Major League Baseball’s new investigative unit is at work on several probes that could lead to disciplinary action while also dealing with the burgeoning business of player identity theft.
The department of investigations, established in January at the recommendation of former senator George Mitchell, already uncovered evidence that Jordan Schafer, the top prospect in the Atlanta Braves’ farm system, used human growth hormone. Schafer was suspended on April 8 for 50 games.
“There are several other investigations in the pipeline,” said Bob DuPuy, MLB’s chief operating officer. “You’ll be reading about them.”
Among the unit’s goals is for DuPuy and commissioner Bud Selig to know about government investigations before they are made public.
“We want to go outside of baseball and want to find out who’s supplying to these kids,” said George Hanna, senior director of investigations. “That’s what we’ll do through a lot of our law-enforcement contacts, just to check who they’re looking at that is supplying to professional athletes.”
Hanna and Dan Mullin, the vice president of investigations, had worked in the security department of the commissioner’s office for several years before the new department was created one month after the release of the Mitchell Report on doping in MLB. Mullin spent 23 years in the New York City Police Department, retiring as a deputy chief. Hanna supervised investigations in the FBI. Their unit has three investigators, all of whom speak Spanish, and two or three more investigators may be added this year.
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