MONTREAL (AP) — The World Anti-Doping Agency says a Russian tribunal has found figure skater Kamila Valieva bore “no fault or negligence” in a doping case that rocked last year’s Winter Olympics. Valieva won Olympic gold in the team competition in February before it was announced that a sample she had given two months before
Continue Reading GROVE, United Kingdom (AP) — Struggling Formula One team Williams continued its overhaul by announcing the hiring of former Mercedes strategy director James Vowles as team principal. Williams said in a statement that Vowles will begin his new role on Feb. 20 ahead of testing in Bahrain from Feb. 23-25. The Bahrain Grand Prix is
Continue Reading BRIGHTON, England (AP) — Brighton forward Leandro Trossard will miss the Premier League game against Liverpool on Saturday because manager Roberto De Zerbi is unhappy with the Belgium international’s attitude. De Zerbi says Trossard left a training session last week without permission after being informed he would not start the FA Cup match against Middlesbrough
Continue Reading
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andrew McCutchen is returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates. A person with knowledge of the agreement tells the Associated Press the veteran centerfielder has agreed to a one-year deal with the club. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement is pending
Continue Reading By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United is closing in on the signing of Wout Weghorst to help fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure. The Netherlands international is set to join on loan from Burnley until the end of the season but he will not be eligible to
Continue Reading ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Two Georgia players, tight end Darnell Washington and defensive back Kelee Ringo, are headed to the NFL draft after helping the Bulldogs win their second straight national title. Both made the expected announcements on their Instagram accounts. Washington is a massive tight end who teamed wit Brock Bowers to give Georgia
Continue Reading ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Continental Europe has established a 3-2 lead in the Hero Cup after taking down Britain & Ireland’s top players in the fourballs as Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald cast his eye over the continent’s next generation in match-play competition. The event was added to the schedule to give
Continue Reading CHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of six counts of rape and one of sexual assault. Jurors at Chester Crown Court in northwest England could not reach verdicts on two other allegations against Mendy and were discharged. One allegation was of attempted rape and another of rape.
Continue Reading WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) — Aleksander Aamodt Kilde spoiled a Swiss party by winning a World Cup super-G on the country’s storied Lauberhorn mountain. The Norwegian blew kisses to the noisy local fans in the finish area after edging home racers Stefan Rogentin and Marco Odermatt. Kilde also held his arms out wide as if asking
Continue Reading LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Shakhtar Donetsk and eight Russian soccer clubs have lost their appeals against FIFA emergency transfer rules. The rules let foreign players and coaches suspend their contracts for the 2022-23 season during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Court of Arbitration for Sport judges reached the same verdict Friday in the separate appeals.
Continue Reading LONDON (AP) — Chelsea has welcomed a decision from the English Football Association to make a homophobic chant aimed at its supporters a punishable offense. The FA announced that chants of “Rent Boy” are now considered a breach of its rules. It has written to all Premier League clubs and clubs throughout English soccer to
Continue Reading MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic has received a warm and enthusiastic welcome in his return to Melbourne during an exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios. Djokovic’s visa for entering Australia was revoked and he was deported ahead of last year’s Australian Open because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19. He still hasn’t gotten the shots,
Continue Reading By Ben Morse, CNN Shaquille O’Neal is many things, but you cannot say he goes back on his promises. Before Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship game, O’Neal bet fellow “Inside the NBA” panelist Ernie Johnson that Johnson’s alma mater, the Georgia Bulldogs, would not beat the Texas Christian University’s Horned Frogs (TCU). The stakes?
Continue Reading BOURNEMOUTH, England (AP) — The new American owner of Premier League team Bournemouth has acquired a minority share in French club Lorient as part of what he is calling a “multi-club ownership strategy.” The Black Knight Football and Entertainment consortium fronted by Bill Foley owns the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL and bought Bournemouth
Continue Reading By GERALD IMRAY AP Sports Writer CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Former South African boxer and WBA heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee has died. He was 67. His former manager says Coetzee died on Thursday. His death comes just over a week after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Coetzee defied some of his country’s
Continue Reading By Alasdair Howorth, CNN NFL quarterback Derek Carr announced his departure from the Las Vegas Raiders after nine years with the franchise in an emotional letter to the team’s fans. “It breaks my heart I didn’t get an opportunity to say goodbye in person,” Carr wrote. “We certainly have been on a roller coaster in
Continue Reading By Ben Morse, CNN Teenage sensation and high school student Alyssa Thompson was selected with the No. 1 overall pick of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Draft on Thursday. Thompson was picked by Angel City FC, who later described the 18-year-old as a “phenom and generational player.” “She’s a player who can make an
Continue Reading TOKYO (AP) — Japanese boxer Naoya Inoue is giving up his four bantamweight belts and plans to fight as a super bantamweight. The undefeated Inoue holds the title belts for the WBA, WBO, IBF and WBA. He made the announcement at a news conference in Yokohama. Inoue says “The real battle starts from here.”
Continue Reading Paula Badosa has withdrawn from her Adelaide International semifinal with a thigh injury, handing fifth-seeded Daria Kasatkina a walkover into the final. Veronika Kudermetova then followed suit, opting not to play against Belinda Bencic because of a left hip injury. It means Kasatkina will play Bencic in the tournament final on Saturday. Badosa, who is
Continue Reading By David Close, CNN The NFL has announced Atlanta as the host city for the AFC Championship game should the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs meet in the conference title game. Previously, the NFL owners approved the unprecedented post-season plan to host a game at a neutral site following the cancellation of the Bills’
Continue Reading