■ BIATHLON
Kaisa Varis wins World Cup
Kaisa Varis of Finland captured her first biathlon World Cup event in Ruhpolding, Germany, on Friday when she won a women's 7.5km sprint. Varis was twice banned for doping in cross-country skiing and switched to biathlon, which adds the shooting element, after being excluded from the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin by Finland's Olympic committee. She was involved in the 2001 World Championship doping scandal in Lahti, Finland, and was banned again two years later for blood doping. Varis covered the distance in 24 minutes, 9.4 seconds and had no misses on the shooting range.
■ TENNIS
Tursunov wins Sydney title
Dmitry Tursunov beat upstart Australian lefthander Chris Guccione 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4) yesterday to win the Sydney International men's singles title. Tursunov, a California-based Russian, withstood a furious serving onslaught from Guccione, who only lost 10 points on his serve and had 15 aces. It was the first ATP tour final for Guccione, who had beaten compatriot and No. 6 seed Lleyton Hewitt and No. 4 seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic. Tursunov beat France's Fabrice Santoro 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the semifinals while Guccione defeated Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-4. It was the first Sydney final since 2000 not to feature a seeded player.
■ BOXING
Berbick murderer sentenced
A nephew of former heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was sentenced on Friday in Kingston, Jamaica, to life in prison for his murder. Harold Berbick, 21, will be eligible for parole in 20 years. His accomplice, Kenton Gordon, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter. Police said the two beat Trevor Berbick to death in October 2006 and left the 54-year-old's body in a church courtyard. Berbick, who was the last boxer to fight Muhammad Ali, was deported from the US in 2002 after being convicted of sexual assault, grand theft and burglary. He fought from 1976 to 2000, finishing with a record of 50-11 with one draw and 33 knockouts.
■ RUGBY UNION
Nallet to captain France
France rugby coach Marc Lievremont announced on Friday that lock Lionel Nallet is the new team captain. Lievremont, who took over from Bernard Laporte after the 2007 World Cup, told Canal Plus television that he had chosen the 31-year-old Nallet. "I confirm that Lionel Nallet will be the captain of the French team," Lievremont said. Nallet, who has 32 caps, takes over from hooker Raphael Ibanez, who captained France to the semi-finals of the World Cup and to victory at last season's Six Nations tournament.
■ TAEKWONDO
Official denies wrongdoing
A senior official of the World Taekwondo Federation denied on Thursday that he committed any wrongdoing when he offered an envelope of cash to an IOC member. WTF secretary-general Yang Jin-suk said he would seek to prove his innocence when he appears before the International Olympic Committee ethics commission. Yang offered an envelope with US$10,000 to WTF vice president Nat Indrapana, who is also an IOC member from Thailand, at a federation meeting in November in Manchester, England, according to reports in the South Korean media and the German-based Sport Intern news letter.
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