STEWARDS SANCTION BAFFERT, BRINKEROFF
The Del Mar stewards finished the Bing Crosby meeting Sunday by fining trainer Bob Baffert for a medication violation and suspending trainer Val Brinkeroff 45 days for a positive test for another medication more than a year ago.
Baffert, the most recognizable figure in the sport, was fined $2,500 after Merneith tested positive for Dextrorphan, a metabolite often found in cough remedies. The drug is a Class 4 violation. The most severe are
Class 1 and the least impactful are Class 5. Class 4 contains many therapeutic medications.
Merneith, a 3-year-old filly, finished second in an allowance race at Del Mar on July 25.
Brinkerhoff ’s suspension and fine of $3,000 dealt with Girl Can Partie, who finished first in a maiden claiming race at Del Mar on Aug. 1, 2019. The then-3-year-old filly was subsequently disqualified and placed last with purse money stripped. Girl Can Partie tested positive for Metaproterenol, which is used to aid in breathing and is a Class 3 drug.
The added penalty was because investigators found a syringe in Brinkerhoff ’s truck. The trainer told the Daily Racing Form that the syringe was a precaution for colic while the horse was being shipped north to Emerald Downs.
JOHN CHERWA
Running
The chief executive officer of the New York Road Runners, the group that organizes the New York City Marathon, is stepping down and new leadership will be sought out amid concerns over racism and other biases in the organization. Michael Capiraso, who has been at the helm for five years, will step down on Dec. 31, the club said in a statement.
Soccer
Efrain Alvarez, an LA Galaxy midfielder who started for Mexico in last year’s final of the Under-17 World Cup, was among 22 players called into U.S. training camp for a Dec. 9 exhibition against El Salvador in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins missed a penalty then had a stoppage-time equalizer ruled out by VAR for the narrowest of offside calls as West
Ham held on for a 2-1 win to move into fifth place in the English Premier League.
Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez had surgery to treat a fractured skull after a clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz during a Premier League game, the club said.
• Eden Hazard is out of Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk because of a right thigh injury.
Baseball
The Cleveland Indians sold side-arm reliever Adam Cimber to the Marlins for $100,000, and Miami designated righthander Jose Urena for assignment.
The Royals agreed to a two-year deal with pitcher Mike Minor and finalized a $1.75 million, one-year contract with outfielder Michael Taylor as they work to piece together a roster.
Major League Baseball is creating a minor league for top eligible prospects leading to the summer draft. The wood-bat MLB Draft League is launching with five teams and could add a sixth, MLB said. Teams will play a 68-game regular season that includes an All-Star break coinciding with the draft in early July. MLB also announced that the eight-team Pioneer League will lose its affiliated status and become an independent “Partner League.”
Basketball
USA Basketball went into a bubble and emerged with a berth in the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup. Yante Maten scored 21 points, Josh Maggette added 19 and the U.S. topped Mexico 9478, moving to 4-0 in Group D qualifying and securing a spot in the tournament that serves as the championship of the 44 teams in the FIBA Americas zone — comprised of nations from North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean.
• Andrew Bogut, 36, is calling quits on his bid for an Olympic medal and has decided to retire after 15 years in professional basketball.
Colleges
Greg McGarity is retiring after 10 years as Georgia’s athletic director. McGarity, 66, said his retirement will begin Dec 31. Josh Brooks, Georgia’s senior deputy director of athletics, will serve as interim athletic director, beginning Jan. 1.