■ FOOTBALL
Couch used steroids: Yahoo
Former No. 1 NFL draft pick Tim Couch had doping regimens that called for anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (HGH), documents obtained by Yahoo.com showed. Couch, cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars this month, told Yahoo.com he used HGH for about a week, under a doctor's care, in hopes it would help him recover from shoulder surgery. He denied using steroids or any other banned drugs and said he had never seen the documents. Yahoo.com reported on Tuesday it had obtained documents from an anonymous source with Couch's name printed across the top that called for extensive use of drugs banned by the league.
■ SOCCER
Leicester player collapses
A player's collapse in the locker room at halftime caused an English League Cup match between local rivals Nottingham Forest and Leicester to be abandoned on Tuesday. Forest was winning 1-0 at home when Clive Clarke, who joined the Foxes on loan from Sunderland two weeks ago, fell seriously ill at the interval. Rival managers Colin Calderwood and Martin Allen addressed the crowd to tell the fans what had happened and the game was called off as Clarke was taken to a nearby hospital. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Clive and his family at this time," Leicester chief executive Tim Davies said.
■ BASEBALL
Bonds' balls up for auction
Electronic bidding began for Barry Bonds' 755th and 756th home run balls on Tuesday, with the price for the record-breaker starting at US$100,000. Sotheby's/SCP Auctions is handling sales of the balls Bonds hit to tie and break Hank Aaron's Major League Baseball home run record. Bidding closes on Sept. 15, when the winning offer is to be announced. "These balls are some of the most historic baseballs to come up publicly for auction," said David Kohler, president of SCP Auctions. The California-based auction house also handled the US$102,000 sale of Bonds' 700th home run ball and the US$220,000 sale of his 715th.
■ BASKETBALL
Alston charged with assault
Houston Rockets guard Rafer Alston was charged on Tuesday with slashing a man's neck during a ruckus at a New York nightspot -- his second brush with the law this month. Alston was arraigned on felony assault charges before being released without bail. A judge ordered him to return to court on Jan. 3. His lawyer said Alston was "absolutely innocent." The man who said he was injured told police the incident occurred at about 3am on Monday after he and Alston accidentally bumped each other inside Club Stereo. During an ensuing argument, the man said, Alston slashed his neck. The 41-year-old went to a hospital to be treated for a minor neck injury, then filed a complaint with police.
■ SOCCER
Sevilla's Puerta dies
Sevilla midfielder Antonio Puerta died on Tuesday, three days after collapsing on the field during his team's Spanish league match against Getafe. Puerta died of "multiple organ failure stemming from prolonged cardiac arrest" and subsequent coronary problems, Virgen del Rocio Hospital director Gimeno Guerrero said in a statement. The 22-year-old Puerta had been in an intensive care unit since Saturday and had been given assisted ventilation, but his condition worsened on Tuesday, the hospital said.
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