ICE HOCKEY
Forsberg eyes comeback
Swedish standout Peter Forsberg was to practice yesterday with the Colorado Avalanche as he attempts to see if he is fit enough for a NHL comeback at age 37. The Avalanche announced on Friday that Forsberg, the 2003 NHL MVP who last played in the league in the 2007-2008 season, would participate in the morning workout ahead of a game against Boston. “I need to see where I am physically and practicing with NHL players is the best way to find that out,” Forsberg said. Forsberg helped the Avalanche capture two Stanley Cup titles, but has struggled in recent seasons because of a nagging right-foot injury.
ATHLETICS
Hurdler seriously injured
Former world athletics champion Stephane Diagana of France suffered serious head injuries in a road accident on Friday, police confirmed. The 41-year-old, the first French male athlete to become world champion when he won the 400m hurdles title in Athens in 1997, was riding his bicycle when he was involved in a collision with a car in Vence, southern France. He was airlifted to hospital in nearby Nice and was reported to be suffering from head injuries. “He is in a serious condition, but he is conscious,” a police source said. “He has hurt his head and body, but is conscious,” French Athletics Federation chairman Bernard Amsalem said.
FOOTBALL
Simms rejects plea deal
Tennessee Titans quarterback Chris Simms, whose father Phil is a former Super Bowl-winning NFL quarterback, rejected a plea deal on Friday on charges of driving in New York under the influence of marijuana. Simms could have pleaded guilty to charges of driving while impaired, a traffic violation that would have brought a US$500 fine and five days of community service, plus a 90-day driving ban. Instead, he turned down the offer and a March 1 trial date was set. Simms, 30, will face a misdemeanor charge that could send him to jail for a year if he is convicted. Simms was stopped in July last year by police, who claim he admitted to them he had smoked marijuana.
SOCCER
Santander sale approved
Spain’s sports ministry has given its approval for Indian businessman Ahsan Ali Syed to complete his takeover of Racing Santander. Ali Syed, who failed in a bid to buy Premier League club Blackburn last year, said on Friday in a statement that the Cantabrian government had also accepted his proposal. Cantabria has a stake in the northern coast club. Ali Syed said “an active and long-term commitment” will now begin, vowing to “invest all my knowledge and financial strength to elevate the club to the highest level of success in Spain and Europe.”
GOLF
Nurse sues over Woods row
A nurse fired for allegedly looking at the medical records of Tiger Woods is suing for defamation and says he never saw the golf star’s files, the Orlando Sentinel reported on Friday. David Rothenberg is seeking US$400,000 in damages plus reinstatement and a letter of explanation from officials at Health Central, the hospital where Woods was taken after a November 2009 car crash that spawned his sex scandal. Woods was treated for several hours at the hospital after an early morning crash near his home. Hospital officials fired Rothenberg in December 2009 for looking at Woods’ medical records three times within 10 minutes on his computer, according to the lawsuit filed on Friday.
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