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.
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about £2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from