Auto Racing
CONCORD, N.C. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. will miss at least two more races while he recovers from a concussion.
Earnhardt, who skipped the last three races, will sit out at Watkins Glen International on Sunday and at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 20. Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, who came out of retirement to fill in for Earnhardt the last two weeks, will remain behind the wheel in the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
Earnhardt gave no timetable for his return and said doctors have told his concussion occurred June 12 at Michigan International Speedway. He drove three races after that one.
Cycling
LONDON – British cyclist Lizzie Armitstead won an appeal against an anti-doping violation, clearing the world road race champion to compete at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Armitstead missed three doping tests in a 12-month period, triggering a charge by U.K. Anti-Doping, a provisional suspension and the possibility of a two-year ban.
She appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and a statement released on Armitstead’s behalf on Monday said the first missed test – from August 2015 – was declared void by CAS because UKAD’s doping control officer had failed to follow procedure.
The 27-year-old Armitstead won a silver medal in the road race at the London Games in 2012 and is one of the favorites in Rio. She won gold at the road world championships in the United States in September.
MLB
NEW YORK – The Yankees plan to leave Alex Rodriguez with reduced playing time as they turn their attention to rebuilding.
The 41-year-old, largely limited to designated hitter since 2015, lost that job last month and has just six at-bats since July 22, striking out in his past five. He is batting .205.
Rodriguez has a $20 million salary this year and is owed $20 million in 2017, the final season of his $325 million, 10-year deal.
Speaking before Tuesday’s game at the Mets, A-Rod says “Whatever they do, I’m at peace” and “I hope I can stay here for the remainder of my contract.”
NBA
SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs have signed two-time All-Star David Lee.
The 33-year-old won an NBA championship with Golden State in 2015. Lee has averaged 14.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists over an 11-year career.
The forward/center finished last season with the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 8.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Lee started last season with the Boston Celtics, making 30 appearances before being waived on Feb. 19.
Olympics
RIO DE JANEIRO – Fourth-ranked Stan Wawrinka is withdrawing from the Olympics because of injury, leaving the Rio Games without half of the ATP’s top 10.
With his announcement Tuesday, two-time major champion Wawrinka joins Swiss teammate Roger Federer in skipping the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. They won a doubles gold medal together at Beijing in 2008.
A statement issued by Wawrinka’s management company says he “felt increasing pain” during the Rogers Cup in Toronto last week.
The statement does not say where Wawrinka is injured.
The draw for tennis in Rio is Thursday. Play begins Saturday.
Associated Press
