Mercury’s Griner back on board
Brittney Griner will be back in the WNBA this season, once again playing with the Phoenix Mercury. Griner, who was a free agent, re-signed with the team Tuesday.
The 32-year-old Griner had said she would return to Phoenix in a social media post in December, after she returned home from her 10-month detainment in Russia. Griner had been arrested at an airport just outside of Moscow on drug possession charges a year ago and was brought home in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange in December. The 6-foot-9 center last played for the Mercury in 2021 and helped the team reach the WNBA Finals. She averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds that season.
Doping case to go to sports court
MONTREAL — The World Antidoping Agency has appealed Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva’s doping case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and said Tuesday it is seeking a four-year ban.
WADA is objecting to a finding by a Russian tribunal that Valieva bore “no fault or negligence” in the case, which overshadowed last year’s Beijing Olympics. WADA wants a four-year ban and for Valieva’s results to be disqualified from the date she gave the sample, Dec. 25, 2021. That would include the Olympics.
The Russian skater, who was then 15, won Olympic gold in the team competition in February before it was announced that a sample she gave two months before tested positive for a banned substance. The result was reported later because the laboratory which tested the sample was affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
No medal ceremony has taken place for the team competition because of the uncertainty.
Drugovich with F1’s Aston Martin
SILVERSTONE, England — Formula Two champion Felipe Drugovich will drive for Aston Martin in place of the injured Lance Stroll when Formula One testing begins Thursday. Drugovich is one of two reserve drivers at Aston Martin, along with former Mclaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne.
Pettersen to stay on as captain
DENHAM, England — Suzann Pettersen will captain Europe at the next two Solheim Cups.
The Norwegian was selected on Tuesday to lead the team for the 2024 event at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., having already been appointed as captain for this year’s Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin in Spain from Sept. 22-24.
Rugby match under strike threat
CARDIFF, Wales — Saturday’s Six Nations rugby match between Wales and England looked increasingly under threat of a players’ strike after the Wales team announcement it was delayed on Tuesday amid contract talks.