SEMENYA EASILY WINS 800 METERS, WON’T TAKE MEDICATION
Caster Semenya was defiant in every way at what very well could be her last 800 meter race.
Her raised fist at the start. Her unstoppable victory. And with her reply Friday to the big question of whether she will now submit to new testosterone regulations in track and field and take hormone-reducing medication.
“Hell no,” the Olympic champion from South Africa said.
Semenya responded to her defeat in a landmark court case against track and field’s governing body two days earlier with a resounding win.
She won the 800 meters at the opening Diamond League meeting of the season in Doha, Qatar, with a meet record of 1 minute, 54.98 seconds. Semenya’s nearest challenger, the Olympic silver medalist Francine Niyonsaba, was nearly three seconds and about 20 meters behind her.
Suns hire Williams as coach.
» The Phoenix Suns are looking for stability after their previous coach lasted just one season.
They hope Monty Williams is the man to lead their turnaround.
The Suns announced Friday that they had come to terms with Williams, a former head coach and a current assistant in Philadelphia. He will take over as Phoenix’s fifth coach in five seasons when the 76ers’ playoff run ends.
» What would ordinarily be a big pay-per-view fight on Cinco de Mayo weekend on the Las Vegas Strip will be an experiment in the possible new future of boxing as Canelo Alvarez meets Daniel Jacobs in a middleweight title unification fight Saturday night that will be streamed on DAZN. Fans can get it by signing up for either a monthly or annual plan on the new pay service.
» Serengeti Empress dispelled questions about her health and ability with a signature performance in the biggest race of her career. The filly went wire-towire to win the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks by 1¾ lengths over Liora on Friday at Churchill Downs.
The start featured a scary moment when Positive Spirit fell down and threw jockey Manny Franco after clipping heels as the 14-horse field squeezed together from the gate. Both were able to get up and walk off the track.
Celtics honor Havlicek.
The Celtics came out for pregame warmups wearing T-shirts bearing the No. 17 to honor Hall of Famer John Havlicek. The crowd also observed a moment of silence Friday night before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Bucks for the eight-time NBA champion who died at the age of 79.
NCAA rescinds ban on championships in gambling states.
POLIS» The NCAA has reINDI A N A scinded Friday its policy prohibiting championship events from being held in states that have legalized sports gambling.
After last year’s Supreme Court decision that opened the door for states to sponsor legalize sports betting, the NCAA indefinitely suspended the policy that previously had kept events such as the men’s basketball tournament out of Nevada.
Serena will play Italian Open.
ROME» Serena Williams is set to return from a knee injury at the Italian Open in mid-May. She hasn’t played since withdrawing from the Miami Open in March.
Montana OKs sports betting.
» Montana became the . first state to legalize sports betting this year after Gov. Steve Bullock signed a bill Friday.
Bulls give Boylen an extension.
The Chicago Bulls and coach Jim Boylen have agreed to a contract extension.