■OLYMPICS
Ramzi stripped of gold
Fifteen months after the Beijing Olympics, Bahraini middle-distance runner Rashid Ramzi was stripped of his 1,500m gold medal on Wednesday and four other athletes were disqualified for doping at the Games. The International Olympic Committee took action against the five athletes who tested positive in April in retroactive tests for CERA, an advanced version of the blood-boosting drug EPO. The Moroccan-born Ramzi was the only gold medalist from Beijing caught using performance-enhancing drugs. The IOC also stripped Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin of his silver medal in the Beijing road race, a decision that had been announced on Tuesday by the Italian Olympic Committee. Also disqualified on Wednesday were German cyclist Stefan Schumacher, Croatian 800m runner Vanja Perisic and Greek race walker Athanasia Tsoumeleka. They did not win medals in Beijing.
■SOCCER
Fluminense through to final
Fluminense reached the Copa Sudamericana final by scoring twice in injury-time to overcome Paraguay’s Cerro Porteno 2-1 and 3-1 on aggregate at the Maracana on Wednesday. Then a massive fight broke out seemingly involving all players, with Fluminense and Cerro trading vicious blows before Brazilian military police stormed the field to break it up. “They’re a marginal bunch, but we’re in the final and that’s that,” Fluminense captain Fred said. Fluminense will meet the winners of the second semi-final between Uruguay’s River Plate and Ecuador’s Liga de Quito. River won the first leg 2-1.
■BASEBALL
Tracy, Scioscia win awards
Jim Tracy of the Colorado Rockies won the National League Manager of the Year award and Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels was selected for the American League honor on Wednesday. Tracy became the second manager to win the award after taking over during the season, joining Jack McKeon for Florida in 2003. Tracy received 29 first-place votes and two seconds for 151 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Scioscia got 15 first-place votes, 10 seconds and one third for 106 points. The Rockies promoted Tracy from bench coach after Clint Hurdle was fired in late May and he won the wild-card race. Scioscia kept the Angels going after the death of pitcher Nick Adenhart and they won their fifth West Division title in six years.
■CRICKET
McGlashan breaks record
New Zealander Peter McGlashan set an international record for catches by a wicketkeeper in a first-class match when he claimed his 12th catch for Northern Districts Province against Central Districts yesterday. McGlashan took six catches, including one to dismiss former Black Caps batsman Mathew Sinclair, during Central’s first innings and six, including catches from internationals Jamie How and Ross Taylor, in the second. McGlashan, 30, broke the record shared by 11 players, including former Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh.
■ATHLETICS
Semenya to keep gold
Caster Semenya will keep her world 800m gold medal and a probe into her gender will not be made public, the South African sports ministry said yesterday. The ministry said Caster’s lawyers, the South African government and the IAAF, had reached “total agreement” on the issue. “Because Caster has been found to be innocent of any wrong, she will then retain her gold medal,” it said.
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely