ROWING
Cambridge win Boat Race
Favorites Cambridge on Sunday won the annual University Boat Race in choppy conditions on London’s River Thames, extending their lead over Oxford in the long-standing series to 82-79. Their more experienced crew was in front from the start and finished comfortable winners to end a run of three successive defeats. As usual in an Olympic year, both crews were under-strength, with leading rowers preparing for Rio. Their coach, Steve Trapmore, who won a gold medal in Great Britain’s eight at the 2000 Olympics, said it was an “epic” victory given the conditions. “I’ve never felt prouder,” he told the BBC. Earlier, Oxford easily won the 71st edition of the women’s race, now held over the same course, after the Cambridge boat took on water and almost sank.
ATHLETICS
Petrova fails drug test
Bulgarian triple jumper Gabriela Petrova has tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, joining the long list of athletes, including tennis champion Maria Sharapova, who have recorded positive tests for the drug. The 23-year-old, who won the silver medal at the European indoor championship in Prague and finished fourth at the world championships in Beijing last year, failed an out-of-competition drug test on Feb. 6, her manager Venitsa Atanasova said. However, Atanasova said that Petrova, who also won the European U-23 title in 2013, took this medication only at the end of last year. “Once it was announced in October that medicines containing meldonium are prohibited from Jan. 1, 2016, she stopped using it,” Atanasova said. Meldonium was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances on Jan. 1. Since then, more than 100 athletes have been found to have used meldonium.
RUGBY UNION
Cordero hurt in car accident
Jaguares winger Santiago Cordero is to miss the first half of the Argentine Super Rugby club’s trip to New Zealand and Japan after suffering cuts and bruises in a car accident. Argentine Cordero, one of the standouts from last year’s World Cup, was driving in wet conditions on Saturday night after the Jaguares lost 13-8 to the Stormers at Velez Sarsfield. “I was on my way back home, it was raining a bit and suddenly I lost control of the car,” Cordero was quoted as saying by the Argentine Rugby Union on Sunday. “Luckily it was just a fright and I’m ok.” Cordero had been scheduled to fly with the Jaguares from Buenos Aires to Auckland on Sunday, but is instead to join them in two weeks’ time, with his place taken by Ramiro Moyano.
TENNIS
Jamie Murray tops rankings
Jamie Murray is to become Britain’s first world No. 1 professional tennis player since computerized rankings were introduced in the 1970s after the ATP World Tour on Sunday confirmed he is to take top spot in doubles from Marcelo Melo. The 30-year-old, whose brother Andy is ranked world No. 2 in singles, is to take top spot from the Brazilian when the new rankings are published on Monday next week. Jamie Murray won the Australian Open doubles title in January alongside Brazilian Bruno Soares. Melo’s failure to reach the doubles quarter-finals in the Miami Open on Sunday means he is to drop points and fall behind Jamie Murray in the rankings, despite the Briton’s earlier elimination. “He made the final in Wimbledon, final US Open, won the Davis Cup, won the Australian Open, so he deserves it a lot. I’m happy for him,” the BBC quoted Melo as saying.
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