Doping ruling strips Russia of gold
Russia is expected to drop into second place in the gold medal count for the 2014 Winter Olympics after sports officials on Saturday disqualified a biathlon winner for testing positive for a steroid, the New York Times reported.
If upheld by the International Olympic Committee and on expected appeals, the ruling would signify the final unraveling of a Russian effort to dominate medal counts by cheating with a state-sponsored doping program.
The International Biathlon Union ruled that Evgeny Ustyugov, who competed in a gold-medal-winning relay team, had used a banned steroid during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. “The consequences include the disqualification of Mr. Ustyugov’s results from the Olympic Games 2014, in which he won a gold medal,” the group said.
Fallout from the doping program has cut the number of Russian medals won at the 2014 games the country hosted. The supremacy in gold medals in Sochi has been a point of national pride.
A former Wisconsin football player who is the brother of a 2011 Super Bowl standout surrendered to Chicago police in connection with the deaths of two people who were found with gunshot wounds on a Wisconsin road and later died. Marcus Randle El, 33, was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. Randle El’s brother, Antwaan Randle El, was a star QB at Indiana and spent nine years with the NFL, including as a receiver for the Steelers.
The agent for Steelers QB Mason Rudolph says Browns DE Myles Garrett opened himself up for potential legal action after reiterating his claim that Rudolph used a racial slur shortly before their infamous November brawl. Garrett was reinstated after an indefinite suspension last week.
Seven-time major champion Inbee Park of South Korea took a three-stroke lead at the Women’s Australian Open in Adelaide, Australia, after carding a 5-under 68.
French league leader Paris SaintGermain settled for a 4-4 draw at Amiens. PSG trailed 3-0 and led 4-3 before conceding an injury-time equalizer.
— News services