Noah banned for 20 games
Joakim Noah of the New York Knicks was suspended 20 games without pay for violating the league’s antidrug policy. He tested positive for a substance found in some over-the-counter supplements, the league said Saturday.
Noah has not played since Feb. 4 and likely was to miss the Knicks’ final 10 games this season because of a left knee injury. The NBA said Noah’s suspension will begin with the first regular-season or playoff game for which he is “eligible and physically able to play.” At minimum, that means the suspension will carry over into at least the first 10 games of next season and likely longer, since Noah is not currently able to play.
The players’ union believes the 6-foot-11 player made an unintentional mistake.
“Joakim has offered his deepest apologies for this infraction, and neither he nor the NBPA will pursue an appeal,” the union statement said.
SOCCER
An already banged-up U.S. soccer team lost four more players heading into Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier at Panama, including two starters from Friday night’s 6-0 victory against Honduras in San Jose, Calif. Midfielder Sebastian Lletget, defenders John Brooks and Michael Orozco, and forward Jordan Morris were dropped by U.S. coach Bruce Arena, who added forward Paul Arriola on Saturday. The U.S. already was without defender DeAndre Yedlin, midfielder Fabian Johnson and forward Bobby Wood.
Midfielder Jermaine Jones returns after serving a one-game suspension Friday for yellow-card accumulation. After an 0-2 start that led the U.S. Soccer Federation to fire coach Jurgen Klinsmann and bring back Arena, the Americans could move back into one of the three qualifying positions with a win Tuesday.
NFL
Cincinnati Bengals released eight-year veteran linebacker Rey Maualuga, saying they were moving to a younger group at the position.
Saturday’s move comes five days after they signed free-agent linebacker Kevin Minter to a one-year deal, an indication they were going in a different direction.
Maualuga was Cincinnati’s second-round pick in 2009. He has played in 114 games, starting 104 of them. Maualuga and Andy Dalton were named team captains in 2012.
BASEBALL
While there is still no timetable for David Price’s return to game activity, the Boston Red Sox got a small amount of good news on the left-hander’s ailing elbow.
“There was a series of strength tests done this morning in the training room and (we) felt like he was improved to the point of initiating more throwing,” manager John Farrell said.
That progress allowed Price to take part in a brief game of catch Saturday.
“Not off a mound but just to get the arm moving with a ball in flight and will continue in this phase for a period of time,” Farrell said. “There’s no set distance and volume yet to the throws.”
Price, who is entering the second year of a sevenyear, $217 million contract, felt discomfort in his elbow the day after pitching two innings of a simulated game Feb. 28. He left camp March 3 to meet with James Andrews and Neal ElAttrache, who recommended rest and anti-inflammatory medication rather than surgery or an injection.
SKIING
Laurenne Ross and Ryan Cochran-Siegle won super G titles in the U.S. Alpine Championships at Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabassett Valley, Maine.
Ross is a 2014 Olympian who also won the 2013 U.S. Championship in the super G. She was timed in 1:21.44. Cochran-Siegle finished in 1:19.66 for his first national title.