FOOTBALL
QB accuser drops suit
One of the 23 women who have filed lawsuits accusing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and harassment has dropped her case, citing privacy and security concerns after some of the women were ordered to make their names public following court hearings last week. In court documents filed late on Tuesday, the woman’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, said that she “reserves the right to refile the case once such concerns are addressed.” Buzbee has said that the women have faced death threats and attacks on social media since accusing Watson, and had wanted them to be allowed to remain anonymous. The women accuse Watson of exposing himself, touching them with his penis or kissing them against their will while he received a massage. At least one woman has alleged Watson forced her to perform oral sex. All of the women are either licensed massage therapists, or worked in a spa or similar business.
SOCCER
Kudela banned 10 games
The UEFA on Wednesday banned Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela for 10 European matches for racially abusing Rangers’ Finnish midfielder Glen Kamara in a Europa League match. Kamara has been suspended for three matches in UEFA club competitions for an “assault” on Kudela that reportedly took place in the tunnel after the match at Ibrox on March 18. Rangers forward Kemar Roofe was also handed a four-match ban for his high challenge that left Slavia goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar with a fractured skull in the bad-tempered last-16, second-leg tie. “We welcome the suspension imposed on Ondrej Kudela. This not only vindicates Glen Kamara’s evidence, but underlines the severity of the comment, given the number of games has been imposed by UEFA,” Rangers said in a statement.
CRICKET
Streak blasted after ban
Heath Streak on Wednesday was blasted as “selfish and greedy” after being handed an eight-year ban for corruption in a scandal described as “the darkest day in Zimbabwean cricket.” Former national captain and coach Streak, 47, was found guilty of breaching five rules of the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Code related to betting. He disclosed inside information related to matches in the 2018 Tri-Series involving Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the Zimbabwe-Afghanistan series in 2018, the IPL 2018 and the APL 2018. He also “facilitated or attempted to facilitate” the introduction of four players, including a national captain, to a third party for inside information for betting purposes, the council said. Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani said it was a “very sad and shameful episode that might well go down in history as the darkest day in Zimbabwean cricket.”
BASKETBALL
Rockets probing cyberattack
The Houston Rockets are investigating a cyberattack that attempted to install ransomware on the team’s internal systems, and the organization is working closely with the FBI, team officials said on Wednesday. “The Rockets organization recently detected suspicious activity on certain systems in its internal network. We immediately launched an investigation,” the Houston Rockets said in an e-mailed statement, adding that cybersecurity experts were also helping.
Carlos Alcaraz on Monday powered into the French Open second round with a resounding win to start his title defense, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and three-time defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek also progressed at Roland Garros. Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz struck 31 winners in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri and is to face Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in round two. Alcaraz is now on an eight-match winning streak at the French Open and also took Olympic silver at Roland Garros last year, losing the final to Novak Djokovic. “The first round is never
TIGHT FINISH: Napoli only needed to do the same as or better than Inter, who won their game against Como 2-0 on the same day, leaving Napoli with a one-point lead The two players who Antonio Conte wanted more than any others secured Napoli their second Serie A title in three years on Friday. Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick before halftime and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead with a solo goal after the break in the decisive 2-0 home win over Cagliari. Conte became the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different teams. “Everyone contributed to this — but the coach most of all,” Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said. “Napoli needed him to get back on top. He’s phenomenal.” Comparing it to his three Serie A titles won
The journey of Taiwan’s badminton mixed doubles duo Ye Hong-wei and Nicole Chan at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur came to an end in the semi-finals yesterday after they suffered a 2-0 loss to China’s Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping. Ye, 25, and Chan, 20, teamed up last year and are currently ranked No. 23 in the world. The Taiwanese shuttlers took on China’s second seeds in the mixed doubles event, but proved no match for Feng and Huang, losing the match 10-21, 7-21. In the first half of the first game, the pairings were neck and neck at 6-7 until Ye
SSC Napoli coach Antonio Conte has dragged the team back from disaster and restored them to the top of Italian Serie A, but his future at the Scudetto winners is in doubt even after a triumphant season. The fiery 55-year-old has exceeded preseason expectations and bolstered his reputation as a serial winner by guiding Napoli to their fourth Scudetto, and second in three seasons. However, he might well be on his way in the summer after just one season at the helm as his charged relationship with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has simmered throughout the campaign. Conte has said
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