Russia facing possible ban from ’20 Olympics
World anti-doping regulators are recommending Russia be declared noncompliant again, setting up a showdown that could make the country ineligible for next summer’s Olympics.
The World Anti-Doping Agency announced Friday that its compliance and review committee made the recommendation after reviewing a case involving manipulated data from the Moscow anti-doping lab that was being used to prosecute cases.
The WADA executive committee will discuss the recommendation at a meeting Dec. 9, and if it agrees, it will set in motion a process that could end with Russia being booted from the Tokyo Games.
Under new rules created in the aftermath of the Russian doping scandal that marred the Sochi Olympics in 2014, the Russians could appeal any sanction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The IOC would have to abide by the decisions from WADA or the court, though its president, Thomas Bach, said earlier this week he wasn’t in favor of a total ban.
College basketball: The NCAA warned Oklahoma State that it may be guilty of a major infraction tied to the actions of former assistant Lamont Evans. The notice alleges Evans “engaged in unethical conduct” in 2016 and 2017 by accepting bribes from a financial adviser to arrange meetings between the adviser and players. The school said it agreed with the NCAA. Evans was sentenced in June to three months in prison for accepting bribes in the case . ... No. 14 Arizona dismissed sophomore G Devonaire Doutrive for a violation of team rules.
College football: Oklahoma State freshman QB Spencer Sanders will miss the rest of the regular season after undergoing thumb surgery, ESPN reported Thursday. Sanders suffered the injury during last weekend’s win over Kansas. Senior Dru Brown likeley will start for the No. 21 Cowboys against West Virginia on Saturday.
Golf: Tyler Duncan shot a career-best 9-under 61 to take a two-stroke lead over three players midway through the PGA Tour’s season-ending RSM Challenge in St. Simons Island, Ga . ... Mike Lorenzo-Vera of France shot a 3-under 69 to extend his lead to three strokes midway through the European Tour’s season-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai, UAE. England’s Tommy Fleetwood (68) and Spain’s Jon Rahm (69), two of the five contenders for the Race to Dubai title, were tied for second . ... Sei Young Kim of South Korea shot a 5-under 67 to maintain a two-stroke lead midway through the LPGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship in Naples, Fla. Caroline Masson of Germany (66) was second.
Tennis: Rafael Nadal won in singles and then teamed with Marcel Granollers to beat Maximo Gonzalez and Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in doubles to lift host Spain over Argentina 2-1 and into the Davis Cup semifinals. Spain will face England, while Russia will face Canada.