RUGBY UNION
Aussies banned for drinking
Australia coach Ewen Mc-Kenzie announced on Monday that six members of his tour squad in Europe would receive one-match bans for “inappropriate” drinking. McKenzie said wingers Adam Ashley Cooper and Nick Cummins; front-rowers Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson and Paddy Ryan; and backrower Liam Gill had all drunk so much in the build-up to the Wallabies 32-15 win over Ireland on Saturday that they deserved a one-match ban. The suspensions will be served in next Saturday’s clash against Scotland at Murrayfield, with the exception of Ryan, who will serve his suspension in Australia’s final tour clash against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday next week. “Everyone in our squad is required to comply with and adhere to high standards of ethical conduct both on and off the field,” McKenzie said in an Australian Rugby Union statement. “Those standards were compromised in the lead-up to Saturday’s victory over Ireland, with a group of players making the decision to stay out late and consume inappropriate levels of alcohol during the early hours of Wednesday morning.” In addition, McKenzie also sanctioned a further nine players for “breaches of internal team protocols.”
SOCCER
Chinese youth to get balls
Jack Brewer, a former National Football League (NFL) player, will lead a delegation to Beijing this week aimed at bringing soccer balls to disadvantaged Chinese youth as part of the One World Futbol Project. Brewer, a 34-year-old Texan who spent five seasons as an NFL defensive back, hopes to introduce health and wellness products in China and seeks to use sport to promote social development as well as global cultural exchanges. On Friday, the China World Peace Foundation is to stage a reception at the Peace Garden Museum to kick off the soccer project, with a California-based group making the special balls, which never need pumping with air and will not go flat even when punctured. With plans to distribute at least 1.5 million soccer balls to youth worldwide, the project has enabled about 15 million children in 160 nations to play soccer.
SOCCER
Fabregas resumes training
Cesc Fabregas has returned to training as the Barcelona midfielder continues his recovery from a knee injury, the La Liga leaders said on Monday. Fabregas damaged ligaments in his right knee in their 4-1 win at Real Betis on Nov. 10 and had to withdraw from the Spain squad for friendlies against Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. “The FC Barcelona players returned to training this rainy Monday afternoon after enjoying the weekend off and Cesc participated in the session,” Barca said on their Web site. Barca’s Spain defenders Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba continued to work apart from their teammates as they continue their recovery from injury.
SOCCER
Colon fans riot
Police used rubber bullets to quell rioting fans after players from Argentine side Colon refused to take the field for Monday’s home match against Atletico Rafaela due to seven months unpaid wages. Colon fans tried to storm the club premises in Santa Fe city, while police attempted to break up the riot with rubber bullets, sports daily Ole reported on its Web site. The team could be fined or docked three points. They were docked six points on orders from world governing body FIFA earlier this month over a US$600,000 transfer debt dating back to 2007.
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