Page 2046 - Sports
28 Russians have Olympic doping bans lifted
Twenty-eight Russian athletes had their Olympic doping bans overturned today, throwing the International Olympic Committee's policy on Russian doping into turmoil. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled on Thursday that evidence was "insufficient" that the 28 including several medalists had broken anti-doping rules at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. The 28 who had their bans lifted could now seek late entry into the Pyeongchang Games, which open February 9. Eleven more were ruled to have been guilty of doping, but had lifetime bans cut to a ban from the Pyeongchang Games alone. CAS said it "unanimously found that the evidence put forward by the IOC in relation to this matter did not have the same weight in each individual case. In 28 cases, the evidence collected was found to be insufficient to establish that an anti-doping rule violation was committed by the athletes concerned." The IOC has already invited 169 Russians to the Pyeonchang Olympics under a neutral flag, but
Chelsea giving their best: Conte
Despite their 0-3 loss against Bournemouth at the Stamford Bridge here, Chelsea coach Antonio Conte said the club is giving their cent percent and he is helping them give their best.
Windies all-rounder Russell to play after year-long ban
West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell is all set to make his competitive cricket comeback, having served a one year ban from the game.Russell will feature in the Jamaican team for the Regional Super50, West Indies' domestic 50-over competition, against Leeward Islands on Friday in Antigua.The right-handed batsman was handed a year ban from playing all forms of cricket for a doping whereabouts rule violation.Russell did not file his whereabouts on three occasions in 2015 as required, which also included a failed drugs test under the guidelines of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).Resultantly, the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission banned him from playing any cricket between January 31, 2017 and January 30 this year.
U-19 WC: Pakistan finish third after rain forces abandonment
Two-time champions Pakistan claimed third position at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 after their third-fourth place play-off against Afghanistan was washed-out without a ball being bowled at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown on Thursday.Afghanistan and Pakistan were in Group D and though Afghanistan defeated Pakistan in their opener, Pakistan topped the group after Afghanistan suffered a surprise defeat against Ireland in their last group match.While this is Afghanistan's best finish in an ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup after they claimed 16th, 10th, seventh and ninth positions in the 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 events, respectively, this is the third time Pakistan have finished third after 2000 and 2010.Pakistan's worst performance in the prestigious tournament came in 2012 when they finished eighth.Pakistan, the only country to have won back-to-back titles, in 2004 and 2006, got past South Africa by three wickets in the quarter-finals but suffered a 203-run defeat to India in ...
Aubameyang says Thierry Henry set standard for strikers
Arsenal's latest acquisition, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, said that retired Gunners legend Thierry Henry has set the example for how a striker should play.
Leganes hold Sevilla in 1st leg of Copa semis
Underdogs Leganes conceded a goal to Sevilla in the first 20 minutes of the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg but came back to pull level and the sides are even at 1-1 heading into the second leg.
Nadal will return in Acapulco
Spanish world No. 1 Rafael Nadal said he will return to tennis action at a hard-court event in Acapulco, Mexico, in late February.
Tottenham impress with win over Man United
Tottenham Hotspur defeated Manchester United 2-0 here to put pressure on Chelsea in the scramble for a top-four finish while making it even more unlikely that the Red Devils will challenge leaders Manchester City for the English Premier League (EPL) title.
AC Milan draw with Lazio in 1st leg of Coppa Italia semi-final
AC Milan and Lazio ended 0-0 here in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final, leaving everything to be decided in next month's second leg at Rome's Olympic stadium.
Chelsea embarrassed by Bournemouth
English Premier League defending champions Chelsea lost 0-3 to modest Bournemouth, much to the disgust of the more than 40,000 Blues supporters packed into Stamford Bridge.
FIFA to sponsor junior, women tournaments in East and Central Africa
The Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has announced that the world football governing body FIFA will sponsor four of their tournaments this year.
Brazilian winger Lucas joins Tottenham from PSG
Brazilian winger Lucas Moura has made a permanent move from Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain to Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur, both clubs announced.
Dortmund sign Chelsea's Batshuayi on loan
Borussia Dortmund have signed striker Michy Batshuayi from English Premier League outfit Chelsea on loan, the German football club said.
Pederzoli appointed CEO of Chinese club
Italian Mauro Pederzoli has been hired as the CEO of Guizhou Hengfeng, the China Super League (CSL) football club said.
Monaco, PSG replicate French League Cup final
Last season's finalists Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain were set to repeat their duel in French League Cup final following Monaco's 2-0 home victory over Montpellier.
This is my World Cup: Suarez
Uruguay and Barcelona football striker Luis Suarez said he hopes the 2018 World Cup will provide redemption for his ignominious exit from football's showpiece event in Brazil four years ago.
Argentine defender Insaurralde joins Colo Colo
Former Argentina international centre-back Juan Insaurralde has joined Colo Colo for the 2018 season, the Chilean club said.
India aim to break Proteas jinx in Durban
India have never won a one-day international (ODI) series in South Africa, but the visitors will aim to break the jinx when they take on the Proteas in the first of six-matches series at Kingsmead Cricket Ground here on Thursday.Fresh from the victory in the third Test at Wanderers, India will aim to clinch the number one spot in the ICC ODI team rankings with a series win.India are currently on 119 rating points while South Africa is at 120.Also, the Virat Kohli-led side have not lost a single series in this format in the past two years. They last lost to Australia in January 2016.Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are expected to open for India, while the number four spot, which has been a game of musical chairs lately, is likely to be given to middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane.Former India skipper M.S. Dhoni, who now only plays limited overs cricket, will play either at number 5 or 6.South Africa will play without their swashbuckling batsman AB de Villiers who is out with a finger ..
Durban ODI: Markram replaces injured de Villiers
South African Test opener Aiden Markram will replace injured batsman AB de Villiers for the first One-Day International (ODI) of the six-match series against India at Kingsmead on Thursday.The Proteas picked Markram to give him his second ODI cap ahead of uncapped Khaya Zondo for the match.Markram, 23, will bat at number four for de Villiers who has been ruled out of the first three ODIs due to a finger injury."We will be giving Aiden an opportunity to come in for the injured AB de Villiers," Sport24 quoted skipper Faf du Plessis as saying.He added, "We want him to bat in different places in our batting order, that is a great way for players to evolve their game and to bat in different situations in one-day cricket. That will be a nice learning curve for him and hopefully he will score good runs for us."South African swashbuckling batsman de Villiers sustained an injury to his right index finger during the third Test match against India and is hopeful to return for the fourth 'Pink' ..
No let-up as Barca target cup final, says Valverde
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde insists the Copa del Rey holders won't overlook a Valencia side weakened by injuries ahead of Thursday's semi-final first leg at the Camp Nou. "When you get to the semi-final you have to make the most of your luck," Valverde told a news conference on Wednesday. "A semi-final, it's the chance to play a final and we must give everything to get there. "Valencia will do the same thing. Reaching a final doesn't happen every day," added Valverde, whose side have already beaten Celta Vigo and local rivals Espanyol in the cup this month. Barcelona, the record 29-time champions, are attempting to become the first team to lift the cup four years in a row since Athletic Bilbao in the 1930s.\ They will be strong favourites to reach a fifth successive final, with Valencia missing a trio of key players -- Goncalo Guedes, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Ezequiel Garay -- through injury. "They're feeling the effects of lots of matches this January," said ...