Russia ban from Olympics upheld
An international court upheld Russia’s ban from the next two Olympics in a ruling that has drawn predictably mixed reactions — both praise and condemnation — from around the sports world.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, issued its decision, the latest development in a long- running scandal that has seen Russian athletes, coaches and officials caught in systemic doping.
Though the embattled country will not be allowed to use its f lag or anthem or march as a national team at the Tokyo Games this summer, individual athletes may still compete as “neutrals” in select cases.
— David Wharton
Following the recommendation from the league’s competition committee, the NBA’s board of governors voted to keep the challenge as an option for coaches going forward. It was introduced last year on a one- year trial. Coaches challenged 700 calls last season, including the playoffs. Calls were overturned 308 times, or a rate of 44%. Also approved by the board of governors: a plan to give teams the ability to expand their active roster on game nights from 13 to 15 for this season — a move being made largely in response to the COVID- 19 pandemic and in anticipation of the likelihood that teams will be missing players from time to time.
All- Star goalie Henrik Lundqvist, 38, will sit out the upcoming NHL season because of a heart condition, he said, about two months after he joined the Washington Capitals following 15 years with the New York Rangers. Calling it “a pretty tough and emotional day” in a video posted on social media by the Capitals, Lundqvist said he has been taking various tests on his heart “for several weeks.”
IndyCar made the f irst pandemic- related change to its 2021 schedule and moved the Grand Prix of Long Beach from April to September because of California restrictions. Long Beach, second only to the Indianapolis 500 in prestige and popularity on the IndyCar calendar, was shifted to Sept. 26 and from April 18. ... The Sun Belt championship football game between Coastal Carolina and Louisiana was canceled because of a positive COVID- 19 test within the Coastal Carolina program
Florida postponed its next three men’s basketball games while forward Keyontae Johnson continues to show “truly encouraging signs of progress,” athletic director Scott Stricklin said. Johnson collapsed on the court at Florida State on Saturday and remains hospitalized.
Robert Lewandowski was named the FIFA Best Men’s Player for 2020 after his 55- goal season lifted Bayern Munich to a sweep of international and domestic trophies. Lucy Bronze was voted the best women’s player to give England its first individual victory at the FIFA awards.
Lexi Thompson shot a seven- under 65 to take the first- round lead in the LPGA Tour’s CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla.
Lorenzo Taliaferro, who ran for 339 yards and scored f ive touchdowns in three injury- riddled seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, has died. He was 28. Taliaferro died Wednesday in Williamsburg, Va., according to YorkPoquoson Sheriff ’s Office. The cause of death was not immediately made public.