RUNNING
Maraton offers deferments
New York City Marathon organizers are offering deferments to entrants of the Nov. 7 race who would be barred from entering the US due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions. The event is to take place one day before the Nov. 8 lifting of travel restrictions announced by the White House, so organizers said that affected runners who have already paid their entry fees would be eligible to defer their entry to next year. Under current restrictions, entry to the US is closed to non-US citizens who have been living in or visiting most European countries, Brazil, China, India, Iran, Ireland, South Africa and the UK.
SOCCER
Goalie carded for hitting own
A goalkeeper in the Northern Ireland league was on Saturday sent off for hitting one of his own players. Aaron McCarey, playing for Glentoran, was red-carded in the last 10 minutes of the 2-2 draw with Coleraine. He was furious after Coleraine had scored an 80th-minute equalizer, running to remonstrate with teammate Bobby Burns who had given the ball away in the lead-up to the goal. McCarey appeared to strike Burns in the face before grabbing him by the shirt while he was grounded. “Aaron’s held his hands up in the dressing room and said it shouldn’t have happened,” Glentoran boss Mick McDermott said.
SOCCER
IOC hits out at FIFA plans
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Saturday hit out at FIFA’s controversial plans to hold the men’s World Cup every two years, expressing concerns on the effects it could have on other sports. It listed the “impact on other sports,” “challenges for the further promotion of women’s football” and a “further massive strain” on players’ health as reasons not to play the World Cup more regularly. “The IOC shares these concerns and supports the calls of stakeholders of football, international sports federations and major event organizers for a wider consultation, including with athletes’ representatives, which has obviously not taken place,” an IOC statement said.
MMA
Dumont outpoints Ladd
Norma Dumont on Saturday defeated Aspen Ladd by unanimous decision in their women’s featherweight bout at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. Dumont earned her third consecutive win, 49-46, 49-46, 48-47. Ladd made her featherweight debut, the fight’s third choice after Miesha Tate and Holly Holm were forced to pull out of the bout. “I know she took the fight on short notice, but I want to tell her right now that she’s a 145 [pound, 65.8kg, fighter],” Dumont said about Ladd. “She fights at 145, she’s got all the strength and power at 145, and I want her to keep fighting in this” weight class.
RUGBY UNION
Wallabies winger out of tour
Star Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete pulled out of their tour of Japan and Britain yesterday to spend time with his young family. The 29-year-old missed Australia’s final Rugby Championship Test against Argentina this month to be with his newborn child in Melbourne and has opted to remain there. “We’ve been discussing it for a while,” coach Dave Rennie said. “COVID’s thrown a lot of curveballs at all of us. Marika’s been away from home for a long time and [his wife] Emma is pretty isolated down there” in Melbourne.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and