Sports

By ENOCK MUCHINJO Associated Press HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — FIFA has suspended Zimbabwe and Kenya from international competitions for government interference in their national soccer bodies. Zimbabwe was banned after its government-run Sports and Recreation Commission refused to relinquish control of the Zimbabwe Football Association and reinstate the federation’s leadership. ZIFA officials were removed from

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — Geoff Collins can’t be blamed for wanting a quick restart for his Georgia Tech program. Following his third consecutive three-win season and heavy losses through the transfer portal, Collins and the Yellow Jackets are shifting the focus to the future as quickly as possible. Standout running

By JOHN RABY AP Sports Writer CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A judge has granted Marshall a temporary restraining order against Conference USA after the league filed a request for arbitration in the school’s bid to expedite an early move to the Sun Belt. The order prohibits Conference USA from proceeding with arbitration. A judge set

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Sports Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Pekka Rinne led the Nashville Predators to their lone Stanley Cup Final in 2017. Now he adding another first to his long list of accomplishments. The longtime goaltender becomes the first player to have his jersey retired by the organization when the Predators raise

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc had the fastest time in Formula One preseason testing on a day when drivers and teams weighed in on the Russian attack on Ukraine and the possible repercussions for the sport. Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel said he will not race in the Russian Grand Prix in September.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y> (AP) — Buffalo Bills linebackers coach Bob Babich has retired and is being replaced by his son, Bobby. The Bills announced several coaching moves Thursday, including the retirement of the elder Babich, who served as their linebackers coach for the past five seasons. He has coached in the NFL since 2003 with

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Novak Djokovic will fall from No. 1 in the ATP rankings and be replaced by Daniil Medvedev after losing 6-4, 7-6 (4) to Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championships. Djokovic’s latest stay in the top spot began in Feb. 3, 2020. His total of

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — When Rick Carlisle took the Indiana Pacers job, he inherited an experienced roster with playoff aspirations. It was an attractive combination for Carlisle. Three deadline-week trades changed everything. A revamped roster and fading postseason hopes have forced the Pacers to change direction, revamp their roster and

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Novak Djokovic will fall from No. 1 in the ATP rankings and be replaced by Daniil Medvedev after losing 6-4, 7-6 (4) to Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championships. Djokovic’s latest stay in the top spot began in Feb. 3, 2020. His total of

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Brazilian soccer players from Ukraine’s two biggest clubs have issued an appeal to the Brazilian government. They say they are trapped by the Russian military attack on Ukraine. A group of players from Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv have posted a video together with their families from a hotel where they

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Auto Racing Writer Formula One champion Max Verstappen has defended Michael Masi. Verstappen says F1′s much criticized former race director was “thrown under the bus” after last season’s dramatic finale. Masi was replaced last week following controversy at the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December. Verstappen won his first world

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Anthony Elanga’s rise to prominence at Manchester United this season has been so sharp and stark that he is already being described as a role model for his more illustrious teammates. One of them is Cristiano Ronaldo and the confident words spoken by the 19-year-old Elanga after his equalizer

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer Tennis pro Nick Kyrgios says he had “suicidal thoughts” and dealt with depression and abuse of drugs and alcohol in the past. He is the latest in a series of high-profile athletes to speak publicly and frankly about their mental health. The 26-year-old Australian recently won the Australian Open

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer The Associated Press has learned that UEFA will no longer stage the Champions League final in St. Petersburg after Russia attacked Ukraine. An extraordinary meeting of the UEFA executive committee will be held on Friday to discuss the geopolitical crisis and a person with knowledge of the process

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer The Associated Press has learned that UEFA will no longer stage this season’s Champions League final in St. Petersburg after Russia attacked Ukraine. An extraordinary meeting of the UEFA executive committee will be held on Friday to discuss the geopolitical crisis and a person with knowledge of the

By JAKE SEINER AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The New York City Marathon will return to full capacity with 50,000 runners this year after the race was canceled in 2020 and limited last fall due to the coronavirus. The announcement for the Nov. 6 event was made Thursday by New York Road Runners,

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) — The logo of Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom is being removed from the jerseys of German soccer team Schalke following Russia’s wide-ranging attack on Ukraine. Schalke says the logo will be replaced by lettering reading “Schalke 04” instead following what it called “recent developments.” A senior Gazprom executive had already quit