SPEED SKATING
Coach accused of abuse
South Korean skating authorities have suspended a national team coach for allegedly beating Olympic short track speed skating champion Shim Suk-hee. The Korea Skating Union yesterday said Shim left a national team training center for two days this week after she was allegedly assaulted by one of her four male coaches. She returned to the center on Thursday. Skating authorities confirmed an investigation is under way, but did not identify the coach. Shim won the women’s short track 3,000m relay gold medal during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia. No details of the incident have been released and it was not immediately known if the 21-year-old was injured.
CYCLING
Sagan takes Down Under lead
World champion Peter Sagan showed his class yesterday when he won the fourth stage of the Union Cycliste Internationale season-opening Tour Down Under in South Australia, taking the overall lead in the process. Sagan, who had a string of minor placings in the past two years of the race, finally enjoyed a win in the run into the town of Urailda. The Slovakian finished the stage in three hours 21 minutes and seven seconds to take the ocher leader’s jersey, two seconds ahead of South African Daryl Impey, who finished second. Australian Jay McCarthy was in third place, nine seconds behind Sagan.
TRIATHLON
ITU launch doping probe
The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has launched an investigation into allegations that Olympic bronze medalist Henri Schoeman of South Africa failed a doping test at the 2016 Rio de Jenerio Summer Olympic in Brazil, the ruling body said in a statement on Thursday. “ITU has been informed of allegations involving Henri Schoeman and an adverse analytical finding that would have occurred during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games,” the union said. “ITU has promptly launched an investigation into the matter. ITU has been in touch with the athlete, who is fully cooperating providing information.” Schoeman’s manager in South Africa did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Schoeman, 26, finished third in Rio behind British brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee. The South African said later that he had been ill in the lead-up to the race.
TENNIS
Federer commits to Hopman
Roger Federer said he plans to keep the Hopman Cup on his playing schedule leading into the season-opening Australian Open Grand Slam as it suits his children best. The Swiss star, who teamed with Belinda Bencic to win the mixed teams event in Perth over the New Year, said he expects to return for next year’s edition. “I’ve done all sorts of preparations [for the Australian Open],” the 19-time Grand Slam winner told reporters after his second-round win late on Thursday. “I did preparations with [Australian] Tony Roche in Sydney, went back to Doha, then came back for Melbourne. That worked. This time I’ve done Perth now twice,” he said. “I feel like having kids, later on in my career it feels like Hopman Cup is a really good option for me. I love that there is not 450 players like here [in Melbourne] basically. There’s only maybe 20 players, which is great,” he said. Federer has two sets of twins with wife Mirka.
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and