■ Cricket
Proteas recall Adams
Left-arm spinner Paul Adams was the surprise inclusion on Thursday in South Africa's squad for the three-Test series against India starting on Dec. 15. Adams last played a Test in March 2004. South Africa has backup for Adams in the orthodox left-arm spin of Nicky Boje. Batsmen Hashim Amla and Jacques Rudolph made the squad while opener Boetta Dippenaar was left out.
■ Soccer
Fans call for Zidane probe
Lawyers for FIFA and France's soccer federation criticized efforts by two groups of fans demanding an official investigation of Zinedine Zidane's expulsion from the World Cup final, calling it a "publicity stunt." A Paris court held a hearing on Thursday to decide whether to allow the probe, reviving memories of the star's head-butt of Marco Materazzi which led to a red card for Zidane. The groups, whose names translate as "World Cup 2006 Justice" and "The National Action Group for Truth in the World Cup Final 2006" want the match replayed. They say doubts remain about how the referee learned about the head-butt, claiming the fourth official's view of the incident was blocked, and that he had to rely on a video replay to make the call -- a move not permitted by FIFA rules.
■ Cycling
Bettini threatens to quit
Italy's world and Olympic champion Paolo Bettini said on Thursday he would rather quit cycling than have to produce a DNA sample as part of the sport's fight against drugs. "If they ask me for my DNA I'm ready to call time on my career. I've already won a lot," Bettini said. In October the professional cycling teams association came out in favor of its members having to produce a DNA sample in a bid to help prove their guilt or innocence in any drugs case. Bettini argued against the move and called for "respect for private life."
■ Soccer
Clubs deny doping links
FC Barcelona and Real Madrid denied having any links to a Spanish doctor at the center of a major doping scandal. Both teams said on Thursday they reserved the right to take legal action to defend their interests after an allegation in French newspaper Le Monde that Eufemiano Fuentes had treated some of their players. Fuentes was arrested in May as part of an investigation into doping in cycling, but has not been formally indicted. Le Monde claimed that it has seen notes, handwritten by Fuentes, in which the doctor laid out what the newspaper described as "preparation plans" for the two clubs. Le Monde alleged that annotations on the notes referred to banned doping products or procedures. Without citing sources, the newspaper claimed that Fuentes transmitted treatment instructions to team doctors and that some players visited him.
■ Cricket
Bond burst stuns Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka held a tenuous 73-run lead over New Zealand with only two second innings wickets remaining at stumps on the second day of the first cricket Test in Christchurch yesterday. Bowled out for only 154 in its first innings, Sri Lanka fought back to dismiss New Zealand for 206, before collapsing again to be 124 for eight at stumps. Fast bowler Shane Bond claimed four wickets yesterday dismissing Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga and Farveez Maharoof, as well as running out Sanath Jayasuriya and Prasanna Jayawardene, to leave Sri Lanka reeling.
■ Baseball
Bonds agrees to Giants' deal
Barry Bonds reportedly agreed to a one-year deal worth US$16 million with the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, ensuring the controversial outfielder will chase Major League Baseball history next year. The San Jose Mercury News and MLB.com, citing unnamed sources, reported that the seven-time Most Valuable Player had agreed to a deal that would offer up to US$4 million more for the 42-year-old slugger based on incentives. "Nothing is official," a club spokesman told the newspaper, although all deals typically require a physical that was unlikely to be taken before yesterday.
■ NFL
Salaries expected to rise
The National Football League's salary cap is expected to go up by about US$7 million per team in each of the next two seasons, reaching about US$116 million per team for 2008. The figures, which right now are approximations, were announced by members of the league's management council on Wednesday at a meeting with team financial officers. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the figures are subject to adjustment following a final accounting of revenues and other items that determine the new cap.
■ Hockey
Nieuwendyk retires
Joe Nieuwendyk officially ended a 20-year NHL career on Thursday after winning three Stanley Cups with three different teams, saying he was ready to be a fan. "I think the game has made great strides with some of the rule changes they've made," the 40-year-old, who won NHL titles with Calgary, Dallas and New Jersey, told reporters. "It's obviously made it faster, and the young kids coming into the game today are young, they're fast and strong, and to see some of the things they're doing, the Sidney Crosbys, [Alexander] Ovechkins, it's fun to watch those kids now," Nieuwendyk said.
■ Nascar
Test results in fiery crash
Stock car driver Greg Biffle was involved in a fiery crash on Thursday while testing tires at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and was helped from his burning race car by fellow driver Kyle Busch. The two were helping Goodyear test tires on the remodeled speedway when Biffle apparently blew a tire, causing him to hit the wall between the first and second turns. The accident broke the fuel pump and caused his Ford to burst into flames. Busch jumped from his car and helped Biffle to safety.
■ Baseball
Players ratify agreement
Major League Baseball players ratified their new collective bargaining agreement with club owners, one of the final steps toward completing a pact that runs through the 2011 season. Players and club owners announced the agreement on Oct. 24 before Game 3 of the World Series and owners unanimously approved the deal on Nov. 3. The union said on Thursday it completed its ratification process during this week's annual executive board meeting.
SS Lazio on Monday fired the far-right sympathizer who handles their eagle mascot after he posted online a series of videos and pictures of his erect penis. Falconer Juan Bernabe, who has been present at Lazio home matches with Olimpia the eagle since the 2010-2011 season, posted the footage on social media after having surgery on Saturday to implant a penile prosthesis to improve his sexual performance. Lazio said that they had “terminated, with immediate effect” their relationship with Bernabe “due to the seriousness of his conduct,” adding that they were “shocked” by the images. The Serie A club added that Bernabe’s dismissal
‘TOUGH TO BREATHE’: Tunisian three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur suffered an asthma attack in her 7-5, 6-3 victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei yesterday cruised into the second round of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while Iga Swiatek romped into a third-round women’s singles showdown with Emma Raducanu and Taylor Fritz was just as emphatic in his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title. Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, the third seeds, defeated Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls of Britain 7-5, 6-2 in 90 minutes in Melbourne. Ostapenko and Hsieh — who won the women’s doubles and mixed doubles at the Australian Open last year — hit 25 winners and converted five of nine break points to set
Dubbed a “motorway for cyclists” where avid amateurs can chase Tadej Pogacar up mountains teeming with the highest concentration of professional cyclists per square kilometer in the world, Spain’s Costa Blanca has forged a new reputation for itself in the past few years. Long known as the ideal summer destination for those in search of sun, sea and sand, the stretch of coast between Valencia and Alicante now has a winter vocation too. During the season break in December and January, the region experiences an invasion of cyclists. Star names such as three-time Tour de France winner Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe
AGING WELL: Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, 22, was sent packing after being dispatched by world No. 97, Laura Siegemund, the second-oldest player in the draw at 36 Novak Djokovic yesterday created a slice of Grand Slam history on his way into the Australian Open third round, but last year’s women’s finalist Zheng Qinwen was knocked out in the biggest shock so far. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, in-form Coco Gauff, two-time Melbourne winner Naomi Osaka and a rampant Carlos Alcaraz were all victors on a rainy day four. Play was suspended on the outside courts for a couple of hours in the early evening because of the wet weather. That led to the rescheduling of a women’s doubles match between wild-cards Tsao Chia-yi of Taiwan and Thailand’s Peangtarn Plipuech and 11th
RSS