Sports
MLB players reaffirm pay stance; no deal with teams in sight
Baseball players reaffirmed their stance for full prorated pay, leaving a huge gap with teams that could scuttle plans to start the coronavirus-delayed season around the Fourth of July and may leave owners focusing on a schedule as short as 50 games. More than 100 players, including the union's executive… Read
NBA board approves return-to-play plan
The NBA's board of governors approved a return-to-play plan on Thursday, paving the way for the league to resume in Florida following a three-month coronavirus shutdown. The NBA said a proposal put to the league's board that will see 22 teams based at a single location had passed comfortably. "We… Read
Nadal not sure about 2020 U.S. Open; depends on COVID, travel
If it weren’t for a pandemic-caused postponement, the French Open would have been in Week 2 now, and Rafael Nadal might still have been in contention for a 20th Grand Slam title. Instead, he’s home in Spain, practicing lightly — and wondering along with everyone else in tennis whether the next Grand… Read
Virus halt is ideal chance to sort out rugby calendar, says O'Shea
The decimation of world rugby by the coronavirus has given administrators an "unbelievable opportunity" to come up with a solution to the fixture chaos that has dogged the sport for years, England official Conor O'Shea said on Thursday. For years rugby has failed to make any meaningful progress in sorting… Read
Weightlifting probe finds corruption, doping cover-up
An investigation into the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) found widespread corruption and dozens of covered up drugs tests, officials said Thursday. Lead investigator Richard McLaren said the probe into the IWF's affairs under former president Tamas Ajan uncovered millions of dollars in missing money and 40 positive doping cases that… Read
Mixed messages as sports world backs U.S. protesters
If Megan Rapinoe decides to take a knee at next year's Olympic Games, she could get a reprimand. If she does it at the women's World Cup in 2023, she could get a round of applause. Over the past week, athletes, sports teams and leagues have expressed solidarity with protesters… Read
Japan to launch new 'Women's Empowerment' top-flight soccer league in 2021
The Japan Football Association (JFA) announced plans on Wednesday for a new women's club competition known as the WE League, with the acronym standing for "Women's Empowerment." The JFA, who are bidding to host the 2023 Women's World Cup, said the round robin competition will begin in autumn 2021 with… Read
All Blacks great Carter makes surprise NZ return with Blues
Former All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter has made a surprise return to New Zealand domestic rugby after an absence of five years by joining the Auckland Blues. Carter confirmed he had signed for the team for the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition after his first training session with the side on… Read
NBA poised to approve 22-team return for virus-hit season, report
The NBA is finalizing details of a plan which is expected to be approved by the league's Board of Governors on Thursday, paving the way for a return from the coronavirus shutdown. The board is poised to give the green light to commissioner Adam Silver's return of basketball which would… Read
Jones calls for fewer reserve players, scrum resets to speed up rugby
England rugby coach Eddie Jones says stoppages and too many reserve players are making rugby too much like American football and steps need to be taken to speed up the game. In an interview on New Zealand television, Jones said matches of two scheduled 40-minute halves now regularly take more… Read
