■ Soccer
Pizarro in Oktoberfest trouble
Bayern Munich striker Claudio Pizarro was caught driving under the influence of alcohol after visiting the Oktoberfest beer festival. The Peru international will be fined by the club and lose his driving license for an indeterminate time. "We are going to settle this internally, as we usually do," Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness said on Tuesday. Pizarro went to the festival after scoring in Bayern's 2-1 win over Aachen in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
■ Cricket
CA to allow `pom' taunts
Cricket Australia (CA) on Tuesday backed an international crackdown on racism but said the term "pom" could still be used against the English. CA spokesman Peter Young said his organization fully supported International Cricket Council (ICC) recommendations made on Monday after South Africa players said they were racially abused on a tour Down Under last December and January. But Young told Australian Associated Press that CA had received advice from Australia's Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission that calling the English "poms" was still permissible. CA may be considering measures such as installing telephone hot lines for offensive behavior to be reported, and players being appointed as anti-racism ambassadors.
■ Football
Kiel booked on drug charges
San Diego Chargers strong safety Terrence Kiel was arrested on Tuesday for investigation of drug-related offenses, ESPN.com reported. Kiel was booked and released after posting US$150,000 bond, the Web site reported on Tuesday night, citing sources it did not name. He was arrested for investigation of possession, possession for sale and transportation of a controlled substance, ESPN.com said. In a statement, team spokesman Bill Johnston said: "We're aware of an off-the-field situation involving Terrence Kiel and we're monitoring the situation. Due to the personal nature of the ongoing legal investigation, the Chargers are withholding further comment until the matter is resolved legally."
■ Soccer
`Unspeakable acts' spark ban
Italian Serie A newcomers Catania have been hit with a two-match stadium ban following the "unacceptable" behavior of their rowdy fans during the Sicilian derby with Messina on Saturday. According to the league's disciplinary committee on Tuesday the Catania supporters were guilty of "unspeakable acts of violence before and after the match," which finished 2-2. Catania supporters clashed with local police, who resorted to using pepper spray as they fought off missiles thrown their way in clashes outside the stadium after the match. Only three people were arrested, however one local municipal official said it was more like a war zone than a soccer match. "You would have thought we were in Lebanon," Michele Capomacchia said.
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