sandusky, a spokesman for the US Olympic Committee, told the BBC the Americans were trying to smooth things over with the Chinese.

A member of USOC's international relations team is expected to make contact with the Chinese Olympic Committee later on Tuesday, says the BBC's David Bond.

"We are reaching out to the Chinese and their Olympic committee to ensure they know that this gentleman [Mr Leonard] is not part of our delegation, USA Swimming or the US Olympic Committee," the USOC member said.

"His comments are an independent view and not from us."Earlier scandals

Earlier, former British Olympic champion Adrian Moorhouse said the rumours appeared to be a case of sour grapes.

"The Chinese might have just found this really talented kid, who can work really hard, has the perfect shape and can cope with all the pressure thrown at her," he told the BBC.

Suspicions over Ye's performance were heightened when it was pointed out that in the final 50m of her race she swam faster than the winner of the men's race, Ryan Lochte.

However, her world-record time was still 23 seconds slower than Lochte's winning time, and several of Lochte's competitors were faster than her over the final 50m.

Chinese officials also pointed out that Lochte was easing to the finish, comfortably in the lead, whereas Ye had to battle to the end to take first place.

China's swimming team was repeatedly hit by doping scandals in the 1990s.

Seven swimmers tested positive for drugs in the 1994 Asian Games, and four years later four Chinese swimmers failed pre-tournament drug tests before the World Championships in Australia.

Chinese officials insist they have cleaned up the sport, but earlier this year another 16-year-old swimming prodigy, Li Zhesi, failed a drug test.

All medal winners at the Olympics are drug tested. In addition, any athlete whose performance is far better than anything they have achieved before can be targeted for extra tests.

Royal Greenwich Silver for Team GB

A brilliant final clear round from Tina Cook saw Great Britain win a team silver medal behind Germany in the eventing competition at Greenwich Park.

Their brave gold medal challenge ultimately came up short as European champions and Olympic title favourites Germany took gold, with New Zealand clinching bronze.

Cook's show-jumping round - she had just one time fault - meant Britain secured second place and gave Britain its 18th Olympic post-war eventing medal alongside her team-mates of Zara Phillips, Nicola Wilson, William Fox-Pitt and Mary King.

After New Zealand's Mark Todd had one fence down it meant Cook, a double Olympic bronze medallist four years ago, could afford to have one fence down and still secure silver for her country.

And she collected just one time fault, meaning she had one of three counting scores alongside King, who jumped clear, and the Queen's granddaughter Phillips, who had seven faults.

Phillips, making her Olympic debut on High Kingdom, was watched from the stands by her mother the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cornwall.

But she was disappointed with her round, which saw her knock the second fence down and also have three time faults.

Speaking immediately after the round, Phillips said: "I messed up, and I had to get on with it."

Britain's eventers had not won gold since Munich in 1972, when Phillips' father Captain Mark Phillips was in the team, but they gave it everything against a crack German quintet of world champion Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke, Peter Thomsen, Dirk Schrade and Sandra Auffarth.

Attention now turns to the individual competition this afternoon, which could bring further British success.

King, seeking her first Olympic individual medal, lies third, just ahead of Cook.

Sweden's Sara Algotsson Ostholt leads the individual competition, with Jung second. Jung is bidding to become the first rider in eventing history to hold Olympic, world and European titles simultaneously.

World number one Fox-Pitt, who had a discount score of 53.30, despite jumping clear, has added another silver to his considerable medal collection.

"We are all being carried along on this wave of craziness, " said Fox-Pitt, of the London 2012 experience.

"This is something we have never experienced in our careers and never will again. It's just not normal."

Beckham Not Part of Team GB

David Beckham has not been selected for the Great Britain Olympic football squad.

The 37-year-old former England skipper said in May he thought he had a "good chance" of playing at London 2012.

He said: "Naturally I am very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me.

"I would have been honoured to have been part of this unique Team GB squad. Like everyone, I will be hoping they can win the gold."

Beckham made manager Stuart Pearce's shortlist of 35 players but was overlooked for the final 18-man squad as one of three players over the age of 23 allowed to compete in the 

Pearce, who watched Beckham play for Los Angeles Galaxy in the United States last week, picked Manchester City defender Micah Richards ahead of him.

Pearce rang Beckham on Wednesday night to tell him the news, explaining that he wanted more defensive cover in the squad.

Richards has been included alongside Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs and Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy as the three over-age players.

Beckham, who signed a new two-year with LA Galaxy in January, was part of the Olympic flame handover ceremony in May, bringing it to Britain for the torch relay.

He played a major role as a sporting ambassador when London won the 2012 bid, and has made no secret of his desire to captain Team GB.

He said in April this year that he wanted to"be a part of history" by competing in the Olympics in his home town.

London 2012 chief Lord Coe said he would be talking to Beckham about a role during the Olympics.

"David has been an extraordinary supporter - probably our number one supporter - of the Games from the very beginning and is keen to continue his enthusiastic support right to the end," he said.

"He is from East London and knows how important the Games and sport are to young people. "He is a great role model and we are lucky to have such an advocate

In January, Beckham said: "I have led my country before and know how special it would be to lead them into the Olympics."

However, Pearce said in April: "He's been a great ambassador but that's no guarantee he'll get in the squad. I'm picking on form and merit alone.

"David Beckham will be treated exactly the same as any other individual, whether it is young or over-age.

"I have a duty of care to the Great Britain squad to try to win a gold medal. I will pick the strongest squad I can."

BBC Match of the Day's Gary Lineker reacted to Beckham's omission by tweeting: "Never thought for a second that David Beckham would be excluded from GB's team.

"Terrible shame for Beckham having given so much to the Olympic bid and football."

Former Wales international and BBC Sport pundit Robbie Savage tweeted: "Why was Beckham on the shortlist in the first place, then not pick him? Disgrace!"

The British Olympic Association said it had not received the final 18-man squad from the Football Association.

A statement read: "We are expecting the list no later than the early part of next week."

Team GB were drawn in Group A at London 2012 alongside Senegal, Uruguay and United Arab Emirates.

They begin their Olympic campaign against Senegal at Old Trafford on 26 July before facing the United Arab Emirates at Wembley on 29 July, and Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on 1 August.

Each squad must contain 15 players born after 1 January 1989.

Stella Launches Team GB Kit

British triple jumper Phillips Idowu added: "All eyes will be watching London 2012 so every little detail matters.

"I love what Stella has done with the design. Looking good is psychologically important but my sprint suit is also technically advanced, so not only do I look good but I also have confidence in the technology in the kit."

McCartney admitted the Union Jack had been prominent in the design process.

She said: "The first place to start on a project like this is to look at the Union flag.

"For me it's one of the most beautiful flags in the world and it was important for me to stay true to that iconic design but also to modernise it and present it in a contemporary way.

"Ultimately, we wanted the athletes to feel like a team and be proud with the identity we created."

Sunderland striker and Team GB hopeful Fraizer Campbell has given his backing to the 2012 Olympics kits after they were officially unveiled.

Campbell was one of a number of athletes from a range of sports to attend the launch of the kit created by fashion designer Stella McCartney at the Tower of London.

Blue is the predominant colour but Campbell is confident the strips will be a hit across Britain.

The former Manchester United man told Sky Sports: "It has to represent all the countries so I think Adidas and Stella have done a great job to get everyone combined and bring it out in the kits.

"Every kit is similar so whatever event you are watching you will be able to tell which are the British athletes."

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