■ Soccer
Fans punished for ref threats
One Marseille fan was handed a one-month suspended prison sentence and another a 700-euro (US$906) fine on Friday after sending death threats to a referee. A 20-year-old supporter, who sent a threatening letter and made nuisance phone calls, received the suspended sentence and was ordered to pay 1,000 euros in damages to Fredy Fautrel who refereed the match against Lens on Oct. 15. The second fan, a 26-year-old, was also ordered to pay 500 euros in damages. Marseille and Lens drew their French league match 1-1 but Marseille fans were outraged at a late penalty award to their opponents.
■ Soccer
Court sentences Benfica star
A court in Portugal on Friday sentenced Benfica's Brazilian international defender Luisao to 40 hours of community service after he was caught driving under the influence of alcohol. A blood-alcohol test performed on the 25-year-old after he was stopped by police in Lisbon in the early hours of Friday put his blood alcohol level at 1.44 grams per liter of blood, compared to the Portuguese legal limit of 0.5 grams per liter. Luisao told reporters after he was sentenced that he had had a few drinks with his wife and a few friends at a restaurant before he was stopped by police in a routine road stop.
■ Soccer
Wenger say Lauren can go
Arsenal will allow experienced Cameroon full-back Lauren to leave if he finds a new club during this month's transfer window, manager Arsene Wenger confirmed on Friday. Lauren is fit again after a year out with a knee injury and Wenger admitted he was unlikely to be able to force his way back into the Gunners' first team. "The problem is that since Lauren got injured I have Justin Hoyte who got promoted, I have Emmanuel Eboue who got promoted and I have Johan Djourou who can play in there too. It's always the same. You make room for young players and then it is difficult to leave them out again. I feel we have too many players in that position now."
■ Cycling
AFLD summons Landis
Tour de France winner Floyd Landis has been summoned to a hearing by the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) which could bar him from racing in the country, daily Le Monde reported on Friday. The hearing has been set for Feb. 8 and Landis, who tested positive for the banned male hormone testosterone during last year's Tour, could be suspended for two years, Le Monde wrote. The ban would only apply to races in France but would prevent Landis from entering this year's Tour. Landis, who faces being the first Tour champion to be stripped of the title, has denied taking performance-enhancing drugs and is fighting to clear his name.
■ Cricket
England name Cup squad
Ashley Giles has been included in England's 30-man provisional squad for this year's one-day World Cup in the West Indies but Darren Gough was left out after failing a fitness test. All of the players currently on tour in Australia were picked, including injured batsman Kevin Pietersen, who is being sent home after fracturing a rib. Four uncapped players were added to the squad as well as seven players that did not feature in England's ICC Champions Trophy squad, including captain Michael Vaughan and spinner Monty Panesar. Gough, Ian Blackwell and Tim Bresnan were not considered after failing fitness tests. Giles was included after declaring himself available following his departure from the Ashes tour to care for his ill wife.
■ Basketball
NBA official suspended
NBA official Rodney Mott has been suspended three games without pay for directing an obscene gesture and using inappropriate language toward a fan, the league announced on Friday. Mott's suspension stems from an incident following Portland's 93-90 home victory over Miami last Sunday. Mott is in his ninth season as an NBA official.
■ Basketball
Riley has hip replacement
Pat Riley, who took indefinite leave from his post as coach of the NBA's Miami Heat to address health concerns, has had left hip replacement surgery, the team said on Friday. Riley had the hour-long operation on Thursday. It was the second surgery in less than a week for Riley, who underwent a procedure on his right knee on Jan. 5. Riley, who also serves as team president, said on Jan. 3 that he was taking an indefinite leave of absence. Assistant Ron Rothstein has been coaching the reigning National Basketball Association champions in Riley's absence. He has split four games since taking over. Rothstein was the Heat's inaugural coach in 1988. He rejoined the franchise as an assistant in 2003. The Heat have struggled this season, largely because of injuries to superstars Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade. They are 10th in the Eastern Conference, one-half game behind Milwaukee for the final playoff spot.
■ Football
Gonzalez agrees to contract
All-star tight end Tony Gonzalez has agreed in principle to a five-year contract extension, the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs said on Friday. "It will, in all essence, allow Tony Gonzalez to finish his career with the Kansas City Chiefs," team president Carl Peterson said in a statement. The 10-year veteran's 8,710 receiving yards and 721 receptions rank second in NFL history among tight ends. He needs two more receiving touchdowns to pass Shannon Sharpe (62) for the most by a tight end.
■ Figure Skating
Kwan to begin diplomacy
US figure-skating superstar Michelle Kwan will begin a week-long visit to China next week in her new capacity as US public diplomacy ambassador, the US State Department announced on Friday. The Hong-Kong born Kwan, a two-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated figure-skater in US history, will accompany Under Secretary of State Karen Hughes, the media guru who since late 2005 has been charged with trying to improve the US image abroad. They will meet with students, women's groups, business and community representatives, government officials and the media starting in Beijing on Wednesday, then going to Guangzhou and Hong Kong, the State Department said.
■ Swimming
Phelps targets Australia
Michael Phelps launches his two-month countdown to the world championships this weekend with a landmark meet in Australia representing the start of what he calls "the biggest two years of my swimming career." The world championships are the most important meet outside the Olympics, allowing Phelps and his rivals to size each other up with more than a year to go before the Beijing Games. "This worlds sets up everything that happens at the Olympics -- for endorsements, for my swimming career, for my times, for what events I'm going to swim in Beijing," he said on Friday.
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely