■COLOMBIA
Popescu receives boost
Former star Gheorghe Popescu said on Wednesday he would try to clear his reputation after allegations that he was a spy for the Securitate secret police were dismissed by the council that holds communist-era files. The Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives said on Tuesday there is no evidence in the files that Popescu did anything that violated human rights and cleared him of collaborating with the Securitate. Last month, two newspapers alleged that notes in his file showed that Popescu was a Securitate informer. Popescu denied the allegations but later conceded he signed a document promising to “defend the national interests” and wrote notes providing information about teammates. He now says he does not remember signing the notes, although they appear under his name. Popescu said his file is largely made up of reports written by two Securitate agents who were keeping an eye on the players when they went abroad. He said the handwriting of one of the agents is similar to his, and implied the agent could have written the notes and signed them in his name.
■COLOMBIA
Striker returns aged 46
Former Colombia striker Anthony de Avila is making a comeback with America de Cali at the age of 46 after a decade out of soccer, he announced on Wednesday. “My real motivation is to have a farewell match as an active player ... I didn’t get the chance then [10 years ago] but it’s working out now,” De Avila said he is fit and ready to play competitively. He played for Colombia at two World Cups.
■ENGLAND
Players punished for betting
Four players who bet on a League Two match involving their own clubs were banned for up to a year by the English FA on Wednesday. James Harris, Robert Williams and David Mannix, Accrington Stanley players at the time, and then Bury player Andrew Mangan were found to be in “blatant breach of the rules” by the FA regulatory commission after betting on Bury to win on May 3, last year, the FA said. Harris, who played in the match which Bury won 2-0, was suspended immediately from all soccer activities for one year, while Mannix and Williams were banned for 10 months and eight months respectively. Mangan was banned for five months. The players also received fines of between £2,000 and £5,000 (US$3,300-US$8,200).
■BOLIVIA
Arrive late, leave early
Playing at altitude need not be banned provided teams arrive just before kickoff and leave immediately after, the head of research carried out in Bolivia said on Wednesday. “According to the studies were have completed, a period of acclimatization is unnecessary. There is no reason to prohibit football at altitude,” said Ivo Eterovic, head of the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) medical commission. Opponents of soccer at high altitude argue that it gives teams accustomed to the rarefied air an unfair advantage and world body FIFA banned all matches at more than 2,750m above sea level in 2007. FIFA lifted the ban last year pending more research but is set to recommend that teams must only play at altitude after a two-week adaptation period, FBF sources said. Eterovic, however, said: “Arriving only a few hours before [the match], playing and leaving is the best thing so the altitude does not affect the players. Physiologically, the human body only starts responding [to the altitude] after the fourth or fifth hour,” he said. Bolivia play internationals in La Paz, 3,600m above sea level.
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
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
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
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just