■CYCLING
Blood doping kits found
Blood doping kits were discovered in a search of medical equipment belonging to Lance Armstrong’s former Astana team during this year’s Tour de France. Blood transfusion is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The find, which was first reported by French newspaper Le Monde, was confirmed on Wednesday by a source close to a French judicial investigation. The source stressed that the initial inquiry by a Paris magistrates’ court was continuing and that it was premature to suggest the equipment might constitute illegal activity. The court in Paris opened its inquiry in July after the discovery during the Tour de France won by Armstrong’s teammate Alberto Contador of medical equipment such as “syringes and perfusions.” The source said: “No trace of any doping product has for the time being been uncovered by the analysis of this material” belonging to Astana. Le Monde’s report said antihypertensives (drugs that reduce high blood pressure) were also found at Astana during the search. These drugs are not banned, but can be used to treat hypertension associated with the practice of blood transfusions or the administering of the banned blood booster EPO.
■CRICKET
Pakistan to play England
Pakistan will play two Twenty20 matches against England in Dubai next year, before defending their title at the next World Twenty20, an official said on Thursday. Pakistan won the second edition of the World Twenty20 in England in June, sparking jubilation in a nation where international cricket has been hit hard by security fears and attacks by Islamist militants. “We have reached an agreement to play two Twenty20 matches against England on Feb. 19 and Feb. 20 as part of our preparations for the World Twenty20 next year,” Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Wasim Bari said. Pakistan will defend their title in the West Indies from April 30 to May 16. They are placed in Group A alongside Australia and Bangladesh in the 12-team competition.
■TENNIS
Djokovic to star as king
Serbian world No. 3 Novak Djokovic is to play Yugoslavia’s first king in a television series to be shot next year, Serbian media reported on Thursday. The 10-part series will retrace the life and reign of Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, first monarch of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, who unified the kingdoms of Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia after World War I. The tennis champion and first-time actor will play Aleksandar during his reign, which came to a brutal end in 1934 when he was assassinated in the port of Marseilles while trying to set up an alliance with France against Germany. Djokovic’s younger brother, Djordje, will play the king as a young man.
■BOXING
Terry Lawless dies at 76
Terry Lawless, the British boxing manager who took Frank Bruno to a world heavyweight title bout against Mike Tyson in 1989 and guided four other world champions, died in Spain on Thursday at the age of 76. “He will be remembered as one of the all-time great boxing managers,” close friend Norman Giller wrote on the Sports Journalists Association Web site after being contacted by Lawless’ wife, Sylvia. The “maker of champions” managed more than 50 boxers and guided John H. Stracey, Maurice Hope, Jim Watt and Charlie Magri to various world titles from his Royal Oak gym in east London. He had retired in 1999. Lawless worked closely with promoters Mickey Duff, Jarvis Astaire, Harry Levene and Mike Barrett.
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and