TUG-OF-WAR
Taiwanese teams win gold
Three Taiwanese teams won gold medals at the 2016 World Indoor Tug-of-War Championships in Volendam, the Netherlands, on Friday. One of the victories was clinched by a team made up of students from Taipei Jingmei Girls’ High School in the 500kg women’s senior event. The other two medals were won respectively by a team from National Nantou Senior High School in the 560kg men’s junior event, and a team from Chiao Tai High School and Taipei Jingmei Girls’ High School in the 600kg mixed event. The three medals on Friday brought Taiwan’s total count to six. Taiwan’s teams had won a gold medal in the 540kg women’s senior event and a gold and a silver medal in the 600kg men’s U23 event on Thursday.
ATHLETICS
Kenya willing to cooperate
Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and the Arts Hassan Wario on Friday moved to ease fears that the country’s track and field athletes would be kicked out of the Rio Olympics by insisting they will have a fully functional anti-doping body within two months. The move comes a week after the east African nation was placed on probation by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after failing to prove it was doing enough to tackle its problems with doping in athletics. “The message to the world is that Kenya is very willing to work with WADA to ensure that we have a fully operational anti-doping agency, in place within the two-month framework we have been given,” Wario said. “We have been very transparent in our dealings with WADA on the setting of the Anti-Doping Association of Kenya, and we have a lot of confidence we will see the end to the process.”
BASEBALL
Agent arrested for trafficking
Bart Hernandez, a Miami-based agent for several MLB players from Cuba, was arrested on Friday after a federal grand jury indicted him on human trafficking charges. A report published on the league’s Web site said Hernandez, whose clients include Cuban-born slugger Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox, was among the targets of a federal probe looking into methods used to bring defecting Cuban players into the US. Documents obtained by MLB’s Web site say that Seattle Mariners outfielder Leonys Martin was among the players Hernandez conspired to smuggle out of Cuba, the Communist island nation working to try and normalize relations with their US political rivals. The indictment says Hernandez conspired with Cuban smugglers Eliezer Lazo and Joel Martinez to bring Martin into the US. Hernandez faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted plus forfeiture of any property used in the effort.
SOCCER
De Rossi to miss match
Veteran Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi is set to miss his side’s Champions League last 16, second leg against Real Madrid in three weeks due to a calf injury, the Serie A side said on Friday. The 32-year-old Italy international was injured during the dying stages of Roma’s 2-0 home leg defeat to Real on Wednesday and the club said he would need a month to recover. It is the fifth time De Rossi has injured the same calf in the past 18 months. He is likely to miss four or five Serie A games as well, with Roma currently fourth, just two points off the Champions League qualifying positions, but 10 points behind leaders and champions Juventus.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
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
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely