Fri, Apr 10, 2009 page19

• Sports Briefs

  • AGENCIES
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  ■BADMINTON

  Taiwanese players crash out

  It was a bad day for Taiwanese players at the Asia Championships in Suwon, South Korea, yesterday. The three remaining Taiwanese in the mens’ singles — Hsueh Hsuan-yi, Chou Tien-chen and Liao Sheng-shiun — all lost their second round matches. Hong Kong’s Chan Yan Kit, the No. 6 seed, also bowed out, losing to Lee Cheol-ho of South Korea. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Chen Hsiao-huan and Chiang Pei-hsin fared no better than their male counterparts in the second round of the women’s singles. Chinese fifth seed Xie Xingfang beat Chiang 21-16, 19-21, 21-14, while China’s Jiang Yanjiao beat Chen Hsiao Huan 21-17, 21-10. Top-seed Zhou Mi of Hong Kong beat Zhu Jingjing of China 21-19, 21-16 and second-seeded Lu Lan of China breezed past Bae Seung-hee of South Korea 21-12, 21-12.

  ■CYCLING
  

  Armstrong in trouble

  France’s anti-doping agency says seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong violated its rules and that it could punish him. French doctors say they tested Armstrong’s hair, urine and blood in a March 17 test. They say they found no traces of drugs. However, the agency, known as AFLD, said in a statement yesterday that a doctor charged with testing Armstrong last month claimed the US rider “did not respect the obligation to remain under the direct and permanent observation” of the tester. The AFLD says it can impose sanctions Armstrong, but did not indicate what they would be. Armstrong is set to ride in this year’s Tour.

  ■BOXING
  

  Champ, uncle ‘trade blows’

  Puerto Rican police say they are investigating an alleged fight between WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and his trainer, who have had a sometimes combative relationship in the past. A statement issued by the police says the boxer and Evangelista Cotto, the fighter’s uncle, exchanged blows on Wednesday after a heated argument about training at a gym in the champ’s hometown of Caguas. After the bruising scrap, Evangelista Cotto allegedly threw a cement block at his nephew’s 2009 Jaguar, shattering a right-side window. Puerto Rican detectives are investigating the incident even though neither of the men has filed a complaint.

  ■AUSTRALIAN RULES

  Pair in chicken sex shocker

  Two leading players have been fined A$5,000 (US$3,550) each for their part in making an offensive video showing a rubber chicken simulating sex with a chicken carcass. North Melbourne’s Adam Simpson and Daniel Pratt were each fined by their club after admitting they were among eight players who made the video last year. The video, which was posted on the internet this week but subsequently removed, has been described as tasteless and offensive to women and drew strong criticism from the sport’s governing body the AFL. The North Melbourne club decided not to suspend the players but instead fined them for breaching the team’s code of conduct. “It was a foolish, misguided prank that is clearly offensive. We’re embarrassed and apologetic for that as a football club,” North Melbourne chief executive Eugene Arocca told reporters. “We’re going to take the opportunity to move forward, educate our players further about their responsibilities as players and as members of the community.”
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