Iran bans U.S. wrestlers
Iran banned U.S. wrestlers from the freestyle World Cup in response to President Trump’s executive order forbidding visas for Iranians, the official IRNA news agency reported. The decision marks the first action taken by Iran in response to Trump’s order banning visas for seven Muslim countries. The prestigious competition is set for Feb. 16-17 in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah.
USA Wrestling, the sport’s domestic governing body, said it was “extremely disappointed” in what it called an “unacceptable situation.”
The group that governs international basketball moved close to eliminating a longstanding ban on religious headgear in competition, clearing the way for athletes to wear hijabs, turbans and yarmulkes in international competitions. FIBA told its playing rules committee to create a proposal that outlines how headgear can be worn safely during games, with the goal to approve the changes at a meeting in May.
Brendan Steele and Byeong Hun An shared the lead at 10-under 132 in the Waste Management Phoenix Open at Scottsdale, Ariz. An shot a fiveunder 66, Steele a 67. Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama and first-round leader Matt Kuchar were in a group at nine under. Justin Thomas, coming off a two-week break after sweeping the two PGA Tour events in Hawaii, shot 73 and missed the cut.
Second-round play at the Dubai Desert Classic was suspended due to strong winds. Martin Kaymer and Rafael Cabrera-Bello, tied at four under after shooting 69s, had the lowest scores after two full rounds. But George Coetzee was at nine under and Sergio Garcia at eight under after eight holes.
The anticipated showdown between Mexico’s two most popular fighters, Canelo Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., will take place May 6 at TMobile Arena in Las Vegas rather than massive AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Golden Boy Promotions announced. Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys and AT&T Stadium, made a substantial offer to Golden Boy Chairman Oscar De La Hoya for the non-title bout, with capacity for 100,000 fans. Instead, richer seat pricing inside 20,000-seat T-Mobile Arena and the tradition of big fights in Las Vegas won out. —Lance Pugmire
Baseball owners ended two days of meetings at which they discussed ways to speed up games, but no proposals were advanced. The average time of a nine-inning game last season was three hours, up slightly over 2015. Management would like to tighten restrictions on trips to the mound and introduce a pitch clock, but players have resisted such changes.
The Kansas City Royals agreed to a one-year, $5,325,000 contract with closer Kelvin Herrera, avoiding arbitration . . . . Free-agent relievers Jerry Blevins and Fernando Salas agreed to deals to return to the New York Mets . . . . Veteran infielder Rickie Weeks and relievers Cory Rasmus and David Carpenter agreed to minor league contracts with Tampa Bay and will be invited to spring training . . . . Utilityman Chris Coghlan, who hit .252 for the World Series champion Chicago Cubs last season, agreed to a minor league contract with Philadelphia.
The man accused of fatally shooting former USC and NFL running back Joe McKnight acted in selfdefense because McKnight was threatening him and trying to climb into his car, his lawyers said in a Louisiana courtroom. Ronald Gasser, 55, faces a second-degree murder charge.
The Golden State Warriors waived center Anderson Varejao to clear a roster spot for David West, who is returning from a fractured left thumb . . . . The NBA fined Atlanta’s Taurean Prince and Miami’s James Johnson $25,000 each for their roles in a scuffle during Wednesday’s game in Miami.
Jack Sock defeated Marco Chiudinelli, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1, and John Isner beat Henri Laaksonen, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (1), to give the U.S. Davis Cup team a 2-0 lead over Switzerland in a best-of-five first-round World Group match at Birmingham, Ala.
Stewart-Haas Racing filed a $31-million breach-of-contract lawsuit against Nature’s Bakery, accusing the company of refusing to pay millions it owes the team to sponsor driver Danica Patrick this year.
The four top stakeholders in the discussion over whether NHL players will play in the 2018 Winter Olympics met in New York without resolution. IOC President Thomas Bach for the first time joined NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Players Assn. Executive Director Don Fehr and International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel.
Arizona State pulled out of a deal with the Arizona Coyotes to build a new arena in Tempe, leaving the NHL club’s future in limbo yet again. The Coyotes in November announced plans to build the arena with the school near campus, appearing to end a long process to find the team a permanent home.