MLB
Braun admits to PED usage during his MVP season
Ryan Braun finally has admitted taking performance-enhancing drugs during his NL MVP season of 2011.
The suspended Milwaukee slugger said in a statement released Thursday by the Brewers that he took a cream and a lozenge containing banned substances while rehabilitating an injury.
Braun tested positive for elevated testosterone in October 2011, but his 50-game suspension was overturned when an arbitrator ruled that the urine sample was mishandled.
Braun, who repeatedly slandered the collector in public, apologized to the collector of the urine sample, his teammates and Commissioner Bud Selig.
Last month he accepted a 65-game suspension resulting from Major League Baseball’s investigation of the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic.
Braves’ Heyward has surgery on broken jaw after bean ball
ATLANTA – Braves outfielder Jason Heyward had surgery Thursday on his broken right jaw after he was struck by a pitch.
The team has not said how long he will be out, but he could miss the rest of the regular season. Atlanta has a commanding lead in the NL East and hopes Heyward will recover in time for the playoffs.
Dr. Glenn Maron inserted plates in both places where the jaw was fractured.
NFL
Hernandez, 23, indicted on murder charge of Lloyd, 27
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez was indicted Thursday on first-degree murder and weapons charges in the death of a friend whose bullet-riddled body was found in an industrial park about a mile from the ex-player’s home.
The six-count grand jury indictment charges Hernandez with killing 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player from Boston who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s girlfriend.
Hernandez, 23, pleaded not guilty to murder and weapons charges in June, and he is being held without bail. He had a brief court appearance in Attleboro on Thursday afternoon. Afterward, his attorney Michael Fee said the defense was pleased to be on a path to a jury trial and was looking forward to testing the prosecution’s evidence.
Hernandez signed a contract last summer worth $40 million but was cut by the Patriots within hours of his June 26 arrest, when police led the handcuffed athlete from his home as news cameras rolled.
Hernandez could face life in prison if convicted.
The Bristol County grand jury also indicted two others in the case: Hernandez associate Ernest Wallace and Hernandez’s cousin Tanya Singleton. Wallace is charged with accessory to murder after the fact; Singleton is charged with criminal contempt for refusing to testify before the grand jury.
Soccer
Morgan and Solo will join Wambach on U.S. roster
WASHINGTON – U.S. national team stars Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan and Hope Solo are among 18 players chosen by coach Tom Sermanni to play Mexico on Sept. 3.
Wambach set the career goals mark earlier this season, surpassing Mia Hamm, and has 160 international goals.
The roster:
Defenders: Rachel Buehler (Portland Thorns FC), Crystal Dunn (North Carolina), Kristie Mewis (FC Kansas City), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Leigh Ann Robinson (FC Kansas City), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City).
Forwards: Sydney Leroux (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Abby Wambach (Western New York Flash).
Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart (FC Kansas City), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC).
Midfielders: Yael Averbuch (Göteborg), Morgan Brian (Virginia), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (Western New York Flash), Heather O’Reilly (Boston Breakers), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC), Erika Tymrak (FC Kansas City).
Associated Press
