■ Basketball
David Hawkins faces ban
US point guard David Hawkins, who plays for Virtus Lottomatica Roma, could face a six month ban for cannabis use. Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) anti-doping prosecutors recommended the ban on Monday after Hawkins tested positive for the drug following an Italian basketball championship playoff match against Montepaschi Siena on June 5. The Italian Basketball Federation, which provisionally suspended the player immediately after the failed test, will now rule on CONI's recommendation.
PHOTO: AFP
■ Equestrian
Rider's death investigated
The International Equestrian Federation is investigating the death of German rider Tina Richter-Vietor during the German Championships at the weekend. The 32-year-old Richter-Vietor died after being thrown from her horse Paulchen Panther on Saturday. The federation said on Monday it was "deeply saddened" by her death, which "is [being] taken very seriously and will be addressed by the FEI safety subcommittee." The FEI added that the course was within the specifications stated in the rules.
■ Soccer
RFK Stadium sold out
David Beckham has sold out Robert F. Kennedy Stadium. Whether he plays there is yet to be determined. All 45,000 tickets have been sold for tomorrow night's game between the Los Angeles Galaxy and D.C. United. Most were sold long before fans realized the severity of an ankle injury that has kept Beckham from making his competitive debut with the Galaxy. Beckham sat on the bench but was not in uniform for the Galaxy's 0-0 draw with Toronto FC on Sunday night. He also missed all three of the Galaxy's US-Mexico SuperLiga games and has appeared only as a late substitute in an exhibition against England's Chelsea on July 21.
■ Soccer
Pagotto faces lifetime ban
Crotone goalkeeper Angelo Pagotto could face a lifetime ban for cocaine use. Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) anti-doping prosecutors recommended the ban on Monday after Pagotto tested positive for the drug for the second time in his career following Crotone's Serie B soccer match with Spezia on April 28. Pagotto also served an 18-month ban for cocaine use while playing for Perugia in 2000. The 33-year-old had asked the committee for clemency at a hearing last week, where he admitted his second infringement. The Italian Soccer Federation, which provisionally suspended the player immediately after the failed test, will now rule on CONI's recommendation. Crotone was relegated to the third division at the end of last season.
■ Horse Racing
Dubai ruler buys horse
Agents for Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum bought a colt by Unbridled's Song out of the champion mare Riboletta for US$1.05 million to top session one of the Fasig-Tipton selected yearlings sale in Saratoga Springs, New York, on Monday. Agent John Ferguson purchased the colt, from Taylor Made Sales Agency for Al Maktoum's Darley Stable. "Riboletta is a champion and you have to accept the fact that these South American mares have stepped up in the last few years and given a real soundness to the breed," Ferguson said. Fasig-Tipton chairman D.J. Van Clief said the session could be classified as a solid horse sale.
SEESAW CONTEST: The Pistons remain top of the Eastern Conference after battling to a win over the Hawks in a game that saw the lead change 27 times The Phoenix Suns on Monday shrugged off an injury to Devin Booker to end the Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-game winning streak with an emphatic 125-108 victory on the road. Booker exited in the first quarter, but the loss of the star point guard did little to halt the flow of Phoenix points over the remainder of the game. Dillon Brooks led the Phoenix scoring with 33 points, while Collin Gillespie added 28 — including eight three-pointers — as the Suns romped to victory. The Lakers were left ruing a colossal 22 turnovers — at a cost of 32 Suns points — on a
New Zealand yesterday reached 231-9 at stumps on a first day of the first Test against the West Indies shortened by rain after Justin Greaves triggered a middle-order collapse with the wicket of Kane Williamson. New Zealand tumbled from 94-1 to 148-6 on a bowler-friendly wicket after Williamson was dismissed for 52, his 38th Test half-century. Michael Bracewell and Nathan Smith arrested the slide with a 52-run stand for the seventh wicket. Smith eventually fell for 23 and Bracewell for 47. After Matt Henry went for 8, Zak Foulkes and Jacob Duffy were both on 4 when bad light stopped play after 70
Robin Smith, the batter who shone for England in a period when it was beaten regularly in Test cricket, has died. He was 62. Smith’s family said in a statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that he died unexpectedly at his home in Perth, Australia, on Monday. No cause was given. He played 62 Tests for England from 1988 to 1996, scoring 4,236 runs at an average of 43.67 with nine centuries. His signature shot was the square cut. Smith also played in 71 one-day internationals and was part of England’s squad who reached the 1992 ICC World Cup final. His unbeaten
SSC Napoli on Sunday joined AC Milan at the top of Serie A after winning 1-0 at title rivals AS Roma, as Inter kept pace with the leading pair by beating Pisa SC 2-0. David Neres stroked home the only goal of a feisty game in the 36th minute at the Stadio Olimpico, ending a blistering counterattack with a calm finish which put Napoli on 28 points. Napoli are behind Milan on goal-difference, and just one point ahead of both Roma and Inter in a tight scudetto battle in which Antonio Conte’s team are to host Juventus at the weekend. “To come to
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