British Cyclist Fails Drugs Test In Competition

A British cyclist has failed a drugs test during a competition, the sport's governing body has confirmed.

Simon Yates tested positive for Terbutaline on 12 March while racing from Paris to Nice - and according to his team, the substance was being used to treat "documented asthma problems".

In a statement, Orica-GreenEdge explained a team doctor had made an "administrative error" by failing to apply for the Therapeutic Use Exemption required for professional cyclists who need medication.

"There has been no wrongdoing on Simon Yates' part," a spokesperson added.

"The team takes full responsibility for this mistake and wishes to underline their support for Simon during this process."

Mr Yates, from Bury in Greater Manchester, joined the Australian group in 2014.

The 23-year-old has been described as one of Britain's brightest prospects, and was tipped to be part of TeamGB's road race squad at the Rio Olympics later this year.

His potential anti-doping violation will be investigated by the International Cycling Union.

In a statement, British Cycling added: "It would be inappropriate to comment further until the process has been completed."

UK Anti-Doping has refused to discuss or disclose details of the case until the legal process has been completed, and an anti-doping rule violation is deemed to have been committed.

This is the latest controversy to rock British Cycling in days.

The organisation recently suspended its technical director, Shane Sutton, while allegations he made sexist and discriminatory remarks are investigated.

It has also been claimed that the head of British Cycling, Ian Drake, was aware of the allegations against Sutton but failed to act.

Meanwhile, the embattled governing body has also denied that high-performance bikes and skinsuits provided by UK Sport have been sold on for profit - with some pieces of equipment costing around £10,000 each.

Upon hearing about the doping allegation, Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy tweeted: "And just when you thought the week couldn't get any more depressing."

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High Jumper Left Paralysed In Backflip Mishap

An Olympic high jumper who was paralysed after a backflip went wrong has posted a video from his hospital bed to let fans and friends know his condition is improving.

Retired US athlete Jamie Nieto had attempted his signature move but did not complete the rotation and slipped, landing on his head.

The accident happened a few days ago as he was coaching a group of jumpers in Los Angeles.

The 39-year-old athlete, who finished fourth at the 2004 Athens Olympics and sixth at the 2012 London Games, was taken to the USC Trauma Center after suffering numbness throughout his body.

He was unable to move his arms and legs and was struggling to breathe.

Once at hospital, he began to regain some feeling in his hands and feet, but he could not move any of his limbs.

Nieto said: "I could still feel my body but it was numb and tingly and I couldn't move."

However, he is now starting to "move more stuff" and is "breathing better".

Test results indicated there were no breaks of the spine or cut in the spinal cord.

He said a disc in his neck slipped and hit a nerve.

He has now had surgery and each day he is regaining strength.

In his video, he said: "A lot of things come into perspective when something like this happens - makes you realise stuff like this can happen to anybody.

"One day you're floating along and life is going well and everything is cool.

"Maybe you get in a car accident or do training things and flip and hit your head.

"You never know what can happen.

"I'd like to thank God I'm still alive."

He has also thanked people for their support:

"For me, seeing the overwhelming response really let me know how many peoples' lives that I've touched."

Nieto does not have health insurance but fellow athletes have helped him out with medical costs by setting up a fund page that has already raised tens of thousands of dollars.

His agent Paul Doyle has said there is a positive outlook and Nieto could make a full recovery.

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Jose Fernandez had the best reaction to a pitch that completely fooled him

Miami Marlins hurler Jose Fernandez is one of those Major Leaguers trying to “Make Baseball Fun Again” and he’s doing a pretty good job of it.

Just check out the reaction he had on Thursday night to a pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda after whiffing on it:

That’s sort of a good way to summarize the reaction the rest of the league has had to Maeda (1.41 ERA in five starts) thus far. Also, it reminded me of this now-legendary exchange between Fernandez and then-Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in 2013.

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Man Charged With Killing Super Bowl Winner

A man has been charged with second-degree murder over the shooting of a former US football player.

Will Smith, who won the Super Bowl in 2010 with the New Orleans Saints, was killed after he was involved in a car crash in the city.

Police said there was an argument after defendant Cardell Hayes hit the back of Smith's Mercedes.

The retired defensive end was shot seven times in the back and once in his side, while his wife Racquel, who was in the passenger seat, was shot twice in the legs but survived.

Hayes, a business owner and semi-professional US football player, is also facing an attempted murder charge over her shooting.

A lawyer for the Smith family said he never brandished or carried a gun and claimed Hayes was "enraged" during the altercation.

But Hayes' lawyer said he was not the aggressor and claimed a witness saw a gun in Smith's possession, while police said a loaded gun was found in Smith's vehicle.

The Smith family said they were pleased, though not surprised, that a grand jury had indicted Hayes.

A statement said: "The Smith family remains confident that once a jury hears all the evidence, Hayes will be convicted and justice will be served."

Hayes was also charged with assault and aggravated damage to property.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and his bail was set at $1.75m (£1.20m).

Second-degree murder is defined as an intentional killing that is not premeditated or planned.

Smith was praised as a leader on the Saints team that rebounded - along with New Orleans itself - after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005.

He stayed in the area after he retired in 2012 and was active with various charities. (skynews)

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Girl, 12, accidentally runs half marathon

If the idea of running a half marathon -- 13.1 miles -- makes you want to run and hide, good news. It may not be as hard as it seems.


Thousands of people do it every week. Dogs have done it. And a 12-year-old girl just completed a half marathon by accident.

LeeAdianez Rodriguez-Espada, 12, was running late to the Wegmans Family 5k Sunday in Rochester, New York. To save time, her mom dropped her near the starting line before parking the car. LeeAdianez, who goes by Lee, rushed to the starting line only to realize the race had already begun.

She was told to just start running and quickly fell into pace with the others.

Meanwhile her mom found a spot at the finish line, expecting to congratulate her daughter within the hour.

Lee, focused on putting one foot in front of the other, didn't realize until mile 4 that the finish line was nowhere in sight. Turning to another runner, she asked how much further.

"And that's when it struck me I was in the half marathon instead of the 5k," Rodriguez-Espada told CNN affiliate WHAM. Instead of dropping out, she decided to keep running.

Realizing her daughter wasn't among the runners crossing the 5k finish line, Brendalee Espada alerted race officials and the police. At first, authorities, were concerned.

"We didn't know where she was," race organizer Ellen Brenner-Boutillier told WHAM.

A police officer eventually found Lee on the course of the Flower City Half Marathon. The young runner said she knew her family was worried but she couldn't quit. She needed to finish the race. And as she finally crossed the finish line, after running 10 miles more than she had planned, her mother cried tears of joy.

"I see her with a medal and I thought, 'Oh my gosh, she ran the other one, like for real,'" Brendalee Espada said. "She decided to just keep running and not give up."

Lee finished the race in 2 hours and 43 minutes. She placed 1,885 out of 2,111 runners.

Five other 12-year-olds and one 7-year old also completed the half marathon, according to race results.

"I'm really proud," said Lee, whose next race is this weekend. Her mom said she plans to run that one also, to keep an eye on her daughter.

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NFL Draft 2016: Los Angeles Rams select Jared Goff as first overall pick

The Los Angeles Rams have made Cal quarterback Jared Goff the first overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft .

The Rams , who traded all the way up from pick 15 with the Tennessee Titans in order to have their choice of this year’s top prospects, confirmed their decision to open Thursday’s first round in Chicago.

Goff enjoyed a stellar college career starring at the University of California setting single-season records for passing yards and touchdowns in the Pac-12 last season before declaring for this year’s draft.


Talent evaluators laud Goff’s decision-making, pocket poise and accuracy and believe him to be the most pro-ready passer in the 2016 class.

And the Rams appear to agree taking Goff to be their next quarterback and face of the franchise after their high-profile move from St Louis to LA this offseason.

North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz was selected second by the Philadelphia Eagles, who themselves broke the bank in a second blockbuster trade to move up the board to #2.

The draft continues with the second and third rounds on Friday with rounds four, five, six and seven being completed on Saturday.

Should he win the starting job in training camp Goff’s first game in the professional ranks will be against the San Francisco 49ers on September 12.

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World Snooker Championship: Ding Junhui takes big lead over Alan McManus

Ding Junhui scored four centuries to take a 6-2 lead in the opening session of the World Championship semi-final against fellow qualifier Alan McManus.

China's Ding was in awesome form from the start, opening with a break of 100 and scoring two further tons and two half-centuries to go 5-0 up.

McManus, who at 45 is the oldest man to reach a Crucible semi since Ray Reardon in 1985, had scored just 47 points.

He won two tactical frames to get back to 5-2, before Ding ended with a 128.

Scotland's McManus, who last made a Crucible semi-final in 1993, had every minor mistake punished by the world number 17 in the first five frames.

Ding, 29, is bidding to become the first Asian to win the sport's showpiece event, and the final could yet be an all-Asian affair, with Hong Kong's world number 14 Marco Fu playing Mark Selby in the other last-four tie.

The chances of Ding progressing a session early looked strong after his astonishing start, but McManus got back in the match in two frames that lasted more than 20 minutes each.

The match resumes on Friday morning at 10:00 BST.

Fu takes on Leicester's Selby in the second semi-final from 19:00 BST on Thursday.

John Parrott, 1991 world champion: "Ding was superb. His break building and his match play has been fantastic, and to be honest I think he needed to win the last frame. The way he dominated the session, if he hadn't come out of it at least 6-2 he would have been kicking himself."

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Mamadou Sakho: Liverpool defender suspended for 30 days by Uefa

Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has been suspended for 30 days by Uefa after it opened disciplinary proceedings against him following a failed drugs test.

The suspension is provisional until a final decision is taken by Uefa's control, ethics and disciplinary body.

Sakho, 26, tested positive for what is thought to be a type of fat burner after the Europa League win against Manchester United on 17 March.

He chose not to challenge the results.

European football's governing body added Sakho "did not request the analysis of the B sample".

The date of a disciplinary hearing will be announced at a later stage.

The France international and his club had already agreed he would remain unavailable while a Uefa investigation was completed.

Sakho's Liverpool team-mate Kolo Toure was banned for six months in 2011 while at Manchester City after testing positive for a weight-loss drug contained within "water tablets" recommended to him by his wife.

Should Uefa decide on a similar ban for Sakho, it would rule him out of Euro 2016 in France, which starts on 10 June.

An £18m signing from Paris St-Germain in 2013, Sakho has played 34 games for Liverpool this season, including 10 in the Europa League.

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UK Sport asks British Cycling to investigate kit sales claims

British Cycling has been told to conduct an urgent investigation into allegations official kit - including a high-performance bike - is being sold online for profit.

UK Sport ordered the investigation to "protect our investment in all sports on the world class programme".

It is another blow for British Cycling after Australian Shane Sutton quit as technical director on Wednesday.

He stood down amid accusations of sexism and discrimination.

British Cycling is conducting an internal investigation into the kit allegations - and Sutton was asked to attend a meeting on Tuesday to discuss it.

UK Sport helps fund Britain's Olympians and Paralympians and is investing £30.5m in British Cycling between 2013 and 2017.

It issued a statement, explaining that it would not be "appropriate to speculate or comment further until the investigation is completed".

Sutton, a GB coach since 2002, had already been suspended by British Cycling before deciding to step down.

The 58-year-old is alleged to have used derogatory words like "wobblies" and "gimps" to describe Para-cyclists.

An independent review will also look into claims by cyclist Jess Varnish that Sutton made sexist comments towards her.

She alleges Sutton told her to "go and have a baby" after she failed to qualify in the team sprint for this summer's Olympics.

Sutton "rejects the specific claims" but said the allegations had "become a distraction" and he had stepped down "in the best interests of British Cycling".

He was part of the team that won seven track gold medals at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, with British Cycling also claiming 25 gold medals across the past two Paralympics.

There are just 99 days until the start of the Rio Olympics, but British Cycling chief executive Ian Drake has said his organisation is not in crisis.

Programmes director Andy Harrison will take over Sutton's responsibilities as British cyclists look to continue their success in the velodrome and on the road.

Despite leaving his post at British Cycling, Sutton is still employed by Team Sky in a paid "occasional advisory role".

However, after Drake told BBC Sport on Tuesday that Sutton was not paid by Sky as well as British Cycling, the organisation clarified on Wednesday that they were not aware of his Sky retainer and that Sutton had not declared this when he became British Cycling technical director in 2014.

A Team Sky statement said: "Since he stepped down as head coach of Team Sky in January 2013, his occasional involvement as an advisor to Team Sky has been completely separate from his role with British Cycling.

"Any reimbursement for his work with Team Sky has been funded by the team."

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Nintendo to sell stake in Seattle Mariners baseball team

Japanese gaming company Nintendo plans to sell its majority stake in the US baseball team, Seattle Mariners.

A statement said it had begun talks to sell "a portion of its ownership". Once a deal is done, Nintendo will no longer be the team's principal owner.

It has struggled to repair its finances in the face of competition from mobile gaming. On Wednesday it released a 60% net profit drop for the past year.

Nintendo took over the team in 1992 when it was at risk of being relocated.

The president at the time, Hiroshi Yamauchi, then pushed the investment so it could become the principal owner of the Mariners. Since then, the baseball team has had several star Japanese players including Ichiro Suzuki and Hisashi Iwakuma.

Nintendo's ownership also helped boost the team's popularity among Japanese baseball fans.

Profits from the planned Seattle Mariners sale were not reflected in Wednesday's weak financial forecasts and the firm said that they would "adjust the financial forecasts and release them as needed" once a deal was agreed.

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World Snooker Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan loses to Barry Hawkins

Ronnie O'Sullivan failed to reach the World Championship quarter-finals for just the second time in 13 years as he suffered a thrilling final-frame defeat against Barry Hawkins. Five-time champion O'Sullivan looked to be in desperate trouble at 12-9, but hit breaks of 124, 88 and 63 to level.

World number 11 Hawkins fluffed his first chance in the decider. But, after O'Sullivan carelessly went in off, Hawkins wrapped up the win and will play Marco Fu in the last eight. Until this Crucible decider, Hawkins, who went into the final session leading 9-7, had not beaten O'Sullivan in 10 matches over 14 years - his sole victory coming in their first meeting in 2002.

But he showed commendable nerve to hold off an opponent who scored four tons and eight fifties in a performance full of devastating long potting and astonishing break-building. '

"He makes it look so effortless sometimes - it winds me up to be honest," said Hawkins, the only player to have reached the one-table set-up in each of the past three seasons.

"There's me twitching about and he's flowing. I don't know what he thought of his performance but overall I thought he played really well.

"I am pleased with the way I held myself together because it was the most pressure I have ever been under. It was never in doubt!"

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Michael Phelps suspended by USA Swimming for six months

USA Swimming on Monday suspended Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian ever, for six months and said he won't be on next year's U.S. team at the world championships. The 22-time Olympic medalist also won't be paid his monthly stipend, USA Swimming said on its website.

The organization said Phelps, who was charged with DUI last week in Maryland, had violated its code of conduct.

"Michael accepts USA Swimming's sanctions. He has apologized for his actions and, as he shared yesterday, is taking steps to address them," a spokesperson from his management company, Octagon, told CNN.

Octagon said Phelps had entered a six-week, in-patient treatment program. I'm going to take some time away to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself.

Phelps announced Sunday on Twitter that he is taking a break from the sport "to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself."

According to his official Twitter account, "Swimming is a major part of my life, but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual."

The decision comes after he was charged last week with driving under the influence of alcohol, excessive speed and crossing double lines on Interstate 95 in Baltimore.

The four-time Olympian, 29, was arrested last Tuesday about 1:40 a.m. and later released, police said. According to media reports, police said his blood-alcohol content was .14.

"Michael's conduct was serious and required significant consequences," USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus said Monday in a written statement.

The chief executive officer of the United States Olympic Committee said he thought the sanctions were appropriate,

"And we are glad that Michael is seeking help," Scott Blackmun said in a news release. "We are grateful that nobody was hurt and appreciate the speed at which USA Swimming and Michael took action."

Last week's arrest is not Phelps' first run-in with the law

In 2004, he was arrested on charges of driving under the influence in Salisbury, Maryland. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months probation. He also issued an apology after that incident.

Five years later, a photograph of him smoking marijuana at a party surfaced.

Swimming is a major part of my life, but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual,

"I'll make a million mistakes in my life, but as long as I never make the same mistake again, then I've been able to learn and grow," Phelps said in 2012. He also said that the incident made him realize who his real friends were.

He retired after winning four gold and two silver medals at the 2012 Olympics.

Phelps returned to competitive swimming in April and raced for the United States in August at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, his first international meet since the London Games (and two years before the next Games in Brazil).

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Joao Carvalho: MMA fighter dies from head injuries

Fighter Joao Carvalho has died in hospital after suffering head injuries during a mixed martial arts (MMA) bout in Dublin, Ireland.The 28-year-old complained of feeling unwell after Saturday's fight against Irishman Charlie Ward was stopped by the referee in the third round.

The Portuguese welterweight, who fought for Team Nobrega, was taken to hospital and had emergency brain surgery that night but died on Monday evening after 48 hours in intensive care.

A statement from Total Extreme Fighting (TEF), which staged the event at Dublin's National Stadium, confirmed Carvalho's death.

 

"We extend our most sincere condolences to the family of Joao Carvalho, and to his teammates in Team Nobrega," TEF chief executive Cesar Silva said. 

 

"Our thoughts and prayers are with them. We'd also like to thank all sports fans for their concern and support."

 

The statement said TEF would "give whatever support we can to Joao's family" and noted that the fighter had been admired on both "a national and international level."

 

Team Nobrega, where Carvalho had been all his career, said it was "saddened and dismayed" about the death. It stressed that "all safety regulations were observed" in Dublin and said Carvalho had become ill around 20 minutes after the end of the fight.

He "was immediately helped by the medical team" at the stadium before being transferred to hospital.

 

"Although the risks of this sport are known, the death of Joao Carvalho was a huge tragedy," team chief Vitor Nobrega said.

 

Irish UFC champion Conor McGregor had previously said he felt the fight "could have been stopped a little earlier."

 

John Kavanagh, who coaches McGregor and was in Ward's corner, issued a statement in which he said: "It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Portuguese fighter Joao Carvalho.

 

"Our condolences and thoughts, though, are with Joao's family and friends and we kindly ask everyone to respect their privacy at this time."

 

Kavanagh said the Irish Amateur Pankration Association, which represents MMA in the Republic of Ireland, would work with Total Extreme Fighting "to gather and evaluate all relevant facts and participate in any investigation."

 

The popularity of MMA, in which fights are held in octagon cages, has increased in Ireland since McGregor's rise to prominence.

 

Bouts in Dublin regularly attract thousands of fans, while media coverage of the sport has grown significantly.

 

 

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Estelle Balet: Swiss snowboard champion dies in avalanche

Swiss snowboard champion Estelle Balet has been killed in an avalanche. The 21-year-old Balet, who was the Freeride World Tour champion, had been filming above the village of Orsieres in the Swiss Alps Tuesday when the avalanche struck. She was reported to be wearing safety equipment including a location device in the event of an avalanche as well as a helmet and an airbag to help stay above sliding snow.

"Despite immediate efforts to revive her, she died at the scene," Valais police said in a statement. "An investigation has been started to determine the causes of the accident."

The Freeride World Tour, a global extreme snowboarding event, said in a statement: "Estelle Balet was a naturally gifted shining star and demonstrated remarkable talent ... bringing home her second title as World Champion just a few weeks ago in Verbier.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Estelle Balet as we send our deepest sympathy and condolences during this very difficult time."

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German Football Federation set to investigate Nigeria's Leon Balogun for violent conduct

The German Football Federation is set to investigate Nigeria's Leon Balogun for violent conduct, BBC reports. Balogun who plays for FSV Mainz is alleged to have deliberately kneed Eintracht Frankfurt's Carlos Zambrano in the stomach in the 89th minute of Sunday's league match between the two clubs.

Match referee, Felix Zwayer, did not see the infringement but it was caught be the television cameras.

He has been invited to give a statement relating to the incident. The federation's disciplinary committee will make a judgment after considering the evidence and Balogun's statement.

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US Open: Tiger Woods registers to play at year's second major

 

Tiger Woods has formally registered to play in the US Open, suggesting he is close to a return to competitive golf.

The 14-time major championship winner has had three operations to fix back problems and last played a tournament in August 2015.

Woods' exempt status means he is free to play if he wishes, but his registration is no guarantee that he will compete at Oakmont on 16 June.

His agent Mark Steinberg told ESPN the paperwork was "simply procedural".

Woods also registered for last year's US Open before withdrawing with back trouble.

Earlier this month, Woods ruled himself out of contention for the Masters at Augusta.

"I've been hitting balls and training daily, but I'm not physically ready," he said at the time.

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Japan unveils Tokyo 2020 Olympic logos

Japan's Olympic organisers have unveiled the new official logos of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. The logo, called Harmonized Chequered Emblem, replaces the first choice which was thrown out last year after the designer was accused of plagiarism. The designer denied stealing the idea.

Organisers said the new design used traditional Japanese colours and patterns to represent the intercultural themes of the Games. "It incorporates the message of 'unity in diversity'," they said, and the idea that the Games "seek to promote diversity as a platform to connect the world".

When designer Asao Tokolo found out he had won the re-opened contest he said "my mind has gone blank".

"I put a lot of time and effort into this design as though it was my own child."

The first design was rejected after Belgian artist Olivier Debie alleged it copied his design for a theatre logo. The Games organising committee never agreed to the allegation of plagiarism but said there were too many doubts over the emblem for it to be used.The logo dispute came shortly after Tokyo decided to scrap the designs for the main Olympic stadium because of spiralling construction costs.

A cheaper design, by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, was chosen in December last year.

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Leicester continue march to Premier League title

Leicester City's 4-0 win over Swansea that extends their lead over Tottenham to eight points.
Riyad Mahrez's day got even better as he was voted the PFA Player of the Year - the first African player to win the award.

Monday's edition also brings you reaction from Sunderland's Premier League draw with Arsenal, and Crystal Palace's 2-1 win over Watford that took the London club to their first FA Cup final since 1990.

Watch the latest transfer gossip, and test your knowledge against the Premier League geek.
We also look ahead to Monday's match at White Hart Lane as Tottenham seek to close the gap on Leicester with victory against West Brom.

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