Spotlight back on the soccer pitch for expanded Euros
LONDON (Reuters) – Bigger than ever, the European Championship kicks off in Paris on Friday with a four-week feast of soccer that promises to elevate the game above the corruption scandals and security fears that have overshadowed its build-up.
NHL sues players union to restore Calgary defenseman’s 20-game ban
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The National Hockey League on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against its players union, seeking to restore a 20-game suspension against Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman that a “neutral” arbitrator later cut in half.
Brazil hammer hapless Haiti 7-1 in Copa America massacre
(Reuters) – Philippe Coutinho grabbed a hat-trick as Brazil ramped up their Copa America campaign with a resounding 7-1 win over a hapless Haiti on Wednesday.
San Jose coach DeBoer keeps faith in captain Pavelski
(Reuters) – San Jose coach Peter DeBoer has backed captain Joe Pavelski to shrug off a scoring drought ahead of Thursday’s Game Five of the Stanley Cup finals against Pittsburgh as the Sharks seek to stave off a quick elimination in the series.
Jamaican sprinter Carter’s ‘B’ sample tests positive
KINGSTON (Reuters) – Jamaican Olympic relay gold medalist Nesta Carter’s “B” sample for the use of a banned stimulant at the 2008 Beijing Games has returned positive, two sources familiar with the case told Reuters on Wednesday.
Sharapova banned for two years by ITF
LONDON (Reuters) – The career of Russian former world number one Maria Sharapova was in tatters on Wednesday after she was given a two-year ban by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) following her positive test for the banned drug meldonium.
Recharged Ricciardo can be a handful for Hamilton
LONDON (Reuters) – Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo has put his Monaco misery behind him and is hoping for another epic battle with Lewis Hamilton in Montreal this weekend.
Euro 2016 organizers say not aware of any specific security threat
PARIS (Reuters) – The organizers of the Euro 2016 soccer championship fully realize the security challenges in holding the tournament, but are not aware of any precise threat, their head said on Wednesday.
Platini can attend Euro 2016 matches, FIFA tells UEFA
PARIS (Reuters) – Banned UEFA president Michel Platini will be allowed to attend matches at the European soccer Championship providing he does not do it in any official role, the European governing body’s acting general secretary said on Wednesday.
Rape retrial begins for ex-Vanderbilt football player
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Reuters) – Former Vanderbilt University football player Brandon Vandenburg’s retrial began on Wednesday with jury selection, nearly a year after a judge declared a mistrial following his conviction for the June 2013 rape of an unconsc…
