Reuters Sports News Summary

07/26/2016 3:59

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Trial and error calms waters for NZ's Aleh

Olympic sailing champion Jo Aleh's preparations for the Rio de Janeiro Games have included plenty of planned trial and error, which has led to a level of consistency that places her and Polly Powrie among the favorites in the women's 470. New Zealand's Aleh and Powrie are the top-ranked duo in the centerboard 4.7m-long dinghy heading into next month's Games, having finished no lower than fourth in 22-of-24 World Sailing events they have competed at since the London Olympics.

IOC has 'no interest in clean sport': whistleblower

A Russian whistleblower who helped uncover the biggest doping scandal in decades has told Reuters that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is more concerned about protecting the organization than ridding world sport of drugs cheats. A day after the IOC rejected a request by his wife, former Russian drugs cheat Yulia Stepanova, to run in the Rio Games as an independent athlete, Vitaly Stepanov said an invite to attend the Rio Games as spectators felt like they were being bought.

Cavs coach Lue agrees new five-year deal

The Cleveland Cavaliers and head coach Tyronn Lue have agreed on a new five-year deal worth $35 million, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on Monday. Lue, 39, took over after David Blatt was fired in January and led the Cavs to the NBA title in his first head coaching role.

Kremlin hails IOC Olympic green light, but conditions grate

The Kremlin on Monday hailed a decision by the International Olympic Committee not to ban Russia's entire team from the Rio Olympics over doping allegations, but government officials said the strings attached to the IOC's ruling were unfair. The IOC threw Russian sportsmen and women a lifeline on Sunday ignoring a call from the World Anti-Doping Agency to impose a blanket ban, ruling instead that decisions on whether individual competitors could compete at Rio would be left to the international sports federations.

Australia hails quick fix of problems in athletes' village

Australia's Olympic delegation in Rio de Janeiro said on Monday that organizers had made "fantastic" progress in fixing problems with unfinished housing, although officials admitted that only two-thirds of the buildings had passed full safety checks. Organizers for South America's first Olympic Games built 31 17-story buildings, but only 12 had been given the green light by Monday morning while another eight were in the process of receiving a full safety certification, Rio2016 spokesman Mario Andrada told Reuters.

Indian shot putter fails doping test

Indian shot putter Inderjeet Singh said on Tuesday he has been notified by the national anti-doping agency (NADA) that he has returned a positive test for banned substances in his A sample. Inderjeet, who won the gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championships in 2015, told local television he had been informed of the failed test late on Monday and that all his earlier tests had been negative.

Sale rips White Sox for 'business first' mentality

Pitcher Chris Sale said on Monday it was the Chicago White Sox putting 'business first over winning' that caused him to boil over and led the team to discipline him. Sale was suspended five games by the White Sox due to an incident on Saturday where he reportedly cut up the team's 1976 throwback uniforms and was subsequently scratched from his scheduled start.

Great haul of China not assured at Rio

World badminton will hope a more open field and a European resurgence can inject more excitement at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and help banish memories of London's scandal-plagued tournament where China swept all titles. The genteel racquet sport suffered its greatest Olympic humiliation at London where four pairs in the women's doubles were disqualified for deliberately trying to lose pool matches to secure more favorable draws in the knockout phase.

League, union unveil concussion protocol enforcement policy

The National Football League said on Monday that teams could be fined heavily and forfeit future draft picks if they violate the concussion protocol. According to the joint agreement of the NFL and NFL Players Association, each side will designate someone to monitor the implementation of the protocol and investigate any potential violations.

Wiggins tips Froome to add gold to Tour triumph

Bradley Wiggins has backed Chris Froome to emulate his 2012 Tour de France and Olympic time trial double success but felt his former Sky team mate's task is more difficult as next month's Games are in Rio de Janeiro. Froome, who will join Wiggins in the Great Britain cycling team, clinched his third Tour de France on Sunday and will now be attempting an unprecedented treble as he also plans to take part in both the time trial and road race at the Rio Games.

07/26/2016 3:59