■SOCCER
Zico to manage Uzbek club
Former Brazil great Zico has agreed terms to take over at Uzbek club Bunyodkor, he said on Monday. “There is a verbal agreement with the directors of the club and I am leaving today [Monday] to sign the contract,” Zico said on his Web site. Zico, regarded as one of Brazil’s greatest players, coached Japan at the 2006 World Cup where they were knocked out in the group stage, and took Turkish club Fenerbahce to last season’s Champions League quarter-finals. Bunyodkor signed Brazilian 2002 World Cup winner Rivaldo from AEK Athens last month. Bunyodkor, second in the Uzbek championship, have reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League and host Iran’s Saipa today in the second leg, having drawn 2-2 in the first match.
■CYCLING
Italian falls under truck
Italian Marco Coledan was ruled out of yesterday’s under-23 men’s time trial at the world road championships after skidding in training and falling under a truck. Coledan, who was trying out the route ahead of the first race of the championships in the Italian town of Varese, suffered a knee injury and may require surgery. “I’m sorry for the lad because has been preparing for this race since July,” Italy coach Rosario Fina said on Monday.
■EQUESTRIAN
US team disqualified
The US was disqualified on Monday from its fourth-place finish in the Olympic team dressage event for a positive drug test. The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) said US rider Courtney King’s horse Mythilus tested positive for the banned substance felbinac. The medication is used as an anti-inflammatory pain reliever. King also lost her 13th place in the individual dressage class and received a one-month ban already served since she was suspended during the Beijing Games. King argued before the tribunal that she gained no competitive advantage and, because of the nature and small amount of the substance found, had not mistreated her horse. The FEI classes felbinac as a banned medication, not a doping product. While noting King’s “impeccable record and reputation,” the FEI said she had not explained how the substance entered her horse’s system. The tribunal repeated FEI policy of ensuring that horses compete only when physically fit. “This requires doping and medication rule violations to be strict liability or no fault offenses,” the governing body said. The FEI said it believed neither King “nor anyone on her behalf or related to the USEF had knowingly administered the medication to the horse.”
■CRICKET
Darren Gough bows out
Former England fast bowler Darren Gough’s first-class cricket career came to an end on Monday after he was left out of the Yorkshire squad for their final County Championship match of the season. Gough, 38, was omitted from the 13-man party for their match against Sussex, which could determine the relegation-threatened county’s status. Gough had already announced this would be his final season, after suffering a series of niggling injuries this summer. Following Monday’s announcement, he told the BBC: “I wasn’t disappointed because I picked the team! Some people said I should go for the romantic ending but it’s not about me, it’s about Yorkshire staying up. I really went back to the old times in my first spell against Somerset last week ... That really took it out of me and I was struggling. When I look back I’m glad my last wicket was Justin Langer.” In 58 Tests Gough took 229 wickets at 28.39, placing him ninth in England’s all-time list.
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