Auto Racing
Despite funding issue, U.S. Grand Prix returns
AUSTIN, Texas – Race organizers announced Wednesday the U.S. Grand Prix will run in 2016 after months of speculation that its financial struggles could scuttle Formula One’s only race in the United States.
Circuit of the Americas President Bobby Epstein said race officials had paid Formula One its rights fee to hold the race last week. Terms were not disclosed.
Epstein said the track will also host a Taylor Swift concert as part of race weekend.
The U.S. Grand Prix in Austin had been tentatively set for Oct. 23. Financial concerns were raised after bad weather drove away crowds at the 2015 race. The track also saw its public funding slashed by $6 million.
Cycling
Stage 3 of Paris-Nice was cancelled because of snow
MONT BROUILLY, France – Heavy snow and cold temperatures forced the third stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race to be cancelled Wednesday.
Organizers said the front-runners were on the day’s third climb when the race jury decided it was too dangerous to continue the hilly 104-mile stage from Cusset to Mont Brouilly in the Beaujolais wine region.
Olympics
Russia ‘procrastinating’ on doping charges
LONDON – The man who headed the investigation that led to Russia’s suspension from global track and field competition says he sees little evidence that the country is doing enough win reinstatement in time for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Former World Anti-Doping Agency president Dick Pound told The Associated Press that Russia has been “dithering and procrastinating” in reforming its drug-testing system and “time is really shrinking” for its athletes to have any chance of being cleared for the Olympics in August.
The IAAF suspended the Russian track federation in November after a report by Pound’s independent WADA commission detailed state-sponsored corruption and doping cover-ups in Russia.
Pound says: “I can’t tell for sure whether they are taking this really seriously or they assume the problem will go away.”
Soccer
U.S. rallies to beat Germany 2-1 to win SheBelieves Cup
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Alex Morgan and Samantha Mewis scored, and the United States rallied to beat Germany 2-1 on Wednesday night to win the SheBelieves Cup.
The World Cup champion Americans were 3-0-0 in the four-team event. Germany (2-1-0) finished second.
In front of 13,501 fans at FAU Stadium, Germany opened the scoring in the 29th minute when Anja Mittag beat goalkeeper Hope Solo with a low, hard shot to the left corner of the net. It was the first goal allowed by the Americans since a 1-0 loss to China on Dec. 16.
The Americans, who have won all nine of their matches this year, tied it on Morgan’s goal in the 35th minute, and Mewis added the winner in the 41st minute.
Tennis
Pound: Sharapova guilty of ‘willful negligence’
LONDON – The former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency says Maria Sharapova was guilty of “willful negligence” for using meldonium, and international tennis officials knew that many players were taking the drug before it was banned this year.
Pound told The Associated Press that Sharapova could face a ban of up to four years unless she can prove mitigating circumstances to explain her positive test for meldonium at the Australian Open in January.
Sharapova said she had been using the drug for 10 years for various medical issues. She said she didn’t realize it had been banned this year.
Associated Press
