GERMANY
Players may have doped
A researcher says some players on the West Germany team that won the 1954 World Cup may have been injected with the same stimulant given to tank crews and Luftwaffe pilots during World War II. Rumors of doping involving the West German team have been around for years. Some players have acknowledged receiving injections at the World Cup in Switzerland, but believed they were given vitamin C. However, a member of the team conducting a new study by the University of Leipzig into the history of doping in Germany says they could have received methamphetamine, which under its trade name Pervitin had been used by Nazi Germany’s troops. “There are indications that they were injected with Pervitin instead of vitamin C,” Erik Eggers, one of the authors of the study was quoted as saying by the newspaper Tageszeitung on Tuesday. West Germany rallied to beat favorites Hungary — led by Ferenc Puskas — 3-2 in Bern.
ENGLAND
Bid team makes complaint
England’s 2018 World Cup campaign chiefs confirmed on Tuesday they have made a formal complaint following disparaging comments about London by the head of Russia’s rival bid. In a recent interview with Russian daily Sports Express, Russia 2018 bid chief Andrei Sorokin referred to London’s high crime rate and youth alcohol problems, breaching FIFA rules on talking about rival bidders. Sorokin later apologized, but insisted his remarks were true — prompting English officials to lodge a complaint against Sorokin to FIFA last week. “We can confirm a complaint has been made to FIFA,” a spokesman for England 2018 confirmed. English officials are believed to be seeking a formal apology from Sorokin rather than have the case heard by FIFA’s executive committee ahead of the Dec. 2 vote to decide the venues for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
ENGLAND
Spurs sign Khumalo deal
Tottenham Hotspur have signed an agreement with South Africa international defender Bongani Khumalo which will see the player move to Spurs in the January transfer window, the club announced on Tuesday. Tottenham said the SuperSport United player had signed a pre-contract agreement which would be confirmed subject to a work permit being approved. The 23-year-old impressed Spurs boss Harry Redknapp during a trial in September, which took place after Khumalo starred in all three of South Africa’s matches at the World Cup. “He’s not expensive. We had him over on trial and we like him,” Redknapp said last month. “It will be a great chance for the kid. He’s a great lad. He comes from a poor background and he’s desperate for a chance, and we’re going to give him a chance.” Khumalo’s arrival should strengthen Redknapp’s defensive options following an injury crisis that has seen Ledley King, Michael Dawson, William Gallas and Younes Kaboul all spend time on the sidelines this season.
BELARUS
Pudyshev stars aged 56
A coach has taken to the field in the Belarussian Premier League at the age of 56, but he could not stop his team losing. Yuri Pudyshev, an assistant coach for Dinamo Brest, came on late in the second half against BATE Borisov, wearing the No. 56 shirt. He was greeted by a standing ovation, but Dinamo still went on to lose 2-0. The Belarusian Soccer Federation named Pudyshev the best player in the game. Pudyshev was a member of the Soviet national team. He has made previous appearances at the ages of 54 and 55.
A sumo star was born in Japan on Sunday when 24-year-old Takerufuji became the first wrestler in 110 years to win a top-division tournament on his debut, triumphing at the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka despite injuring his ankle on the penultimate day. Takerufuji, whose injury had left him in a wheelchair outside the ring, shoved out the higher-ranked Gonoyama at the Edion Arena Osaka to the delight of the crowd, giving him an unassailable record of 13 wins and two losses to claim the Emperor’s Cup. “I did it just through willpower. I didn’t really know what was going
The US’ Ilia Malinin on Saturday produced six scintillating quadruple jumps, including a quadruple Axel, in the men’s free skate to capture his first figure skating world title. The 19-year-old nicknamed the “Quad god,” who is the only skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition, dazzled with an array of breathtakingly executed jumps starting with his quad Axel and including a quadruple Lutz in combination with a triple flip and a quadruple toe loop in combination with a triple toe. He added an unexpected triple-triple combination at the end to earn a world-record 227.79 in the free program for a championship
Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is being criminally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer — but not baseball. The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details. Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well
HSIEH MAKES QUARTERS: Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Elise Mertens of Belgium won in the women’s doubles and face Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sofia Kenin of the US Top-ranked Iga Swiatek and US Open champion Coco Gauff were knocked out of the women’s singles at the Miami Open on Monday, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced in the women’s doubles. Swiatek lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-2, hours after third seed Gauff fell in three sets to No. 23 Caroline Garcia 6-3, 1-6, 6-2. Alexandrova beat a top-ranked player for the first time and advanced to face Jessica Pegula, a 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 winner over Emma Navarro, in the quarter-finals. Alexandrova recorded her second win over Swiatek, following a 2021 victory in Melbourne. Swiatek had won their three matches since. “We played quite