NBA fines Timberwolves $25K for resting Russell
The Minnesota Timberwolves were fined $25,000 by the NBA on Thursday for violating the league's player resting policy. The violation occurred when the Timberwolves were on the road to face the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, and they rested guard D'Angelo R...
Jan 05, 2024
Australia minister urges calm as virus looms over F1, major events
By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's health minister on Friday urged the sports-mad country not to fear being infected by the coronavirus when attending major events such as Formula One's season-opening Grand Prix in Melbourne next month. Au...
Jan 05, 2024
Qualify first, worry later: Marathoners say no time to fear Olympic cancellation
By Amy Tennery ATLANTA (Reuters) - Aspring Olympians at the U.S. marathon trials said on Thursday that they were concerned first with securing one of the coveted few tickets to Tokyo 2020 - and less, at least for now, about whether there would even be...
Jan 05, 2024
Spring training roundup: Bumgarner makes D-backs debut
Madison Bumgarner made his first appearance in an Arizona Diamondbacks uniform, giving up one run over two innings, but the Cincinnati Reds cruised to an 8-0 victory Thursday at Scottsdale, Ariz. Bumgarner gave up a home run to Derek Dietrich but nothi...
Jan 05, 2024
NBA roundup: Harris carries short-handed Sixers
Tobias Harris scored 34 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists to lift the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers past the visiting New York Knicks, 115-106, on Thursday. Al Horford had 15 points, nine assists and seven boards, and Shake Milton sc...
Jan 05, 2024
Transgender weightlifter Hubbard continues Tokyo bid in Australia
By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The fairness of transgender athletes competing in women's sports will be under the microscope in Australia on Sunday when New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard continues her bid to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. H...
Jan 05, 2024
NHL roundup: Predators tie it in last second, beat Flames in OT
Mikael Granlund scored with one-tenth of a second remaining in regulation and then netted the winner 1:20 into overtime as the Nashville Predators defeated the visiting Calgary Flames 4-3 Thursday night. In overtime, Granlund took a pass from Ryan Elli...
Jan 05, 2024
China's Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang banned for eight years
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - China's world and Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang was handed an eight-year ban on Friday, a sanction that rules him out of this year's Tokyo Games, after he missed an out-of-competition test for doping. The Court of...
Jan 05, 2024
No change to Tokyo badminton qualification despite coronavirus impact
MUMBAI (Reuters) - The Badminton World Federation said on Friday it is not making any adjustments to the Olympic qualification period despite a host of events being impacted by the coronavirus in the leadup to the Tokyo Games, which start in July. The ...
Jan 05, 2024
Exclusive: Japan has no 'Plan B' for Games despite coronavirus
By Ami Miyazaki TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo has no Plan B for this year's Summer Olympics despite alarm over the spread of the coronavirus in Japan and elsewhere with under five months before the event, a senior official said on Friday. "There will not be ...
Jan 05, 2024
Chinese swimmer Sun Yang says will appeal CAS ruling to uphold ban - Xinhua
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese swimmer Sun Yang said he will "definitely" appeal the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that handed him an eight-year ban for missing an out-of-competition test for doping, China's official Xinhua News Agency repor...
Jan 05, 2024
Tokyo Games' fate in hands of powerful IOC boss Bach
By Karolos Grohmann ATHENS (Reuters) - Having pumped more than 12 billion dollars over nearly a decade into preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Japan's dream is at risk from the coronavirus - and one man may have the final say. Thomas Bach, the 66-y...
Jan 05, 2024
Russians to skip World Cup event in U.S. because of coronavirus
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's national gymnastics team will not take part in a World Cup event in the United States next month because of the rising number of cases of coronavirus internationally, all-around world champion Nikita Nagornyy said on Friday....
Jan 05, 2024
An eclectic mix of owners calls the shots as MLS celebrates 25 years
By Amy Tennery (Reuters) - As Major League Soccer looks to its next quarter century, an eclectic roster of owners from the realms of Hollywood to commercial industry could be calling the shots. Billing itself as a modern, progressive league of the futu...
Jan 05, 2024
UAE coronavirus scare confines Danish champion Morkov to Berlin hotel
By Martyn Herman BERLIN (Reuters) - Danish rider Michael Morkov faces an anxious wait alone in a Berlin hotel room to learn if he can compete in the world track championships, after being caught up in fallout from a coronavirus scare in the Gulf. Natio...
Jan 05, 2024
Danish F2 driver to miss Bahrain test due to coronavirus
LONDON (Reuters) - Danish Formula Two driver Christian Lundgaard will miss pre-season testing in Bahrain starting on Sunday after being trapped in Tenerife by the coronavirus epidemic. The 18-year-old's ART team said on Friday the Renault Sport Academy...
Jan 05, 2024
Powell charged up for her first Formula E test
By Alan Baldwin LONDON (Reuters) - Alice Powell has been unblocking drains and painting walls for her builder father over the winter months, but it will be emotion rather than emulsion on Sunday when she tests an electric Formula E car for the first ti...
Jan 05, 2024
Russia's suspended federation names new president
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's suspended athletics federation named a new head on Friday seeking to lift itself from a years-long doping crisis. The federation endorsed as its new president Yevgeny Yurchenko, a businessman and former deputy regional gover...
Jan 05, 2024
Djokovic saves three match points to set up Dubai final with Tsitsipas
(Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic saved three match points to beat France's Gael Monfils 2-6 7-6(8) 6-1 on Friday as he set up a final showdown at the Dubai Open with Greek second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. Djokovic is yet to lose this year an...
Jan 05, 2024
FIFA chief Infantino accepts games are at risk due to coronavirus
By Simon Evans BELFAST (Reuters) - FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said March's international soccer matches could be threatened by the coronavirus but was hopeful that this year's European Championship tournament and the Olympic Games will go ahea...
Jan 05, 2024
FIFA chief Infantino says open to changes in offside law
By Simon Evans BELFAST (Reuters) - FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he is open to changes to the offside law to help address problems that have arisen since the introduction of VAR video reviews. Soccer's law-making body the International FA Board ...
Jan 05, 2024
Kvitova overcomes tenacious Barty to set up Sabalenka final in Doha
(Reuters) - Czech Petra Kvitova edged a seesaw battle with Australian world number one Ash Barty 6-4 2-6 6-4 at the Qatar Open on Friday to set up a title clash against Aryna Sabalenka in Doha. Belarussian Sabalenka advanced to the 10th WTA final of he...
Jan 05, 2024
Mercedes head for Australia as top team in F1 testing
BARCELONA (Reuters) - Formula One champions Mercedes will head to Australia for the March 15 season-opener as the top team in testing but with rivals Ferrari and Red Bull hinting at hidden pace. Valtteri Bottas produced the quickest lap from the six da...
Jan 05, 2024
FIA make private settlement with Ferrari over F1 engine
LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One's governing body said on Friday it had reached a settlement with Ferrari after technical investigations into the team's 2019 power unit. Details of the agreement were kept private but the governing FIA said both parties h...
Jan 05, 2024
Lawmakers: Put Flood in Hall of Fame
A bipartisan group from Congress is leading the drive to see the late Curt Flood elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, 50 years after he challenged the power of Major League Baseball owners. On Thursday, Rep. David Trone (D-Md.), Rep. William...
Jan 05, 2024