Cycling
Armstrong drops names in sworn, written testimony
AUSTIN, Texas – Lance Armstrong gave sworn testimony, naming several people he said knew about his performance-enhancing drug use, insisting he didn’t pay anyone or any organization to keep his doping secret.
The testimony came in written answers to questions in a lawsuit that was settled in late 2013. The previously undisclosed documents were filed this week as part of the federal whistle-blower lawsuit over his team’s sponsorship by the U.S. Postal Service that could lead to fines in excess of $100 million.
Armstrong said those who provided him with performance-enhancing drugs included Dr. Pedro Celaya, Dr. Michele Ferrari, Dr. Luis Garcia del Moral and trainer Pepi Martí, all of whom were involved with Armstrong’s teams or part of his entourage. He also said team manager Johan Bruyneel assisted his doping. Each of them previously has denied they aided Armstrong’s doping.
Armstrong also said he believed former U.S. Postal Team financier Thomas Weisel knew of his doping, which Weisel has denied.
Valverde cuts Contador’s lead at Tour of Basque Country
EIBAR, Spain – Alberto Contador’s lead at the Tour of Basque Country was trimmed Wednesday during a fourth stage won by Dutch cyclist Wouter Poels.
Contador, a multiple Tour de France champion, lost two seconds of his overall lead. He is in front by 12 seconds with two stages left.
Poels attacked at the summit and hung on in the dash to the finish for a one-second victory over Spanish riders Samuel Sanchez and Alejandro Valverde. He covered the 94 miles in 3 hours, 39 minutes, 29 seconds.
Valverde trails Contador by 12 seconds in second place, while Damiano Cunego of Italy is 36 seconds off the lead.
Ski Racing
Abplanalp replaces White as U.S. women’s speed coach
PARK CITY, Utah – The United States ski team brought in Stefan Abplanalp to take over as the women’s speed coach.
The Swiss-born coach spent the last two seasons with the Norwegian women’s program. Before that, he was with the Swiss squad for eight seasons.
Abplanalp replaced Chip White, who left last month after being involved with the program for 18 years and helping develop skiers such as Julia Mancuso and Lindsey Vonn. Abplanalp already is in Park City, working with the staff to develop a detailed training schedule for next season.
Soccer
Spain is No. 1, Brazil is No. 6 and FIFA ranks U.S. No. 13
ZURICH – Portugal rose to third in the latest FIFA rankings, and fourth-ranked Colombia now leads the South American nations.
European and World champion Spain remained No. 1, ahead of Germany. Uruguay rose one place to No. 5.
World Cup host Brazil is tied for No. 6 with traditional rival Argentina, which dropped three places. Switzerland, Italy and Greece, rising three places, completed the top 10.
United States rises to No. 13 after its 2-2 draw with No. 19 Mexico last week in Glendale, Ariz.
World Cup workers end strike after finally getting paid
SAO PAULO – Workers ended a strike at the World Cup stadium in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba after disrupting traffic for nearly two hours and forcing organizers to accept their demands Thursday.
More than 100 employees returned to work at the Arena da Baixada after organizers promised to begin paying the salaries owed to them.
About 50 workers had been on strike since Monday, and more joined the movement in recent days. Curitiba officials said the work stoppage did not significantly affect the stadium’s renovation. There nearly are 1,300 workers at the construction site.
FIFA expects the Arena da Baixada to be fully ready in mid-May, about a month before the World Cup opener June 12 in Sao Paulo.
Associated Press
