A Thai field hockey player became the first athlete at the Southeast Asian Games to fail a drug test and has been expelled from the regional event, a games official said yesterday. The player, whose name was not immediately released, tested positive for steroids in a urine test, said Kanokphan Julakasem, head of the Sports Authority of Thailand. "I have signed the endorsement to punish the player who was found positive today," Kanokphan said.
■ FOOTBALL
Tebow wins Heisman Trophy
University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, making him the first first-or second-year player to take American college football's most prestigious award. Since 1935, when Jay Berwanger of Chicago won the first Heisman, every winner had been a junior or senior -- until Tebow. He beat out University of Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, the first player since 1949 to finish second in consecutive seasons. Tebow received 1,957 points and 462 first-place votes to McFadden's 1,703 points and 291 first-place votes from sports writers and broadcasters.
■ BASEBALL
Fukudome rules out Giants
Highly coveted Japanese free agent Kosuke Fukudome has decided not to move to the Yomiuri Giants and will sign with a major league team instead, local media reported yesterday. Fukudome had previously indicated the Giants would be the only Japanese team he would consider playing for next season but has now ruled them out, opening the way for a move to the major leagues, the Nikkansports newspaper reported. Fukudome has drawn interest from the Chicago Cubs, the San Diego Padres and the Chicago White Sox. Fukudome, 30, is regarded as one of the best outfielders in Japanese professional baseball and was a key member of the Japan team that won the inaugural World Baseball Classic last year.
■ FORMULA ONE
Rosberg signs new deal
German driver Nico Rosberg has put an end to speculation that he might be gearing up for a move to McLaren by signing a new deal keeping him at Williams until 2009. Rosberg, whose best result from 35 grand prix was fourth in Brazil in October, said: "Williams have made me an attractive, far better offer with a new contract up to 2009 and I decided to accept it. For Williams the question of letting me go [to McLaren] never arose," the son of Finland's former champion Keke Rosberg told yesterday's edition of Bild. "I could imagine myself [joining McLaren] just like I could see myself at Ferrari in 2008. Every young driver wants a car that can bring you the title."
■ BOBSLEIGH
Holcomb completes sweep
Steven Holcomb completed a sweep of the World Cup bobsleigh races on his home Utah Olympic Park track on Saturday, edging Andre Lange of Germany by .09 seconds in the four-man event. Holcomb, joined by Pavle Jovanovic, Steve Mesler and Brock Kreitzburg, trailed Lange by .01 seconds after the first heat, but won with a combined time of 1:35.05. Lange and his team of Rene Hoppe, Kevin Kuske, and Martin Putze were second in 1:35.14, while third place went to Pierre Lueders of Canada and his team of Keb Kotyk, Lascelles Brown and Justin Kripps in 1:35.37. Holcomb leads the World Cup with 450 points.
RSS