MLB
A-Rod cancels on the MLB because of flu-like symptoms
NEW YORK – Alex Rodriguez’s scheduled investigatory interview with Major League Baseball was called off because the New York Yankees third baseman is feeling ill, according to a person familiar with the process.
Rodriguez is in California with flu-like systems and was unable to fly to New York for Friday’s session, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized.
Rodriguez was suspended for 211 games by MLB on Aug. 5 for alleged violations of the sport’s drug agreement and labor contract, and the players’ association filed a grievance to overturn the penalty. The case, being heard by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, is scheduled to resume Monday.
Olympics
If you get caught cheating, you’ll miss an Olympics
JOHANNESBURG – Drug cheats will be kept from at least one Olympics now that the ban for a first offense has been doubled from two years to four, the key change in the global fight against doping in sports.
The World Anti-Doping Agency also passed a rule Friday that offered athletes possible immunity from punishment in return for “substantial” information on doping, giving cyclists an incentive to testify in a planned inquiry into their sport’s drug-stained past.
The doubling of bans was one of the proposals adopted by WADA and added to the World Anti-Doping Code on the final day of the World Conference on Doping in Sport. WADA also unanimously elected IOC Vice President Craig Reedie of Britain as the next president, starting Jan. 1. He was the only candidate. Makhenkesi Stofile of South Africa will be the new vice president.
The code will take effect Jan. 1, 2015, in time for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Six cities put names in a hat for the 2022 Winter Games
LONDON – The race for the 2022 Winter Olympics is on – a six-city contest featuring two former Summer Games hosts, a cross-border bid and a pair of candidates from the former Soviet Union.
Notably missing are any contenders from the traditional Alpine countries of Europe, where voters in Germany and Switzerland rejected proposed bids because of concerns over high costs and the environment.
The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities Friday, hours after the midnight deadline for applications passed.
As expected, the candidates – all previously announced in their own countries – are Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm.
The IOC will select the host city by secret ballot July 31, 2015, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tennis
As expected Day 1 in Serbia, Czechs and Serbs tied 1-1
BELGRADE, Serbia – Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Tomas Berdych of defending champion Czech Republic did what was expected of them Friday, winning their matches and leaving the Davis Cup final at 1-1 after the opening day.
Djokovic beat Radek Stepanek 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 in the first singles. Berdych then defeated rookie Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 on the indoor hard court at Belgrade Arena.
With their 13-1 record in Davis Cup doubles, Berdych and Stepanek have a chance to give the Czechs the lead in the best-of-five series Saturday. It still was unclear whether Djokovic would play doubles or rest for Sunday’s reverse singles.
WNBA
Phoenix tabs experience for its bench, front office
PHOENIX – Former San Antonio Silver Stars coach Sandy Brondello was hired to coach the Phoenix Mercury. She also will serve as the Mercury’s vice president of player personnel.
Brondello has been affiliated with the WNBA for 14 of its 17 seasons, nine as a player.
Associated Press
