Cycling
AIGLE, Switzerland – The International Cycling Union banned British rider Simon Yates for four months for a positive test for a prohibited substance.
The UCI says the ban for a “non-intentional” rules violation will run through July 11, barring Yates from selection for the Tour de France which starts on July 2.
Yates completed the Tour last year – finishing 89th.
The 23-year-old Yates tested positive for Terbutaline during the Paris-Nice stage race in March.
Golf
BELMONT, Mich. – Defending champion Lexi Thompson fought through back pain Friday to take the second-round lead in the Meijer LPGA Classic.
The 21-year-old Thompson shot a 4-under 67, rebounding from bogeys on 15 and 16 with birdies on the final two holes to reach 10-under 132 at Blythefield.
Canada’s Alena Sharp bogeyed her final hole to drop into a tie for second with South Korean players In Gee Chun, So Yeon Ryu and Q Baek. They all shot 67.
NCAA
WACO, Texas – Fired Baylor coach Art Briles withdrew a demand for new lawyers in a federal civil rights lawsuit against him and the university amid reports he has settled a contract dispute with the school.
Briles’ lawyers had told a federal court Thursday he wanted attorneys separate from Baylor and had no intention of settling the lawsuit filed by a woman who was raped by a Baylor football player. The filing suggested a bitter court fight was brewing between Baylor and the coach who claimed his May 26 firing was wrongful termination.
Briles withdrew the motion Friday as multiple media outlets cited anonymous sources in reporting Briles and Baylor had reached a settlement on his contract, which ran through 2023.
Baylor fired Briles after an investigation found the school mishandled sex assault allegations for years, including some made against football players.
MLB
BALTIMORE – Michael Saunders has hit a career-high three home runs for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Baltimore Orioles.
Batting cleanup Friday night, Saunders homered with two on in the first inning, added another three-run drive in the fourth and hit a two-run shot in the sixth.
With a chance to tie the big league record of four home runs in a game, Saunders bounced into a double play in the eighth inning.
The eight RBIs are a career high, and a big reason why Toronto led 13-2 in the eighth.
Soccer
SEATTLE – The U.S. Soccer Federation appealed the red card given to midfielder Jermaine Jones and a yellow card assessed to forward Bobby Wood, who are both suspended for Tuesday’s Copa America semifinal.
Jones was given the red card Thursday night in a quarterfinal win by Colombia referee Wilmar Roldan during a 52nd-minute confrontation that also saw Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia sent off after a second yellow card for a harsh tackle on Alejandro Bedoya.
U.S. players immediately rushed to the scrum after Valencia’s tackle, and Jones raised an arm at Arroyo. U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann blamed fourth official Wilton Sampaio for the decision.
Associated Press
