Sports shorts
Breakers bow to Kings
Sydney NBL star Andrew Bogut had a relatively quiet time but was still influential in the old school battle of the big men against Shawn Long last night as the Kings beat the New Zealand Breakers 100-92. Long scored 20 points to match Kevin Lisch in the game at Homebush but only seven of those came in the second half. The Breakers threatened in the third quarter but the Kings drew away in the last quarter to cement their position at the top of the table. The Breakers remain in sixth position on the ladder. Long picked up 10 rebounds while Bogut notched nine.
Al-Attiyah in lead
Driver Nasser Al-Attiyah and rider Ricky Brabec dominated the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally yesterday to lead their categories overall. AlAttiyah strengthened his lead to nearly nine minutes over Stephane Peterhansel after outduelling the Frenchman by nearly two minutes on the split 351km route of valleys and fesh-fesh — fine dust — between Arequipa and Tacna. Nani Roma was nearly 21 minutes back in third, followed by Jakub Przygonski (22 minutes), Yazeed Al Rajhi (nearly 25 minutes) and Sebastien Loeb (50 minutes), who suffered three punctures and came to the finish on a punctured tire.
Ronaldo DNA request
Cristiano Ronaldo is being asked by police to provide a DNA sample in an investigation of a Nevada woman’s allegation that he raped her in his Las Vegas hotel penthouse in 2009 and paid her to keep quiet, the Juventus football star’s lawyer and Las Vegas police said yesterday. Attorney Peter S. Christiansen downplayed the development, denied the rape allegation and called evidence collection common in any investigation. Police said in a statement that an official request has been submitted to Italian authorities for a DNA sample from the superstar player. Officer Laura Meltzer, a department spokeswoman, said the request involved a warrant.
Wada start process
World Anti-Doping Agency experts have started the process of copying data from a Moscow laboratory that could implicate numerous Russian athletes in past drug cases. Wada demanded in September that Russia turn over the data by December 31 in return for lifting a nearly three-year suspension of Russia’s national antidoping agency. Many Western athletes and organisations criticised Wada for letting Russia provide data after the deadline. An earlier Wada delegation left Moscow emptyhanded in December after Russian officials alleged its equipment wasn’t certified under Russian law.
Arnautovic wants out
Marko Arnautovic’s future at West Ham is mired in uncertainty after the English Premier League club’s star player expressed his desire to take up a lucrative offer from China. A statement released by Arnautovic’s brother Danijel, who also acts as his representative, to British broadcaster talkSport says the Austria forward “wants to go to a new market and challenge for titles” and that “it is his great desire that West Ham accept the offer from China”. It wasn’t disclosed which Chinese club has made the offer for Arnautovic. West Ham responded by saying Arnautovic “has a contract and we fully expect him to honour it. He is not for sale.”
LeBron still injured
LeBron James will be sidelined for at least another week with the groin injury he suffered during the Los Angeles Lakers' win over the Golden State Warriors. James will miss the game against Utah, his former Cleveland team and the meeting with Chicago, at a minimum. The news is a blow to the Lakers, who have gone 3-5 in James' absence and are clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
NRL star in sex tape leak
The Bulldogs have issued a statement after a sex tape allegedly involving Queensland State of Origin and Roosters NRL premiership-winning forward Dylan Napa emerged yesterday. The new Bulldogs recruit can be seen in the video engaging in sex acts with an unidentified woman. Napa’s new club says the matter has been referred to the NRL’s integrity unit. The footage was taken by an unidentified third party in the same room. It is unclear when the footage was taken but in a statement released by the Bulldogs, the club claim it was filmed several years ago. The leaked images were heavily posted on social media yesterday.
Quad Series showdown
Australian netball coach Lisa Alexander is excited about a Quad Series showdown with their new arch rivals, England. The Diamonds open their campaign against fifth-ranked South Africa on Monday in Liverpool, the venue for the World Cup in midJuly. They must then wait nearly a week before back-to-back tests against New Zealand and England in London, the sort of rapid-fire climax they can expect when their world title goes on the line.
Eddie Jones defended
Fullback Mike Brown has defended Eddie Jones' training methods after figures revealed players are more likely to be severely injured during sessions conducted on his watch as England rugby coach. Jones was heavily criticised last year for the number of casualties sustained in practise, igniting a row with Bath owner Bruce Craig in the wake of prop Beno Obano suffering serious knee damage at a camp in Brighton.