■FRANCE
Players in prostitution probe
Investigators have questioned two French national team players as part of an inquiry into prostitution involving a minor, a judicial source said. One of the players has admitted having a relationship with a prostitute but denied knowing that she was a minor, the source said on condition of anonymity. The players, who were not identified, were questioned by investigators working for Paris examining magistrate Yves Dando, the source said confirming a report by the M6 television station. The investigation concerns a Paris night club, frequented by certain French internationals, which is suspected of employing prostitutes, the source said. L’Equipe newspaper reported yesterday that a third French international player could be questioned in coming weeks as part of the same investigation. “There is no reaction to give on a matter like this,” the president of the French Football Federation Jean-Pierre Escalettes said. “An investigation is underway and I have no information on that. At the moment it is not possible to make a comment.”
■ITALY
Livorno on brink of drop
Serie A bottom side Livorno are on the brink of relegation after losing 2-0 at Chievo Verona on Saturday. Sergio Pellissier drilled a diagonal strike inside the near post to put the hosts ahead in the 28th minute shortly after being denied a strong penalty claim for a push in the back as he was about to shoot. Elvis Abbruscato touched the ball home from close range to wrap up the victory two minutes from time. Livorno have 26 points with four games left to play, nine points less than Bologna in the safety zone before the fourth-bottom side’s visit to Udinese yesterday. Chievo, in contrast, look to have top-flight survival in the bag after a win that puts them 12th, 10 points above the drop zone.
■PORTUGAL
Braga cut Benfica lead
Braga beat Leixoes 3-1 on Saturday to cut Benfica’s lead at the top of the league to three points. Alan scored twice and Moises once for Braga, while Christian Pouga reduced the deficit for Leixoes. Braga are on 64 points and it was the team’s first win against relegation-threatened Leixoes since the 1988-1989 season. Benfica, on 67 points, could increase their lead to six points again yesterday, when they visited Academica. With three games left after this weekend, Benfica are seeking to clinch their first title in five years. Defending champions Porto are third with 56 points and played Guimaraes yesterday.
■UNITED STATES
Angel delights Red Bulls
Juan Pablo Angel scored his first two goals of the season, including a last-minute penalty, to lead the New York Red Bulls to a 2-1 comeback win over FC Dallas on Saturday night. The Red Bulls remained unbeaten in their new US$200 million home, including two MLS matches and a friendly against Santos of Brazil last month. Dallas scored in the 10th minute when Dax McCarty met a cross from Heath Pearce and sent a header past Red Bull goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul to take the lead. Angel equalized in the 56th and converted the penalty to secure the win. At Carson, California, Edson Buddle scored two goals as the Los Angeles Galaxy ended a six-game winless streak against Real Salt Lake and continued their best start to an MLS season since 1998. Buddle opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a header from Landon Donovan’s corner kick and then, after Kyle Beckerman had equalized for Real in the 41st, Buddle scored the winner in the 76th minute.
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
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was