■ Boxing
Devout boxer facing ban
Champion Australian boxer Omar Shaick faces a two-year ban after refusing a urine sample under the supervision of testing officers. Coach Chris McCullen said yesterday that Omar's Muslim faith meant that no one was allowed to see his genitals. "I've got to say that Omar is the most strictest religious person I've come across," McCullen said.
■ Soccer
Ibrahimovic joins Inter
Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined Inter Milan, becoming the latest player to leave demoted Juventus. Juventus said in a statement yesterday that it would get 24.8 million euros (US$32 million) from Inter over the next three years. Gazzetta dello Sport and other reports said the player signed a four-year contract. Ibrahimovic had been seeking to leave Juventus, even threatening to take legal action to secure his release. But Juventus earlier this week had reportedly rebuffed an Inter offer as too low. Juventus was stripped of its last two Serie A titles, relegated to Serie B and docked points for next season by a sports tribunal last month for its role in Italy's match-fixing scandal. The sanctions sparked an exodus of players, including Gianluca Zambrotta, Lilian Thuram, Emerson, Fabio Cannavaro and Patrick Vieira.
■ Soccer
Adriaanse quits FC Porto
Dutch coach Co Adriaanse resigned on Wednesday from FC Porto after just one season with the Portuguese champions, the club said in a statement. FC Porto gave no reason for his departure, but earlier on Wednesday Dutch news agency ANP said a "rift in confidence" between the 59-year-old coach and the club's management was behind his decision to leave. Assistant coach Rui Barros, a former FC Porto midfielder, will step in as caretaker coach until a permanent replacement is found. Assistant Jan Olde Riekerink, skills coach Chris Kronshorst and goalkeeping coach Wil Coort also resigned along with Adriaanse, according to ANP. Adriaanse joined FC Porto in May last year after previous spells at Dutch sides AZ Alkmaar and Willem II Tilburg, becoming the fourth manager to sign for the club since the departure of Jose Mourinho in June 2004 to Chelsea. Under his guidance FC Porto captured the Portuguese league and cup double. His departure comes just three weeks before the start of the new Portuguese premier league season and on the eve of the club's trip to England where it will stage a number of training sessions and matches.
■ Ice Hockey
Bruins' Sinden steps down
Harry Sinden, president of the Boston Bruins for the past 17 years, has stepped down but will serve as an adviser to owner Jeremy Jacobs, the National Hockey League club announced. Sinden, 74, has served as coach and general manager during 40 years associated with the team, including Stanley Cup championships in 1970 and 1972 that are the Bruins' only NHL titles since 1941. Sinden's job will not be immediately filled, leaving new general manager Peter Chiarelli to oversee operations. Sinden became coach of the Buins in 1966 and guided the club to a title in his fourth season. He took over general manager's duties in October 1972 and finished with a 1,170-763-301 record and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. Sinden fired former general manager Mike O'Connell in March after the Bruins missed the NHL playoffs for the first time in four seasons.
■ Rugby Union
Sailor won't appeal dope ban
Australian rugby winger Wendell Sailor will not appeal again against a two-year ban for drug use. Sailor's original appeal failed because his argument that taking cocaine at least four days before a match was not performance-enhancing was "without foundation," the Australian Rugby Union ruled last month. He had three weeks to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but his lawyer has informed the ARU that Sailor would not be taking up the option of reviewing the decision, Australian Broadcasting Corp radio reported yesterday. Sailor, 32, tested positive for cocaine following the New South Wales Waratahs' Super 14 match against the ACT Brumbies in Sydney on April 16. Sailor cannot play rugby league or rugby union anywhere in the world for 24 months.
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
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and