■ Auto Racing
Gronholm takes the lead
Three-time former winner Marcus Gronholm of Finland made a strong start to the Rally Australia on Thursday, steering his Peugeot to a slim early lead after the first stage. Gronholm finished the 2.3km super special opening stage of the 16th and final leg of this year's World Rally Championship in 1 minute, 32:9 seconds, 0.3 seconds ahead of Frenchman Sebastien Loeb. Loeb, who has already clinched his first world championship, is seeking a record-equalling sixth win in a season in the 25-stage rally, which concludes on Sunday.
■ Triathlon
Kraft fails drugs test
Nina Kraft, winner of last month's Hawaii Ironman competition, acknowledged Thursday that she had used the banned endurance-boosting drug EPO. Kraft, who tested positive after the Oct. 16 Hawaii event, said she accepted her guilt and would not request analysis of her backup sample. "The mistake cannot be rectified -- I am going to bear all the consequences," she told the Hesse state radio. Kraft, the first German woman to win the Hawaii Ironman, faces a two-year ban. She said she took EPO during a three-week period and stopped five days before the Hawaii competition. "I never really rejoiced over the victory in Hawaii," Kraft said. "I was ashamed the entire time, especially in front of my family. I cheated." EPO, or erythropoietin, stimulates the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells and is a drug of choice in endurance sports. The German Triathlon Union said Kraft admitted "making a big mistake." Kraft's brother, Florian, said his sister's action "cannot be justified but perhaps it can be understood." "It's a matter of money, a lot of money, and ethics suffer in that case," he said on his Web site.
■ Skating
Hamilton has brain tumor
World and Olympic figure skating champion Scott Hamilton has a benign brain tumor. The 46-year-old Hamilton underwent a biopsy at The Cleveland Clinic, and doctors expected to release him from the hospital by Friday, publicist Michael Sterling said Thursday. "We will be working with him on a treatment plan moving forward," said Dr. Gene Barnett, chairman of the clinic's brain tumor institute. Barnett said Hamilton has a slow-growing, non-cancerous tumor in the region of the pituitary gland. Sterling said Hamilton has been had problems in recent weeks with his eyesight. Hamilton, who lives in Los Angeles, is a four-time US national champion, a four-time world champion and the 1984 Olympic gold medalist. He is now a skating show producer. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1997 and treated with surgery and chemotherapy.
■ Golf
LPGA Tour eyes Oahu
The LPGA Tour is returning to Hawaii in 2005. A US$1 million tournament will be played in late February at the Turtle Bay Resort's Arnold Palmer Course on Oahu's North Shore, officials said Thursday. The event will be sponsored by South Korean television network Seoul Broadcasting System, which will provide coverage throughout Asia. The last LPGA Tour event in Hawaii was the 2002 Takefuji Classic.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping