CRICKET
Mathews speaks to police
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews was to appear before police yesterday to record a statement in connection with a match-fixing scandal that has led to the suspension of a bowling coach. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) handed Anusha Samaranayake a two-month ban on Monday over his relationship with net bowler Gayan Wishwajith, who allegedly approached national team players to underperform during a Test match against the West Indies in October last year. “Sri Lanka Cricket has received several complaints regarding the close acquaintance of Anusha Samaranayake and the main suspect, Gayan Wishvanath, who had approached several national players for the alleged illegal activities of match-fixing,” SLC said in a statement. The Financial Crime Investigation Division had already interviewed wicketkeeper Kusal Perera and leading spinner Rangana Herath about an alleged offer of thousands of dollars to engineer a batting collapse for a West Indies victory in the match in Galle. “Mathews is appearing today with regard to the same match-fixing case, in which two people were suspended,” an SLC official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
RUGBY UNION
Sergio Parisse wins award
Stade Francais captain Sergio Parisse was named French Top 14 player of the season for 2014-2015 on Monday after a vote for by his peers. The 32-year-old Italy captain guided his Parisian team to the Top 14 title last season, marking the feat with a stunning pass out of the back of his hand to set up a try in Stade’s shock 33-16 victory over European champions Toulon in the semi-finals. “From a personal point of view, I’m truly proud, but I’m mostly delighted for the team, the club, the youngsters who enabled us to win this title [the Top 14], said Argentine-born Parisse, who joined Stade in 2007.
FOOTBALL
Eagles confirm coach hiring
The Philadelphia Eagles on Monday confirmed the hiring of Doug Pederson as head coach following the sacking of Chip Kelly last month. Pederson, who arrives from the Kansas City Chiefs, where he spent three seasons as offensive coordinator, is to embark on his third stint with the Eagles. He served as quarterbacks coach in 2011-2012 and offensive quality control coach in 2009-2010. He played quarterback for the Eagles in the 1999 season. The 47-year-old was to be unveiled at a press conference in Philadelphia yesterday. “We are excited to introduce Doug Pederson as our new head coach,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement.
FOOTBALL
Panthers ban hoverboards
Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera has banned his players from riding hoverboards as they prepare for this weekend’s crunch showdown with the Arizona Cardinals for a place in the Super Bowl, reports said on Monday. Rivera said he had forbidden Panthers players from riding hoverboards inside Carolina’s stadium to head off the possibility of any freak accidents. The Panthers coach said he had acted after seeing YouTube videos of hoverboards catching fire. He revealed he had also caught players racing on hoverboards at the Bank of America Stadium. “Have you seen those things on YouTube blowing up?” Rivera told ESPN. “I mean, that’s what concerns me more than anything else. What if something crazy happens? I will say this, too: I caught them drag racing in the freaking hallway one time, too.” Rivera said he had shown players videos of hoverboards bursting into flames to emphasize his concerns.
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