LONDON - Former World Anti-Doping Agency chairman Dick Pound vowed Tuesday to get to the bottom of allegations of systematic doping in Russia as he leads an investigation into a case that has shaken the sport of track and field.Were not there to whitewash anything, Pound told The Associated Press. Were there to get the facts, reach conclusions and make recommendations.WADA announced Tuesday that Pound will head a three-person independent panel that will investigate the grave accusations of widespread doping, coverups and corruption in Russia that were broadcast by German television network ARD.If all these things are true, its extremely serious for sport, for athletics, for the countries involved, Pound said in a telephone interview.Veteran Canadian sports arbitrator Richard McLaren will also serve on the commission, while a third member will be announced later. WADA said the investigation will begin next month.The panel will seek to determine if there have been any violations of the World Anti-Doping Code by athletes, coaches, doctors, trainers and WADA-accredited laboratories that could lead to sanctions against individuals or organizations.WADA said the panel will review the evidence aired by the German broadcaster as well as other information received separately by the agency.Once the investigation is concluded, if it is found that there have been violations or breaches of the rules, WADA will ensure that any individuals or organizations concerned are dealt with in an appropriate fashion under the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA President Craig Reedie said.The appointment of Pound indicates that WADA will investigate fully and without restriction.The outspoken Canadian IOC member took a tough line in his decade as WADAs first chairman from 1999-2008. He previously led the International Olympic Committees internal probe into the Salt Lake City bid scandal that resulted in the resignation or expulsion of 10 members.Its far too early for me to know whats going to happen, how fast we can do it, how much travel we may have to do, Pound said. I think you have to wait and see what evidence you get as opposed to what you may suspect.Pound said he was already familiar with past problems at the Russian doping lab. He chaired the WADA committee that made sure the lab improved its operations to avoid suspension ahead of the Winter Games in Sochi.The appointment of the WADA panel was welcomed by the International Association of Athletics Federations, whose independent ethics commission is also investigating the allegations.The IAAF takes this opportunity to reiterate its full support of the WADA investigation, IAAF President Lamine Diack said. Our primary concern must always be to protect the integrity of competition in support of the vast majority of clean athletes, and we look forward to working with WADA to this end.Earlier this week, Diacks son — Papa Massata Diack — suspended his work as a marketing consultant for the IAAF pending its investigation. IAAF treasurer and council member Valentin Balakhnichev — who heads the Russian athletics federation — relieved himself of his duties while the investigation is continuing. Both men were accused by ARD and French sports daily lEquipe of involvement in coverups.The German documentary appeared to show reigning Olympic 800-meter champion Maria Savinova admitting to using the banned steroid oxandrolone. Three-time Chicago Marathon winner Liliya Shobukhova was also reported to have paid 450,000 euros ($560,000) to avoid a doping ban so she could run at the 2012 London Olympics. Shobukhova was eventually banned for doping and she said some of the money was refunded.ARD also claimed the IAAF did not probe 150 suspicious blood samples from 2006 to 2009. The IAAF said it launched its biological passport only in 2009 and could only use the data collected earlier for target purposes.Pound dismissed comparisons to the scandal surrounding Ben Johnsons positive test after the 100 metre final at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.The Ben Johnson thing was a one off, Pound said. It wasnt a Canadian system of doping, whereas in the former East Germany and a number of the Warsaw Pact countries it was a little more organized and systematic.___Follow Stephen Wilson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevewilsonap Black Friday Shoes Free Shipping . Speaking on TSN Radio 1050s TSN Drive with Dave Naylor on Monday, Colangelo said he had no intention of tanking the shortened 2011-12 season, but definitely wanted a high pick in the draft. 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Wholesale Black Friday Shoes .That sight softened the blow of what ended up as a 4-3 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.Knowing their teammate was fine after a scary headfirst fall in the opening minute of the game helped calm the Maple Leafs. Black Friday Shoes Deals . Nowitzki scored 28 points, Harris had a season-high 14 for the second straight game and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Detroit Pistons 116-106 Sunday night. ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Danny Valencia was not about to let a sore left hand keep him from finishing his at-bat in the 13th inning. He gutted it out and came up with a key hit to help the Kansas City Royals outlast the Los Angeles Angels. Valencia ignited a three-run rally with a leadoff double, before Jarrod Dyson replaced him on the bases and scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error by rookie reliever Mike Morin. The Royals went on to beat the Angels 7-4 Saturday night. "Were trying to win games and lay it all out there. Anybody else would have done the same thing," Valencia said. "Fortunately I got a hit there, because it would have looked even worse if I didnt." Valencia felt discomfort on two earlier swings and was checked out by manager Ned Yost and a trainer. After convincing them he was all right, he lined Morins 3-2 pitch off the fence in left-centre and slid headfirst into second. "There was a 3-1 pitch I fouled off and my hand slipped off the bat a little weird," Valencia said. "I told Ned: Theres no way Im coming out right now. He said: This is a big at-bat, and I said: I know its a big at-bat, but Ive got this. The first thought on my mind was not making someone come off the bench with a 3-2 count after sitting on the bench for four hours." Dyson scored when Morin (0-1) fielded Alcides Escobars sacrifice bunt and threw the ball past first base as second baseman Howie Kendrick ran over to take the throw. "I got to it quick and Howie was still getting to first base," Morin said. "I had more time than I thought I did, and I was trying to guide the ball to meet him at the bag, but it sailed on me." Nori Aoki then hit an RBI single and Billy Butler capped the scoring with his second sacrifice fly. Aaron Crow (2-1) pitched two innings for the victory and Greg Holland got three outs for the save, ending the 4-hour, 53-minute marathon. Eric Hosmer tied a season high with four hits. The Royals tied it in the seventh when Hosmer scored on a double-play grounder by Salvador Perez with the bases loaded. The run was charged to Sean Burnett, who faced only one batter and gave up Hosmers leadoff single through the box. It was Burnetts second appearance since his comeback from elbow surgery last August. Royals right-hander James Shields pitched six innings, giving up four runs and nine hits, including solo hoomers by Mike Trout and Erick Aybar.dddddddddddd "Thats a good hitting team over there. They grind out at-bats and they worked up my pitch count quite a bit today," Shields said. "But our bullpen did a phenomenal job. Its been good all season long, and today they showed why theyre as good as they are." Angels rookie Matt Shoemaker was charged with three runs -- two earned -- and eight hits in five innings while striking out six. The right-hander was making his third start since he was inserted into the rotation on May 13. The Angels were trailing 3-0 when Aybar got them on the board in the fourth inning with his third homer of the season, a line drive that just made it into the first row of seats in the right field corner after a leadoff double by Raul Ibanez. Los Angeles pulled ahead 4-3 with two runs in the fifth. Trout led off with a towering drive into the rock pile beyond the fence in left-centre, and Albert Pujols followed with another deep flyball that looked like it was going out as well. Left fielder Alex Gordon leaped above the bullpen fence and got his glove on it before it bounced off his cap, shoulder, chin and arm -- then landed in his glove while he was on the seat of his pants. Third base umpire Andy Fletcher ruled it a catch, but manager Mike Scioscia challenged the call and Pujols ended up with a double after a video review. "Somebody must have seen something on one of the angles," Yost said. "But on the replays we saw on the big screen, I sure couldnt tell if it hit the fence or not." It was the 2,400th career hit for Pujols, who took third on a groundout and scored the go-ahead run on Shields wild pitch to Aybar. A two-out error by Trout in centre field led to an unearned run during Kansas Citys two-run third. Aoki and Hosmer opened the inning with singles, and Aoki scored on Butlers first sacrifice fly. One out later, Perez hit a sinking liner that broke off Trouts glove as he charged the ball on the dead run, and Lorenzo Cain hit an RBI single. NOTES: Trouts error was his second this season, matching his total in 148 games in the outfield last year. ... Escobar has been successful on 43 of his last 44 stolen base attempts, including all 22 last season. ... For the second straight year, Trouts 10th homer of the season came against the Royals in his 47th game. ... Neither starting pitcher had a 1-2-3 inning. ' ' '