Cycling
Italian team faces ban for two positive doping tests
AIGLE, Switzerland – Italian cycling team Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec faces being suspended from all races after a second rider tested positive for doping within weeks.
The International Cycling Union said Fabio Taborre tested positive for a banned substance during training June 16.
Last month, another rider on the second-tier team, Davide Appollonio, tested positive for EPO.
UCI rules allow “the suspension of the team from 15 to 45 days” if two riders test positive within a 12-month period.
MLB
Martinez has his number ‘45’ retired at Fenway
BOSTON – Pedro Martinez’s Hall of Fame career took off in the late 1990s in a ballpark usually know for offensive numbers.
The Boston Red Sox have retired numbers – placing them along the facade of the right-field roof deck in hitter-friendly Fenway Park.
The seven retired Red Sox numbers are all of everyday players, but that changed Tuesday when the club placed the first number of a pitcher along with the other Red Sox greats – retiring Martinez’s number 45.
A-Rod takes pride about playing in majors at 40
ARLINGTON, Texas – Alex Rodriguez says there is a certain amount of pride being 40 years old and still playing.
A-Rod marked his 40th birthday Monday night by homering for the New York Yankees against Texas, the team that gave him his first huge contract.
His sixth-inning drive off Matt Harrison was his big league-best sixth on his birthday, according to STATS, breaking a tie with Todd Helton, Chipper Jones, Derrek Lee and Al Simmons.
Rodriguez says there was a time when hitting home runs and being a great player were all that mattered, and that the more homers he hit “would justify for whatever behavior” he had off the field. He didn’t specifically mention his season-long suspension last year for violations of baseball’s drug agreement and labor contract.
He says this year has been a nice reminder that good things can happen playing clean and working hard.
NFL
NFL close to new in-game football inspection rules
The NFL is preparing to send out instructions to game officials and teams explaining new rules for inspecting footballs.
Proper inflation of the footballs will be documented as part of the new policy.
Under consideration is checking pressure readings for every ball before the game and then again at halftime.
Olympics
Boston out as a U.S. bid for the 2024 games
Boston’s bid to host the 2024 Olympics is over.
The U.S. Olympic Committee severed ties with Boston. The Boston bid soured within days of its beginning in January, beset by poor communication, low public support and an active opposition group.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said he would not be pressured into signing the host city contract that puts the city on the hook for any cost overruns.
The deadline to officially nominate a city is Sept. 15. If the USOC wants to stay in the race, Los Angeles would be its likely choice.
Soccer
Montreal Impact sign former Chelsea star Drogba
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact signed former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.
Impact confirmed the signing Monday after a trade with the Chicago Fire, which had initially completed a move for the 37-year-old forward.
Associated Press
