ATHLETICS
Donato cleared of doping
Olympic triple jump bronze medalist Fabrizio Donato was among eight Italian athletes, including several hoping to compete at the Rio Games, cleared of doping violations on Monday by the country’s anti-doping tribunal. Donato, the 2007 world long jump silver medalist, Andrew Howe and Daniele Greco, the 2013 European indoor triple jump champion, had been part of a group of 26 athletes facing two-year bans after they were accused of failing to provide doping samples. In December last year, Italy’s anti-doping agency called for the athletes to be suspended for “evading, refusing or failing to submit themselves to provide samples,” as well as breaching rules about informing doping authorities of their out-of-competition whereabouts. The cases were then sent to the national anti-doping court, with a decision over the remaining 18 athletes expected to be returned in the next few weeks. No reason was given for the court’s decision on Monday, but Italian media reported that the national anti-doping agency is likely to appeal the ruling.
CYCLING
Bouhanni wins first stage
French sprinter Nacer Bouhanni made up for his Milan-San Remo disappointment over the weekend by dominating the opening bunch sprint at the Volta a Catalunya on Monday. The Cofidis rider pulled on the leader’s jersey after crossing a full length ahead of Britain’s Ben Swift, who finished second in the Milan-San Remo, after the 175km stage around Calella. Several escape bids were reeled in over the afternoon, including a wily late bid from Ireland’s Nicolas Roche, whom Sky went after and neutralized with 1km remaining. Top-drawer competitors Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, Nairo Quintana and Richie Porte all went through the motions on Monday on a stage favoring a highly competitive cast of sprinters. It was a third win of the season for the 25-year-old Cofidis captain after he won a stage of the Vuelta a Andalucia and another on the Paris-Nice.
MOTORCYCLING
Smith to join KTM next year
British motorcycle racer Bradley Smith is to quit Yamaha after four seasons of MotoGP in favor of Austrian mark KTM for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. The Austrian manufacturer is planning to join the MotoGP circuit next year alongside the likes of Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati and Aprilia. The 25-year-old, whose three grand prix wins all came at the 125cc level, ended last season in sixth place in the world championship standings and was eighth in Sunday’s season-opening Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar.
SOCCER
Brazil train by truck’s light
Brazil’s Olympic soccer team on Monday trained in the headlights of a truck after the floodlights failed at their training ground, local news media reported. Officials called for a truck to be parked alongside the pitch after the lights went out at the Estadio Engenheiro Alencar Araripe, allowing the players to practice ahead of tomorrow’s friendly against Nigeria. The match is to be played in Espirito Santo, a small coastal state where no games were held during the 2014 World Cup. Brazil built or renovated 12 stadiums for the competition. Rafinha Alcantara (Barcelona), Andreas Pereira (Manchester United) and Felipe Anderson (SS Lazio) are among the biggest names in a squad that is to try to win Olympic gold for the first time in August in Rio de Janeiro.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
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