IOC bans Russian gold medal skier
In a landmark verdict that indicates Russia conspired to run a doping program at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, a cross-country skier who won a gold medal was disqualified by the International Olympic Committee.
All results for Alexander Legkov in Sochi were wiped from the record and he was banned for life from attending another Olympics.
A second Russian cross-country skier was also disqualified and banned by the IOC, and cases implicating 26 more Russian athletes in a Sochi doping conspiracy are pending.
The San Antonio Spurs have recalled Tony Parker from their G-League affiliate.
The move comes one week after the veteran point guard started working out with the Austin Spurs as part of his rehab program. Parker is working his way back from a ruptured left quadriceps tendon that he sustained during last spring’s Western Conference semifinals.
It’s unclear if Parker will play Thursday night when defending champion Golden State visits San Antonio.
Jahlil Okafor told Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo that he wanted to be bought out of his contract. That came after the team declined to pick up Okafor’s contract for the 2018-19 season. The 76ers, however, appear unwilling to let the 21-year-old center, who has played only one game this season, just walk out without getting anything in return.
“Bryan didn’t think [a buyout] would be a great idea,” Okafor said, “because he said he would be giving me away to a team for free. But that’s pretty much where we stand right now.”
Colangelo declined to comment.
Gordon Hayward of the Boston Celtics says he knows he will not play again this season, after needing surgery to repair a grotesque leg injury on opening night last month.
The announcement, on Hayward’s Facebook page, came as little surprise given the severity of the injury. Hayward wrote about several previously unrevealed aspects of the injury and the aftermath, including how four people — including Celtics coach Brad Stevens — were needed to carry him onto the plane that night in Cleveland, and how even former President Obama has been among those sending well-wishes.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce will miss the team’s upcoming two-game trip with a concussion. The defenseman was struck in the head by a puck during practice Tuesday.
Veteran crew chief Darian Grubb will lead rookie William Byron when he steps up to NASCAR’s top level next season with Hendrick Motorsports.