■ Soccer
Borriello tests positive
AC Milan striker Marco Borriello faces a ban after the Italian Olympic Committee disclosed the results of a drugs test on his "B" sample had confirmed the presence of two prohibited substances. Borriello, who joined Milan from Sampdoria at the start of the season, tested positive for the corticosteroids prednisone and prednisolone after a 2-1 defeat to AS Roma on Nov. 11. The 24-year-old has scored three goals in 12 appearances for the club this season. In Italy, first drugs offenses are usually punishable with a six to nine-month ban.
■ Olympics
Doping tests to increase
The number of doping tests at the 2008 Olympics will increase significantly over the number performed three years ago in Athens. Around 4,500 doping tests will be conducted in Beijing, the state-run China Daily newspaper reported yesterday, citing a Beijing organizing committee official. "As part of its zero tolerance approach to fighting doping, the International Olympic Committee has decided to increase the number of tests by a large amount," organizing committee executive vice president Yang Shuan was quoted as saying. About 3,500 tests were carried out at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
■ Soccer
Ecuador sink Sweden
Ecuador scored twice in an eight-minute spell during the first half to beat Sweden 2-1 in an international friendly played in the Andean city of Cuenca on Thursday. Midfielder Eder Vaca opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he beat John Alvbage with a left-foot shot for his first international goal. Carlos Tenorio, one of only two members of last year's World Cup squad in the Ecuador starting line-up, took advantage of slack defending to add the second eight minutes later. Sweden pulled one back when Rade Prica scored with a long-range shot in the last minute.
■ Cricket
Oram added to Kiwi squad
All-rounder Jacob Oram will join the New Zealand cricket team in Australia this weekend, bolstering the side ahead of its next tri-series limited-overs match against Australia on Tuesday. Oram has recovered from a hamstring strain and has already been confirmed as a starter in the match at Adelaide in which New Zealand will attempt to post its first win of the series. Fast bowler Kyle Mills, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, may also join the team in time for Tuesday's match but all-rounder Scott Styris' return has been delayed after he suffered a calf muscle strain in a domestic match this week.
■ Soccer
Montenegro debut arranged
Montenegro make their international debut in a friendly against Hungary on March 24 in what the president of the country's soccer association (FSCG) hopes will be a successful first step on to the world stage. "We are all looking forward to a successful debut in front of a capacity crowd here in Podgorica," Dejan Savicevic said. "This is the first step in building a respectable team that will enter the World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign," he said. Montenegro, whose best known player is Roma striker Mirko Vucinic, have yet to appoint a coach and Savicevic said the FSCG managing board would name one in the first week of February. Montenegro, an Adriatic republic with a population of 650,000, were admitted by UEFA as provisional members in October after parting company with Serbia last May.
■ Soccer
Suzuki heading home
Former Japan striker Takayuki Suzuki has joined Yokohama F-Marinos after a frustrating spell at Red Star Belgrade, the J-League club said on yesterday. Suzuki, who played for co-hosts Japan at the 2002 World Cup, has left Red Star halfway through his two-year deal in favor of a one-year contract with Yokohama. The 30-year-old replaces Tatsuhiko Kubo, who has just completed a move to city rivals Yokohama FC. Suzuki has also played for J-League side Kashima Antlers but failed to make an impact in spells in Belgium and Brazil.
■ Soccer
Guadeloupe cock-a-hoop
Guadeloupe beat St Vincent and the Grenadines 1-0 on Thursday to reach the Caribbean Cup semifinals for only the second time, where they were joined by Cuba, who drew 0-0 with Guyana. The result also earned Guadeloupe its first trip to the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June in the US, while Cuba claimed their fourth straight trip. Guadeloupe's win left them on top of their group with six points setting up a clash with Haiti today. Cuba, who edged out Guyana on goal difference for second place in the group, will take on eight-time champions Trinidad in the other semifinal.
■ Basketball
Barclays agrees name deal
The planned arena in New York City's borough of Brooklyn that will house the New Jersey Nets has a new name: The Barclays Center. The British bank, hoping to expand its profile in the US, signed a 20-year deal to slap its name on the new 18,000-seat facility when it opens late this decade, the bank and the project's developer announced on Thursday. The company and Forest City Ratner, the builder of the arena for the current New Jersey Nets, would not immediately disclose the price for the naming rights. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Barclays would be investing more than US$300 million in the marketing partnership over the next 20 years.
■ Football
Brain damage led to suicide
Brain damage caused by football ultimately led to the suicide of former NFL defensive back Andre Waters, according to a forensic pathologist who studied Waters' brain tissue. Bennet Omalu of the University of Pittsburgh told the New York Times that Waters' brain tissue resembled that of an 85-year-old man and that there were characteristics of early stage Alzheimer's. Omalu told the newspaper he believed the damage was related to multiple concussions Waters sustained during his 12-year NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. He was 44 when he died in November.
■ Football
Vick may face charges
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick reluctantly surrendered a water bottle to security at Miami International Airport that smelled like marijuana and contained a substance in a hidden compartment. Police said on Thursday it could be weeks before a decision is made on whether to file charges. "We'll do an analysis and see what it is. There's no sense of urgency to it," Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said. The bottle was found to have a compartment that contained "a small amount of dark particulate and a pungent aroma closely associated with marijuana," the police report said. Vick's initial reluctance to turn over the bottle aroused suspicion among airport security screeners, a police report said.
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
‘SOURCE OF PRIDE’: Newspapers rushed out special editions and the government sent their congratulations as Shohei Ohtani became the first player to enter the 50-50 club Japan reacted with incredulity and pride yesterday after Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. The Los Angeles Dodgers star from Japan made history with a seventh-inning homer in a 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami. “We would like to congratulate him from the bottom of our heart,” top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo. “We sincerely hope Mr Ohtani, who has already accomplished feat after feat and carved out a new era, will thrive further,” he added. The landmark achievement dominated Japanese morning news
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
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