■RALLYING
Coma mulls pulling out
Defending motorbike champion Marc Coma was considering withdrawing from the Dakar Rally on Saturday after he was hit with a six-hour penalty for illegally changing a tire during Friday’s racing. Meanwhile, quad motorbike leader Marcos Patronelli and his second-placed brother Alejandro Patronelli both withdrew on Saturday, incensed that Marcos was penalized three hours for changing a tire on Friday, which he denied. The Argentine brothers led the quads by more than three hours. Coma, the winner in 2006 and last year, was punished by race stewards for changing to a new tire before the start of the second half of the 600km seventh stage through the Atacama Desert, from Iquique back to Antofagasta.
■CRICKET
Tahir withdrawn from squad
South Africa have withdrawn Pakistan-born leg-spinner Imran Tahir from their squad for Thursday’s fourth and final Test against England because of fears over his eligibility. Cricket South Africa media officer Michael Owen-Smith said on Saturday the 30-year-old had been pulled out to avoid any problems. Tahir, born in Lahore, married a South African woman and became a naturalized citizen last year. “Imran Tahir’s permanent resident papers have not come through yet and Cricket South Africa would rather be absolutely certain of his eligibility before playing him,” Owen-Smith said. “We have to be 100 percent certain before putting him in a national squad.”
■ATHLETICS
Bekele outpaced by Kenyans
Ethiopia distance star Kenenisa Bekele could only manage fourth place in the 9km Edinburgh cross-country race as he suffered a rare defeat on Saturday. Joseph Ebuya led a Kenyan clean sweep of the podium places as Bekele, returning to the snow-covered Holyrood Park venue for the first time since winning his sixth World Championship on the course in 2008, finished well behind the leading trio. “I got killed by three Kenyans,” said Bekele, the reigning Olympic champion at both 5,000m and 10,000m, after Ebuya, Titus Mbishei and Eliud Kipchoge came in ahead of him. Better news for Ethiopia came in the women’s race, where Tirunesh Dibaba outpaced her opponents on the final lap to claim victory on the 6km course.
■FOOTBALL
Lynch accused of stealing
Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch has been accused of taking US$20 from a woman at a Buffalo-area restaurant. The alleged victim is the wife of a police officer who reported the Dec. 7 incident the following day and was then interviewed by police on Wednesday, the Buffalo News reported on Saturday. “She’s terrified of him. He threatened her girlfriend, who tried to retrieve the money after he robbed my wife,” the woman’s husband, William Crawford, told the newspaper. “He thinks he’s above the law because of his status as an athlete.” Crawford, who didn’t want to give his wife’s name because of safety concerns, said the incident occurred at a TGI Friday’s restaurant where the police sergeant’s wife and her girlfriend had stopped for dinner.
■BASKETBALL
Gordon nets landmark point
Ben Gordon of the Detroit Pistons scored the 10 millionth point in NBA history on Saturday with a jump shot with 3 minutes, 51 seconds left in the first half of Detroit’s 104-94 loss to Philadelphia. The first NBA points were scored by New York’s Ossie Schectman on Nov. 1, 1946, at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens.
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