■CRICKET
Black Caps drop Ryder
All-rounder Jesse Ryder has been dropped from the New Zealand cricket team and fined after missing a team meeting and training session following a late night of drinking after New Zealand’s seven-wicket victory in the third one-day international. The aggressive left-handed batsman will miss the fourth one-day international against West Indies in Auckland today and his place has been taken by Mathew Sinclair, New Zealand Cricket said yesterday. It is the second time within 12 months the 24-year-old has faced issues after drinking sessions. Ryder was also fined after a team disciplinary hearing on Thursday. “I thought I had reached the point where I could control my drinking better, but that is obviously not the case,” Ryder said.
■BIATHLON
Austria wins relay
Austria clinched the men’s 4 x 7.5km relay in the biathlon World Cup ahead of Russia and Germany in Oberhof on Thursday. The Austrian team of Daniel Mesotitsch, Friedrich Pinter, Dominik Landertinger and Christoph Sumann posted 1 hour 19 minutes 36.6 seconds to beat the Russian team by 8.7 seconds, with Germany 19.2 seconds behind. Russian biathlete Ivan Cherezov was earlier suspended for an excessive hemoglobin level in his blood. His place in the team was taken by Yevgeny Ustyugov.
■BASEBALL
Cubs sign testy outfielder
The Chicago Cubs have signed switch-hitting outfielder Milton Bradley to a three-year deal worth US$30 million, the team announced on Thursday. Bradley is known as much for the tantrums and angry outbursts that have characterized his eight-year career as he is for his talent. “People who have never met me are speaking about me. It’s not very intelligent to speak about someone you’ve never met.”
■OLYMPICS
US won’t bid for 2018
The US will not bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, concentrating full efforts upon Chicago’s 2016 Summer Olympic bid, US Olympic Committee spokesman Darryl Seibel said. Seibel told the Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph that the Americans will not join what is expected to be a crowded field to follow next year’s Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2014 Winter Games set for Sochi, Russia. The International Olympic Committee deadline for 2018 applications is mid-October while IOC members will vote on Oct. 2 on the 2016 host between Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.
■SOCCER
Kanoute faces fine
Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute faced a fine from the Spanish soccer federation for revealing a T-shirt expressing support for Palestine during a match. Kanoute lifted his Sevilla shirt over his head after scoring in the team’s 2-1 Copa del Rey win over Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday to display a black T-shirt on which the word “Palestine” was printed in several languages. The federation’s Competition Committee was expected to study the incident yesterday. Kanoute’s action, which has been interpreted as a response to Israel’s recent attacks on Gaza. Raphael Schultz, Israel’s ambassador in Madrid, said on Thursday: “I saw the match and the T-shirt bore nothing more than the name of Palestine. It was not an incitement against Israel. I don’t think it extolled violence.” Meanwhile, Palestine embassy official Mahmoud Aluanen said: “I’m sure that all Palestinian children, those who love football, will be happy about this gesture.”
■SOCCER
Moggi handed sentence
Former Juventus executive Luciano Moggi received an 18-month suspended jail sentence on Thursday for illegal activity involving the now defunct player agency GEA, local news agencies reported. Moggi, the central figure in the Italian match-fixing scandal, allegedly influenced player moves involving GEA, which was run by his son, Alessandro Moggi. Alessandro Moggi received a 14-month suspended sentence, the ANSA and Apcom news agencies reported. “In the end, they absolved GEA and condemned the Moggis. It’s shameful,” Luciano Moggi told ANSA after the verdict. “These accusations won’t hold up on appeal.”
■SOCCER
Thirteen face doping charges
Thirteen players and officials at Cypriot first division side APOP Kyniras face disciplinary action for alleged steroid violations, an official said on Thursday. Anti-Doping Committee member Michael Petrou said all 13 — including five players and the manager — face a maximum four-year ban. He said the Cyprus Football Association decided to summon all 13 to a disciplinary committee after a probe found they allegedly breached domestic and international anti-doping rules. The CFA identified the players as Angelos Efthymiou of Cyprus, Yiannis Sfakianakis of Greece, Dmytro Mykhailenko of Ukraine, Samir Bengeloun of France and Bernardo Vasconcelos of Portugal.
■SOCCER
UEFA reject Real request
UEFA have rejected Real Madrid’s request to play new signings Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Lassana Diarra in the Champions League. UEFA’s disciplinary committee met in special session on Thursday and rejected the request. Real Madrid can take its case to UEFA’s appeals body, which could meet next week. The Spanish champions wanted the pair to be allowed to play in the second round against Liverpool starting on Feb. 25. The club challenged UEFA to reconsider Article 17.18 of its Champions League regulations that prevents both players being fielded. The rule says clubs can register up to three newly signed players for the knockout stage before a Feb. 1 deadline, but that only one can have appeared in European competition earlier in the season. Huntelaar (Ajax) and Diarra (Portsmouth) both played in the UEFA Cup.
■MOTOGP
Kawasaki pull out
Kawasaki announced yesterday that it would withdraw from this year’s MotoGP world championship, citing the global economic downturn. Kawasaki, which has participated in MotoGP since 2003, finished last among the five manufacturers taking part in last year’s MotoGP world championship. “Kawasaki Heavy Industries will suspend participation in 2009 MotoGP championship,” the company said in statement. “Due to the influence of the global economic crises, we have had to reevaluate our business structure.”
■SPEED SKATING
Song banned for a year
Chinese speed skater Song Xingyu has been banned from the sport for a year after making an obscene gesture toward fans from a rival province. Song, who represents Heilongjiang Province, raised his middle finger in the direction of fans from Jilin who were accusing him of skating out of bounds in the 10,000m event. Song will be banned from all training and competition until Jan. 6, 2010, the Heilongjiang sports committee said. “During the sanction period, Song should meditate on his mistake deeply and write a self criticism,” the committee said.
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