Reuters Sports News Summary

07/26/2016 19:52

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Exclusive: Scrutiny on global sport bodies as they decide Russians' Olympic fates

The International Olympic Committee's decision to let individual sport federations decide whether to ban Russians from the Rio games over doping has put Moscow's links to the governing bodies under scrutiny. In the latest announcement by a sport governing body, the head of the International Judo Federation told Reuters on Tuesday it would allow the Russian squad to compete.

Rosberg up against it now, says Mansell

Lewis Hamilton is unlikely to run away with the Formula One crown even though he has won five of the last six races and is potentially one of the greatest drivers of all time, says Nigel Mansell. Mansell, who won the title with Williams in 1992, said Hamilton's Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg now faced a tough task to overhaul the Briton at the top of the standings.

Putin to meet depleted Russian team ahead of Rio Games

President Vladimir Putin will give a personal send-off on Wednesday to a diminished Russian Olympic team who travel to the Rio Games even as global sports bodies mull over the eligibility of Russian competitors. The International Olympic Committee threw Russia a lifeline on Sunday, ignoring calls for the national team to be banned over allegations of state-backed doping and giving international sports federations the final say on whether individual Russian athletes could compete in Brazil.

Stenson, Mickelson bring their fireworks show to PGA

Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson forged an epic duel in the final round of the British Open and they ride into the season's final major, the PGA Championship at Baltusrol, on a wave of momentum and inextricably linked in golf lore. That may seem odd in a sport where there is a winner and a loser, but the masterly battle between winner Stenson, who fired a record-tying 63, and runner-up Mickelson, who shot 65 to finish 11 shots ahead of third place at Royal Troon, set a standard for major golf finishes.

Federer to miss Olympics and rest of season with knee problem

Roger Federer has pulled out of the Rio Olympics and will miss the rest of the season, including the U.S. Open, because he needs "more extensive rehabilitation" to prolong his career after knee surgery earlier this year. Last month he described how "one stupid move" sparked a chain of bad luck - which resulted in left knee surgery in February and sitting out the French Open with a back injury - culminating in Tuesday's decision to end his wretched season.

Stepanovs say drug cheats will compete in Rio

Russian drug cheats will be competing at next month's Rio Olympics, the whistleblowers who helped uncover the country's doping scandal have told the BBC. Vitaly Stepanov, who worked for Russia's anti-doping agency, and his wife, former drugs cheat Yulia Stepanova, helped lift the lid on Russian doping in a series of documentaries by German broadcaster ARD.

Driver may be key to solving Baltusrol at PGA Championship

The hectic major golf season comes to a close with the PGA Championship at venerable Baltusrol Golf Club starting on Thursday, a classic course where accuracy with the driver could be the key to victory. World number one Jason Day defends his PGA title on a 7,428-yard course that plays to a par of 70 with two finishing par-five holes that may provide some dramatics in determining the last major champion of 2016.

Masters winner Willett says time to end Augusta hangover

Masters champion Danny Willett's game has struggled since his unlikely win at Augusta National, but the Englishman says he is ready to get back on track at this week's PGA Championship. Since winning the green jacket in April for his first major, the 28-year-old Willett has tied for 37th at the U.S. Open, tied for 53rd at the British Open, missed the cut at the Players Championship and had some poor finishes on the European Tour.

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.

IOC's Bach is part of doping problem, says discus champion Harting

Germany's Olympic discus champion Robert Harting has launched a stinging attack on International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach, describing him as part of the problem in the fight against doping. The IOC on Sunday rejected calls for Russia to be banned from next month's Rio Games over its doping record, leaving international sports federations to decide whether individual athletes should be allowed to compete.

07/26/2016 19:52