■ Olympics
Swimmer files dope lawsuit
A former East German swimmer has filed a lawsuit seeking compensation from Germany's National Olympic Committee for health damage she says she suffered as a result of systematic doping in the communist nation. Karen Koenig, a former European champion, became the first to file a lawsuit on Thursday after a recent court ruling entitled her to receive financial help to cover costs of a trial. The NOC could now become the target of lawsuits by as many as several hundred former East German athletes who were given drugs under a state-sponsored program without their knowledge. "All [East German] doping victims will profit from Ms. Koenig's civil courage. I assume other lawsuits will follow," said Koenig's lawyer, Jens Steinigen. Koenig, who says she suffered hormonal problems as a result of taking performance-enhancing drugs, is seeking 10,225 euros (US$11,656) in damages.
■ Motor Racing
Foyt unhurt in Indy crash
A.J. Foyt IV escaped injury when he crashed his car on Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was cleared to continue practicing for the Indy 500. Foyt, a rookie driving for his grandfather, a four-time Indy champion, spun coming out of the fourth turn and brushed the wall. The car spun back around as it skidded down the track and hit the outside wall a second time, damaging the rear end. The elder Foyt said a cut left rear tire caused the 19-year-old driver to lose control. The crash was the second since practice began this week for the race May 25. On Tuesday, Shigeaki Hattori sustained a concussion and a broken little finger on his left hand. Hattori had surgery on the finger Wednesday.
■ Soccer
Lennon attacked in car
Former Northern Ireland captain Neil Lennon was assaulted in Glasgow just hours after Celtic reclaimed top spot in the Scottish premier league, newspapers reported yesterday. Glasgow-based newspapers The Scottish Sun and the Daily Record said Lennon was headbutted after remonstrating with three men who began shaking his car after it stopped at traffic lights in the west end of the city early on Thursday morning. Lennon was accompanied by a female friend, who was allegedly pushed to the ground after leaving Lennon's car. The incident occurred a few hours after Celtic beat Motherwell 4-0 -- a result that helped them reclaim top position on goal difference in the premier league from Rangers. "They were spitting all over my car and giving me a whole load of abuse. It was basically sectarian stuff," the Celtic midfielder was quoted saying in The Sun.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was