■ Soccer
Barthez set to stay
FIFA on Thursday turned down a request for the out-of-favor Manchester United goalie to move quickly on loan to Marseille, where he aimed to clock up valuable between-the-posts time before Euro 2004. "FIFA won't comply with the request by Marseille," FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said. FIFA's player status committee, meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, took the decision "on the basis of the international transfer regulations," Herren said in a telephone interview. FIFA rules do not allow players to move clubs outside certain times of the year. Marseille had hoped that FIFA would waive the rules for Barthez, a member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning team who has been stuck on the Red Devils' bench since May.
■ Soccer
UEFA fines Turkey, England
The Turkish Football Association was fined 30,000 Swiss francs (US$22,555) by UEFA on Thursday for the lack of order in the stadium during the Turkey vs England European championship qualifier earlier this month. Witnesses reported that about 50 players and officials from both teams scuffled after Turkish defender Alpay Ozalan jabbed a finger in England captain David Beckham's face at halftime of the Oct. 11 match. UEFA also fined the English FA 10,000 Swiss francs (US$7,520) for the improper conduct of some of its players in the tunnel. The Turkish FA was sanctioned for its part in the throwing of missiles as well as for the improper conduct of some of its players and one security staff member. No charges were brought against individual players.
■ Soccer
Arsenal players get fined
Arsenal defenders Lauren and Martin Keown were given multiple-match suspensions and handed heavy fines by the English Football Association on Thursday for their violent behavior at the end of a 0-0 draw with Manchester United. Captain Patrick Vieira and Ray Parlour were also fined and banned for one match each. Arsenal was also fined ?175,000 (US$297,500) for failing to ensure the proper behavior of its players at the end of the Sept. 21 game at Old Trafford. The club was reprimanded and warned to its future conduct. Arsenal said in a statement it was currently considering its position. "Arsenal requires its players to behave properly at all times, both on and off the field," the statement said. "The club accepts that what occurred during and immediately after the match ... fell well below the required standard. The club accepts responsibility for the behavior of its players."
■ Athletics
Hot weather sparks fears
With the temperature predicted to reach 22?C tomorrow for the New York City Marathon, the American Medical Athletic Association has warned runners against over hydrating. Overhydration, also known as hyponatremia, occurs when fluid intake exceeds fluid loss during exercise, throwing off the balance between the body's water and sodium levels. When the blood has too much water and too little sodium, the brain swells and pushes against the skill. "Runners often drink as much fluid as possible to avoid dehydration and to stay cool," said Dr. Arthur Siegel, a member of the AMAA. "But excessive intake of water and sports drinks can lead to nausea, vomiting and in the most severe instances, seizures, coma and even death."
■ Woodward gets generous
England coach Clive Woodward suggested yesterday that the team's 10,000 (US$16,000) fine for putting a 16th player on the field should go to help Samoan rugby. England was fined for ignoring orders from a match official and putting an extra player on the field during its 35-22 victory over Samoa on Sunday. The team sent winger Dan Luger on for the injured Mike Tindall even though the center was still on the field receiving treatment. Woodward said that the cash-strapped Samoans deserved the money because of the way they behaved after the blunder by not pushing for England to be punished and ruining what has so far been the best game of the World Cup. "They were outstanding before we played them, and my respect for them, especially their coaches John Boe and Michael Jones, is immense. Their line is that they didn't want anything to tarnish what was a great game of rugby. They were clearly being put under a fair amount of pressure to say something, and they wouldn't have anything to do with it.
■ Rugby
Wales renovates side
Effectively conceding defeat to New Zealand, Wales coach Steve Hansen has made 10 changes to the Wales lineup to meet the All Blacks in a final World Cup group game tomorrow. Iestyn Harris, the convert from rugby league who has performed well at this World Cup, is rested ahead of a quarterfinal against either defending champion Australia or Ireland, who meet today to decide who finishes top of Group A. The Welsh haven't beaten New Zealand since 1953. With the All Blacks so far averaging 70 points a game, there's little chance that sequence is going to change.
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