■OLYMPICS
Norwegian loses medal
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday re-awarded Norway’s team showjumping bronze at last year’s Beijing Games to Switzerland after Norwegian rider Tony Andre Hansen’s doping ban was confirmed. “The executive board decided to disqualify rider Tony Andre Hansen from the individual jumping competition and team jumping competition events at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, as a consequence of the positive doping test,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. The IOC’s move followed a ruling by the Court of Arbitration of Sport last week, confirming a ban on Hansen and dismissing the Norwegian rider’s appeal against being stripped of an Olympic showjumping bronze medal.
■BASKETBALL
Lakers most valuable
The Los Angeles Lakers are the NBA’s most valuable team, while 12 others lost money in the 2008-2009 season, Forbes magazine said. In its annual listing of the value of NBA teams, Forbes found the Lakers to be worth US$607 million, up 4 percent for the league champions. Second are the New York Knicks at US$586 million, but that is a 4 percent drop. The Knicks led the rankings for the four previous seasons. The Chicago Bulls (US$511 million), Detroit Pistons (US$479 million) and Cleveland Cavaliers (US$476 million) round out the top five. At the bottom of the 30-team rankings are the Milwaukee Bucks at US$254 million. The league average worth is US$367 million, down 4 percent, according to Forbes.
■BASKETBALL
Tim Thomas linked to brawl
Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Thomas was at a Dallas restaurant when a fight broke out on Wednesday linked to a dispute between him and another patron. Damien Pettie, 29, told police he approached Thomas and a group of people at a Denny’s 24-hour restaurant at about 3am and said, “Hey, what’s up?” to the player. Thomas responded by swearing at Pettie and using racial and gay slurs, according to the police report. Pettie swore back, and told police that at that point he was hit in the face by someone in Thomas’ party. “Then all parties within both groups began to throw chairs, knock over tables and fight each other,” the report said. The fight broke up after the manager said he had called police. Thomas and his group left before officers arrived.
■SOCCER
Magpies drive accelerates
Newcastle’s drive back to the Premier League accelerated on Wednesday as the Magpies claimed a 2-0 win at Coventry to pull seven points clear at the top of the Championship table. Goals from Shola Ameobi, on his first appearance since August, and substitute Nile Ranger gave Newcastle the points from a scrappy encounter at the Ricoh Arena. Wednesday’s other Championship match ended with the spoils shared, Barnsley and Scunthorpe having drawn 1-1.
■BOBSLED
US’ Hays injured in crash
US Olympic bobsled hopeful Todd Hays crashed in training in Winterberg, Germany, on Wednesday and is expected to miss the weekend World Cup races because of what was preliminarily diagnosed as a concussion. The 40-year-old driver was held in hospital overnight for observation. Training was halted for about 15 minutes after Hays’ crash, which came amid poor visibility brought on by foggy, rainy conditions, although the USBSF did not say what exactly led to the mishap. The other three members of Hays’ four-man team were not injured.
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
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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