【935-937】专业牌手用药是否该受罚？&越南女子在金正男遇害案中被撤销谋杀罪指控&“仁和”被选为新日本天皇统治的名称
AS IT IS
Should Professional Card Players Be Punished for Using Drugs?
April 01, 2019
In this Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 file photo, competitors play bridge at the Acol Bridge Club in West Hampstead, London. A doping ban handed down to the top-ranked player in bridge has provoked a backlash in the card game. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland, File)
Last year, top-ranked Geir Helgemo received a one-year suspension from his sport: bridge, a kind of card game for four players in two teams.
Helgemo tested positive for banned substances that are more commonly used in active sports like cycling, weightlifting, and martial arts. In fact, Helgemo had one of the same drugs in his body that Lance Armstrong used to cheat at the Tour de France.
But many observers saw Armstrong’s case as a good example of how the fight against doping in sports can work. In contrast, Helgemo's suspension has drawn criticism. Critics say the suspension is evidence that anti-doping rules should not be used the same way across sports.
Why are bridge players being tested for drugs?
Even though bridge is a card game, the International Olympic Committee recognizes it as a sport. Officials from bridge’s governing body, the World Bridge Federation, even hope to see bridge played in the Olympics one day. As a result, they follow the Olympic Committee rules for other sports. These rules include testing top players for drugs that are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA.
Helgemo's test took place last September at a World Bridge Series tournament in the U.S. city of Orlando, Florida. He tested positive for testosterone and clomifene. Testosterone makes muscles bigger, and clomifene is usually used to help women get pregnant. Both are banned substances under WADA rules.
The World Bridge Federation says in its anti-doping handbook for players that those drugs are “not expected to affect performance in bridge."
Boye Brogeland agrees. Brogeland is a bridge professional who won two world championships with Helgemo. When asked about Helgemo's drug test, Brogeland said, "Nobody thinks he took this [testosterone and clomifene] to get an edge at bridge."
Should bridge be part of the Olympics?
Helgemo's case has created a debate among bridge players and fans about whether bridge should be connected to the Olympics at all.
Supporters note that the connection to the Olympics helps secure funding for bridge. The financial benefits are especially important at a time when young people are more interested in playing video games than cards.
Critics question why bridge is agreeing to rules against drugs that do not make bridge players – or the game – better. “The integrity of the game is lost because we are trying to get into the Olympics,” player Boye Brogeland says.
David Harris is the lawyer for the World Bridge Federation who argued against Helgemo. Harris noted that as a top professional, Helgemo had been tested before. He added that Helgemo should have been aware of the anti-doping rules and should have been more careful.
“This was an unfortunate case, but it was a careless case in many ways,” Harris said. “This is a person who is earning a considerable amount of money out of playing bridge.”
Helgemo did not answer Associated Press requests to speak about his case himself. Lawyer David Harris said Helgemo is currently serving a six-month prison sentence for tax offenses in Norway. The sentence is unconnected to his doping ban.
I'm John Russell.
John Leicester reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.
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Words in This Story
recognition – n. the act of accepting that something is true or important or that it exists
edge – n. an advantage over others
adherence – n. the act of doing what is required by a rule, belief, etc. — usually + to
discipline – n. punishment for bad behavior
panel – n. a group of people with special knowledge, skill, or experience who give advice or make decisions
AS IT IS
Murder Charge Dropped for Vietnamese Woman in Kim Jong Nam Killing
April 01, 2019
Doan Thi Huong leaves Shah Alam High Court in Shah Alam, Malaysia, Monday, April 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
A Malaysian court has withdrawn murder charge against the only suspect still being held for the murder of a member of North Korea’s ruling family.
The Vietnamese woman had faced a murder charge for the killing of the half-brother of North Korea’s leader at Kuala Lumpur airport on February 13, 2017.
On Monday, Doan Thi Huong pleaded guilty to a less serious charge of causing injuring using a dangerous weapon. She is expected to be released in May.
The decision to drop the murder charge against the Vietnamese woman came three weeks after the court dropped a murder charge against an Indonesian suspect in the case. The Indonesian woman was released soon after.
The two were charged with involvement in killing Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The two women had been the only suspects held after four North Korean suspects fled Malaysia after the killing in 2017.
Oh Ei Sun is a senior fellow with the Singapore Institute of International Affairs. He said the decision not to charge the two women with murder was the end of the case because those responsible for the killing were hiding in North Korea.
Both women said they thought they were involved in a prank for a TV show. They said they did not know they would be involved in killing anyone.
The two were arrested and accused of placing a powerful poison called VX nerve agent on Kim Jong Nam’s face.
Kim Jong Nam was the oldest son in the current generation of North Korea’s ruling family. He had been living outside North Korea for several years. Some experts believe he represented a threat to Kim Jong Un’s rule in North Korea.
Lawyers for the women have said they were used to carry out the killing by people with links to the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. They also said government lawyers failed to show the women meant to kill Kim Jong Nam.
Malaysian officials have never officially accused North Korea of involvement.
The women could have faced death sentences if they were found guilty of murder.
Doan Thi Huong nodded in court Monday as the new charge was announced.
Oh said she placed the nerve poison on Kim’s face, although she may not have meant to kill him.
The High Court Judge sentenced her to three years and four months in prison from the day she was arrested on February 15, 2017.
Her lawyer said she is expected to be freed in early May. Her sentence will be reduced by more than 30 percent for good behavior.
“I am happy,” the 30-year-old Vietnamese woman told reporters as she left the courtroom.
The new charge could have led to 10 years in jail. The judge told her he wished her “all the best.”
Vietnamese officials in the courtroom cheered when the decision was announced.
The change follows Malaysia’s decision to drop the murder case against the Indonesian woman on March 11 after requests from Indonesia’s government. Doan Thi Huong asked for the same treatment, but was told ‘no.’
The first charges in the case said that the two women worked with four North Koreans to murder Kim with VX nerve agent as he passed through the airport.
The Vietnamese woman’s lawyer said she was not a “criminal.” He said the four North Koreans were the real killers.
They used her "weakness," he said.
I’m Jonathan Evans.
The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter Jr. was the editor.
Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.
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Words in This Story
plea– v.a serious and emotional request for something
prank–n. a trick played on someone as a joke
agent– n. a substance such as a chemical that is used to produce an effect
nod–v. to move your head up and down as a way of answering “yes” or of showing agreement, understanding, or approval (in many cultures)
AS IT IS
‘Reiwa’ Chosen as Name for Rule of New Japanese Emperor
April 01, 2019
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga unveils the name of new era “Reiwa” at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo, Monday, April 1, 2019.
Japanese officials have chosen a name for the period of rule of Japan’s incoming emperor.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced the name on Monday in Tokyo.
Crown Prince Naruhito will become emperor on May 1, one day after Japanese Emperor Akihito leaves the position. This will be only the second time in nearly 100 years that Japan has welcomed a new era.
Although use of the era is not required by Japanese law, it is widely used on government and business papers, calendars and other documents.
The current era, known as “Heisei” under Emperor Akihito, has lasted 30 years. The term is often defined as meaning “peace prevails everywhere.” During that period, Japan has not been involved in a war, but has experienced natural disasters and economic troubles.
The new era is to be called “Reiwa.” It was chosen by a group appointed by the government from names suggested by scholars.
Rules require that the name have two Japanese characters, known as Kanji, which are easily read and written but are unusual or literary in nature. The first character can be defined to mean “order” and the second as “harmony” or “peace.”
The term comes from a poem about plum blossoms in a collection of Japanese poems called “Manyoshu.” It is said to have been written about 1,300 years ago.
After the announcement, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke about the meaning of Reiwa. Abe described it as: “culture is born and nurtured as the people’s hearts are beautifully drawn together.” He expressed his wishes that the new era would be "filled with hope.”
Over more than one thousand years, Japanese era names have come from Chinese classic literature. Abe said the “Manyoshu” was chosen because it was Japan’s oldest collection of poetry written by royal family members and ordinary people.
Abe has expressed support for the image of the emperor, who enjoys wide public support.
Japan’s current constitution was written after World War II. The constitution denounces war and gives the emperor no political power.
Emperor Akihito gained what is known as the Chrysanthemum Throne in 1989 after the death of Hirohito, Japan’s emperor during World War II.
I’m Mario Ritter.
Steve Miller reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English, with additional materials from the Associated Press. George Grow was the editor
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Words in This Story
era – n. a period of time linked to a quality, event or person
prevail – v. to succeed, to defeat an opponent after a long struggle
character – n. a symbol, letter or number used in writing or printing
scholar – n. a learned person; someone who studies under a teacher
nurture – v. to help someone or something grow, develop and succeed
ordinary – adj. normal or average; common