F-1 DRIVER HAMILTON TESTS POSITIVE
Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss this weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix.
Hamilton was tested three times last week and returned a negative result each time, the last on Sunday afternoon at the Bahrain International Circuit.
But Hamilton woke up Monday morning with mild symptoms and was then informed that a contact prior to arrival in Bahrain had subsequently tested positive, his Mercedes team said Tuesday. This led to a subsequent test returning a positive result, and Hamilton says he has gone into self-isolation for 10 days.
“I’m devastated that I won’t be racing this weekend. Since we started the season in June, my team and I have been taking all the precautions we possibly can and following the regulations everywhere we’ve been,” Hamilton wrote on his social media accounts. “I’m gutted not to be able to race this weekend but my priority is to follow the protocols and advice, to protect others. I’m really lucky that I feel OK with only mild symptoms.”
Hamilton’s isolation is in accordance with the health protocols in Bahrain.
“Apart from mild symptoms, he is otherwise fit and well, and the entire team sends him its very best wishes for a swift recovery,” an earlier team statement said.
Hamilton, 35, appeared to be drained at the end of the Bahrain GP.
College football
Ohio State held on to the fourth spot in the College Football Playoff rankings after having its previous game canceled, landing behind No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 3 Clemson for a second straight week.
The selection committee’s top seven teams were unchanged from last week’s rankings after the playoff contenders either won comfortably or didn’t play because of COVID-19 issues.
Texas A&M (6-1) was in fifth, Florida (7-1) sixth and
Cincinnati (8-0) seventh.
Time was not on USC’s side last week as positive tests for COVID-19 and contact tracing led to the cancellation of its game against Colorado.
An extra day this week might be just enough for the Trojans to return to competition.
No. 17 USC (3-0) resumed conditioning workouts as coach Clay Helton expressed cautious optimism they will be able to play Washington State (1-1) on Sunday.
Vanderbilt has only one kicker listed on its two-deep chart for this weekend’s game at No. 11 Georgia, and it’s Sarah Fuller, who became the first woman to play in a Power Five game last Saturday.
Iowa State will allow about 15,000 fans at Jack Trice Stadium for the Cyclones’ game against West Virginia on Saturday.
The Ohio State football team is resuming full practices again in preparation for Saturday’s game at Michigan State after having last Saturday’s game canceled.
Baseball
Major league baseball players are giving $500,000 to support minor leaguers whose season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Major League Baseball Players Association said that money will be donated through the Major League Baseball Players Trust to More Than Baseball, a not-for-profit that benefits minor leaguers.
• Hall of Fame manager Tom Lasorda, 93, has been moved out of intensive care, although he remains hospitalized in Southern California.
Also
The investigation into Diego Maradona’s death continued with police raids on the office and home of the psychiatrist who cared for the soccer star and is being investigated for possible medical negligence.
SDSU guards Asia Avinger and Jayden Perez will miss the 2020-21 season due to leg injuries, head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson announced.