■ ATHLETICS
Wife threatens to tell all
The wife of the doctor at the center of Spain’s biggest doping investigation says Spanish sport would be ruined if she revealed all she knows about drug use among athletes. Former runner Cristina Perez said Spain’s record medal performance at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics was in part thanks to her husband, Eufemianio Fuentes, the doctor at the center of cycling’s Operation Puerto case. Perez competed on Spain’s 1,600m relay team in Barcelona. “I know what happened at Barcelona ‘92 and I’m a Pandora’s box that, if opened one day, could bring down sport,” Perez was quoted as saying by La Provincia newspaper. “But out of respect for my companions, the people who sacrificed so much, I’m staying quiet. Although I could speak out and ruin all those caught up in this little world.” Fuentes was one of five people arrested in May 2006 after Spanish police raided apartments in Madrid and Zaragoza and uncovered a blood doping ring that would implicate more than 50 cyclists. Perez, who said all “all elite athletes and regular athletes were implicated” in doping networks across the world, added that the government made Fuentes a doping scapegoat after he helped many Spanish athletes win Olympic medals.
■ FOOTBALL
‘Pacman’ Jones reinstated
The NFL lifted Adam “Pacman” Jones’ suspension on Wednesday, just more than five weeks after the Dallas Cowboys cornerback was banned for another violation of its personal conduct policy. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Adam Jones was reinstated by league commissioner Roger Goodell, but would miss the next two games and likely return on Dec. 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jerry Jones said the player could return to practice on Monday. The owner said Adam Jones would have “limited participation” this week, but would not be part of full-squad practices or conditioning.
■ SOCCER
Mourinho’s medal sold
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s Premier League winners’ medal sold for £21,600 (US$32,240) at an auction in London on Wednesday. Mourinho threw the medal into the stands at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea beat Manchester United 3-0 to win the 2005-2006 title. It was caught by a fan and sold to an unnamed telephone bidder at a sporting memorabilia sale at Bonhams Auctioneers in Chester. At the same auction, a winners’ medal from the 1930 World Cup was sold for £28,800. The gold medal was awarded to Uruguay captain Jose Nasazzi after his side defeated Argentina 4-2 to become the first World champions.
■ SUMO
Ama upsets grand champion
Mongolian Ama upset compatriot Hakuho on Thursday to move into a two-way tie for the lead with the grand champion at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka, Japan. Sekiwake Ama forced Hakuho back at the faceoff and threw the yokozuna down with an arm throw. Ama, who is bidding for his first Emperor’s Cup and promotion to the rank of ozeki, is tied with Hakuho at 10-2 heading into the final three days of the tournament. Hakuho, bidding for his ninth title, desperately tried to escape Ama’s hold but touched the dirt surface for just his second loss since an opening-day loss to Aminishiki. In other major bouts, ozeki Chiyotaikai (7-5) prevented Miyabiyama making it a three-way tie for the tournament lead, forcing the No. 7 maegashira out. Fifth-ranked maegashira Dejima shoved out Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu to give both wrestlers a record of 6-6.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care