Thursday, March 31, 2016

Azarenka avenges Kerber loss to reach Miami final

(Reuters) - In-form Victoria Azarenka battled past an ailing but determined second seed Angelique Kerber to set up a Miami Open final showdown against Svetlana Kuznetsova with a 6-2 7-5 victory on Thursday.


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Durant drives Thunder to win over undermanned Clippers

(The Sports Xchange) - Kevin Durant scored 31 points to lead Oklahoma City to a 119-117 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.











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Confident Cavaliers shred Nets in Cleveland

(The Sports Xchange) - The Golden State Warriors might be marching to the best record in league history, but Kyrie Irving still believes the Cleveland Cavaliers are marching toward a championship.


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Munoz, Miyazato lead way at Mission Hills

(Reuters) - Azahara Munoz burst out of a form slump at an opportune time and Ai Miyazato's renaissance continued at the ANA Inspiration on Thursday as the pair shared the opening round lead in the first women's major of the year.











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Nishikori fends off Monfils in last eight

(Reuters) - Sixth seed Kei Nishikori withstood a blistering early assault, then saved five match points before battling past Frenchman Gael Monfils 4-6 6-3 7-6(3) in a bruising quarter-final at the Miami Open on Thursday.


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From NFL to women's soccer, lawyer is thorn in side of sports leagues

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jeffrey Kessler may not be a household name. But when his signature appears on a lawsuit against a major sports organization, league officials know they are up against a hard-nosed litigator who has built a career taking on sports' most powerful interests.











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Power hitter Johnson in early tie for Houston lead

(Reuters) - Long-hitting Dustin Johnson, seeking his first PGA Tour victory of the season, stormed into a share of the early lead with a scintillating eagle-birdie finish to the opening round of the Houston Open on Thursday.


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Spieth may never repeat 2015 heroics, says Strange

(Reuters) - Double U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange believes Jordan Spieth may never repeat the scintillating form he showed in 2015 that sent him rocketing to number one in the world rankings.











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Canadian hockey fans mourn as country's teams miss NHL playoffs

TORONTO (Reuters) - Hockey fans in Canada, where the sport is followed with religious fervor, mourned on Thursday after learning that for the first time in 46 years no Canadian National Hockey League team will make the Stanley Cup playoffs.


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DraftKings, FanDuel halt contests on college sports in all states: ESPN

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top daily fantasy sports companies DraftKings and FanDuel, in a deal with the NCAA, have agreed to indefinitely suspend contests on college sports in all U.S. states, ESPN reported on Thursday.


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Vandoorne debut puts added focus on Button

MANAMA (Reuters) - Jenson Button expects Stoffel Vandoorne to be a quick learner when the Belgian makes his Formula One race debut for McLaren in Bahrain this weekend after Fernando Alonso was ruled out on medical grounds.











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Motor racing: Vettel in less than fine fettle over qualifying

MANAMA (Reuters) - Formula One bosses would get it wrong even if they were selling ice cream and everybody wanted one flavor, Sebastian Vettel said on Thursday as the sport's qualifying format drew further criticism.


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Canada's Rogers to offer sports channels as streaming services

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's Rogers Communications Inc , the primary national broadcaster of National Hockey League games, said on Thursday it will begin selling its top sports channels online without a cable subscription.











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Dnipro banned from European soccer for one season

ZURICH (Reuters) - Last season's Europa League runners-up Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk were among three teams banned from European competition for one season by UEFA on Thursday for breaching financial regulations.


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Old-fashioned values keep Burnley on course for success

LONDON (Reuters) - Burnley bucked the modern trend when they reacted to relegation from the Premier League by keeping faith with their manager and holding on to the majority of their squad and that decision looks set to pay an immediate dividend.











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Women soccer champs demand equal wages, conditions

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Goalie Hope Solo and four other players for the World Cup champion U.S. women's soccer team have filed a federal wage complaint charging they generate more income for the United States Soccer Federation but are paid less than male players.











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Tennis: Czechs to meet Swiss in Fed Cup semi without Kvitova, Safarova

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Defending champions Czech Republic will bid for a third straight Fed Cup final appearance in April without the firepower of its top players Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova.


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Soccer: Germans on 300,000 euro a man for winning Euro 2016

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's players will each receive a bonus of 300,000 euros if they win Euro 2016, national soccer association DFB said on Thursday, announcing the same scale of top-up payments on offer when the tournament was last played in 2012.


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Soccer: Guardiola faces tough challenge in England - Ferguson

(Reuters) - Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson believes Pep Guardiola will need time to adapt to Premier League soccer when he takes charge of Manchester City in July but has tipped the Spaniard to be a success.


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Briton Turner takes over helm at Volvo Ocean Race

ALICANTE, Spain (Reuters) - Mark Turner, one of the most respected figures in sailing and the man behind Ellen MacArthur’s solo circumnavigation of the world record, has been appointed Volvo Ocean Race CEO.


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Motor racing: Alonso ruled out of Bahrain Grand Prix

MANAMA (Reuters) - McLaren's Fernando Alonso has been ruled out of Sunday's Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix on medical grounds following his huge crash in the Australian season-opener on March 20.











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Australian Jackson quits after knees scupper Rio bid

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian basketball great Lauren Jackson announced her retirement on Thursday after doctors said her battered knees were not up to the rigors of contesting for a fifth Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro this year.


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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Mavericks rally for key win over Knicks

(The Sports Xchange) - The playoff chase wouldn't have died if the Dallas Mavericks lost at home to the lowly New York Knicks on Wednesday.


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More doping tests or less viewers, world champion warns

(Reuters) - Swimming authorities need to increase the number of doping tests to preserve the sport's credibility and stop fans turning away according to Britain's triple world champion and double world record holder Adam Peaty.











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Contrite Russell issues apology over Young filming incident

(Reuters) - Los Angeles Lakers rookie point guard D'Angelo Russell admitted he felt "sick" during a public apology he issued on Wednesday for secretly filming team mate Nick Young talking about women other than fiancé Iggy Azalea.











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Djokovic rolls into Miami semi-finals

(Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic rolled into the semi-finals of the Miami Open with a 6-3 6-3 romp over Tomas Berdych on Wednesday as he continued his pursuit of a fifth title in six years on Key Biscayne.


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Azarenka beats Konta to reach Miami semis

(Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka withstood some early pressure from Britain's Johanna Konta to continue her quest for a third Miami Open title with a 6-4 6-2 quarter-final victory on Wednesday.


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Mercedes expect more of a fight from Ferrari

MANAMA (Reuters) - Formula One champions Mercedes can rack up their eighth successive victory on Sunday but even if they do, a winning streak must end for either Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg in Bahrain.











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Ko, Park head top-flight field for year's first major

(Reuters) - World number one Lydia Ko said she was looking forward to a less stressful major at this week's ANA Inspiration after securing her maiden major title at last year's Evian Championship.


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New skipper Sorenstam to 'handle things differently'

LONDON (Reuters) - New European Solheim Cup captain Annika Sorenstam has promised to handle things differently if there is a repeat of the unsavoury incident that marred last year's defeat by the United States.











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Kenya tables anti-doping bill but set to miss deadline

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya tabled a much-anticipated anti-doping bill in parliament on Wednesday but it will not be passed in time for the country to meet a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) deadline.


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Greece heading for soccer 'Grexit' as FIFA deadline looms

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece moved a step closer to a ban by soccer's governing bodies FIFA and UEFA on Wednesday as talks between the two organizations and the government over state involvement in the sport ended with no agreement.


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'Blade Runner' Pistorius sentencing set for June 13-17 - report

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Disgraced Olympic and Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius will face sentencing in June following his conviction for murdering his girlfriend, Sky News reported on Wednesday.











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Warriors stifle Wizards, win 54th straight home game

(The Sports Xchange) - The Golden State Warriors finally got their defense in high gear Tuesday night, limiting the Washington Wizards to 41.9 percent shooting en route to their 54th consecutive home-court win, a 102-94 victory over an Eastern Conference playoff contender.


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Marquee event cut from Australian calendar

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian golf celebrated Jason Day's return to the top of the world rankings this week but domestically the sport struggles to hit the same heights with a marquee event in Melbourne ditched on Wednesday.











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Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Djokovic into Miami quarters with win over Thiem

(Reuters) - Top-seeded world number one Novak Djokovic beat powerful Austrian Dominic Thiem 6-3 6-4 in the fourth round at the Miami Open in Florida on Tuesday.


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Infantino suggests 40-team finals could come in 2026

MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) - Broadening the World Cup finals to include 40 teams could come about in 2026, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said during a tour of South America on Tuesday.











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Another high seed falls as number five Halep eliminated

(Reuters) - Another high seed fell as number five Simona Halep was sent packing by Timea Bacsinszky 4-6 6-3 6-2 in a Miami Open quarter-final in Florida on Tuesday.


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Greece hoping to avoid FIFA sanctions after Cup move

ATHENS (Reuters) - Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis is hoping his country will avoid international sanctions after cancelling this season's Greek Cup because of crowd violence.


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Brazil court blocks Olympic funds on suspicion of fraud: source

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - A federal court in Brazil has blocked funding for the construction of an Olympic venue on suspicion of corruption, a source involved in preparations said on Tuesday, throwing fresh scrutiny on the Rio de Janeiro Games four months before they start.











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NBC sells $1 billion in ads for Rio Olympics

(Reuters) - NBC, a unit of Comcast Corp , said it had sold $1 billion in national ads for the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, as the network prepares to broadcast a rare Games where some of the most high-profile contests will air live in prime time for U.S. audiences.


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New power unit to get Alonso back on track in Bahrain

LONDON (Reuters) - McLaren's Fernando Alonso will use a spare chassis and new power unit to compete in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, after a crash in Formula One's Australian season-opener wrecked his car.











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Bahrain qualifying will be another fail, says Wolff

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One's much-derided new qualifying format faces more criticism in Bahrain this weekend after a disappointing debut in Australia, Mercedes motorsport director Toto Wolff said on Tuesday.











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Philippine poll body says it will not stop Pacquiao-Bradley fight

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippine elections commission ruled on Tuesday it would not stop a WBO welterweight fight between Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao and U.S. champion Timothy Bradley next month because there was no formal complaint to block it.


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Eubank vs Blackwell fight should have been stopped: surgeon

LONDON (Reuters) - The British middleweight title fight between Chris Eubank Jnr. and Nick Blackwell which left the latter fighter in an induced coma should have been stopped earlier, a leading neurosurgeon said.











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McIlroy skips 'hassle' of U.S. Masters Par 3 contest

LONDON (Reuters) - Grand Slam-chasing Rory McIlroy will not play the traditional Par 3 contest on the eve of next week's U.S. Masters because it is "just too much hassle".


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Improving safety a big ask in largely amateur sport

PARIS (Reuters) - Cycling's authorities are under pressure to improve safety after Belgian rider Antoine Demoitie died following an accident involving a motorbike on Sunday but it will be a tough task in a sport which is still largely amateur.


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Belgian rider Myngheer dies of heart attack in Corsica

(Reuters) - Belgian cycling was plunged into mourning for the second time in two days when the Roubaix Lille Metropole team announced that rider Daan Myngheer had died in hospital in Corsica on Monday after suffering a heart attack.











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Paul hurts ankle as Clippers club Celtics

(The Sports Xchange) - Doc Rivers couldn't resist needling Los Angeles Lakers' fans after Paul Pierce went down with an ankle injury Monday night.


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Monday, March 28, 2016

No Miami final for Murray after Dimitrov upset

MIAMI (Reuters) - Andy Murray, accustomed to going deep into the Miami Open, was derailed in the third round on Monday, falling 6-7(1) 6-4 6-3 to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.











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Hawks hang on for fourth straight win

(The Sports Xchange) - As strange as it sounds, Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer prefers that his players experience a close game every now and then.


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Williams' bid for ninth Miami title ends

MIAMI (Reuters) - Serena Williams' bid for a ninth Miami Open title came to shock end when the world number one was beaten 6-7(3) 6-1 6-2 in the fourth round by 15th-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova on Monday.


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Free agent safety Abdullah retires over concussion concerns

(Reuters) - Former Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings safety Husain Abdullah announced his retirement on Monday, citing the five concussions he incurred in his seven-year National Football League career.











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Ex-Honduran president pleads guilty in U.S. in FIFA bribery case

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Honduran President Rafael Callejas pleaded guilty on Monday to U.S. charges that he participated in bribery schemes that are under investigation at soccer's world governing body FIFA.


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Petrova denies wrongdoing after positive meldonium test

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgarian triple jumper Gabriela Petrova, runner-up at the 2015 European indoor championships in Prague, has denied any wrong-doing after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium.











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Riders demand probe into Demoitie death

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The Association of Professional Cyclists (CPA) wants an urgent investigation into the death of Belgian Antoine Demoitie at the Gent-Wevelgem classic race over the weekend.


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Sunday, March 27, 2016

Pacers hang on to beat Rockets

(The Sports Xchange) - The odd adventure that has been the Indiana Pacers' 2015-2016 season was on display in all of its glory -- or inconsistency -- on Sunday night in Bankers Life Fieldhouse against the equally up-and-down Houston Rockets.











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Ko survives double-hit to win Kia Classic by four strokes

(Reuters) - Not even a rare double-hit could derail world number one Lydia Ko from winning the Kia Classic by four strokes over Park In-bee in southern California on Sunday.


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Jamie Murray set for British first in doubles rankings

LONDON (Reuters) - Jamie Murray will become Britain's first world number one professional tennis player since computerized rankings were introduced in the 1970s after the ATP World Tour confirmed on Sunday he will take top spot in doubles from Marcelo Melo.











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Day beats Oosthuizen in Match Play final

(Reuters) - Jason Day continued his astonishing streak with an emphatic victory at the WGC-Dell Match Play in Texas on Sunday.











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Australian Open champion Kerber advances in Miami heat

(Reuters) - Second seed Angelique Kerber advanced to the fourth round of the Miami Open when Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens was forced to retire in the third set on Sunday.


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Bulgarian triple jumper Petrova tests positive for meldonium

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgarian triple jumper Gabriela Petrova has tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, joining the long list of athletes, including tennis champion Maria Sharapova, who have recorded positive tests for the drug.


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European silver medalist Pashkevich dies aged 44

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Igor Pashkevich, who won a silver medal at the 1996 European Figure Skating Championships, has died in Miami aged 44, the Figure Skating Federation of Russia (FSFR) said.


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Home discomforts continue for New York City FC

(Reuters) - New York City FC's struggles at Yankee Stadium continued on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man New England Revolution to extend their stuttering start to the season.











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Saturday, March 26, 2016

Ko in the driver’s seat at Kia Classic

(Reuters) - World number one Lydia Ko carded a bogey-free 67 to seize a three-shot lead after three rounds of the Kia Classic in southern California on Saturday.


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Hawks remain hot, end Pistons' winning streak

(The Sports Xchange) - Quietly and efficiently, the Atlanta Hawks keep piling up victories. The team that headed into the Eastern Conference playoffs last season as the top seed could be this season's darkhorse.


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Thunder slide by shorthanded Spurs

(The Sports Xchange) - The Thunder chose rhythm and the Spurs chose relaxation Saturday night in Oklahoma City.











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Serena Williams takes another step to ninth Miami title

(Reuters) - Serena Williams won her 750th career match to stay on track for her ninth Miami Open title when she beat Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan 7-5 6-3 in the third round in Florida on Saturday.


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Poulter leads by one stroke at Puerto Rico Open

(Reuters) - Ian Poulter, without a win in more than four years, birdied two of the final four holes to grab the third-round lead at the Puerto Rico Open on Saturday.











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Nadal retires from match for first time in six years

(Reuters) - Spaniard Rafa Nadal retired during a match for the first time in more than six years when he quit during his second-round encounter against Damir Dzumhur at the Miami Open on Saturday.


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Spieth eliminated from Match Play as McIlroy, Day advance

(Reuters) - World number one Jordan Spieth was eliminated from the WGC-Dell Match Play in Texas on Saturday but second-ranked Jason Day and defending champion Rory McIlroy went through to the quarter-finals.











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California Chrome wins Dubai Cup

DUBAI (Reuters) - California Chrome, ridden by Victor Espinoza, won the $10 million Dubai World Cup on Saturday.


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We need head-to-head rivalries to switch on fans: Coe

LONDON (Reuters) - Athletics needs more head-to-head rivalries to reach younger fans who have switched off from a sport that has become boring, according to IAAF president Sebastian Coe.


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Warriors chalk up 52nd straight home win

(The Sports Xchange) - The Golden State Warriors took advantage of a short-handed Dallas Mavericks squad to record a 52nd consecutive home-court victory, riding another record-setting 3-point-shooting performance to a hard-earned 128-120 win.


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Hernandez goal sets up Mexico's 3-0 win over Canada

(Reuters) - Javier Hernandez scored in the 31st minute to set Mexico on the way for a 3-0 away victory over Canada in 2018 World Cup qualifying in Vancouver on Friday.











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Friday, March 25, 2016

Bonilla equalizer keeps El Salvador third after 2-2 draw

(Reuters) - Winger Nelson Bonilla headed in a late equalizer to give El Salvador a 2-2 draw at home to bitter rivals Honduras in a keenly contested CONCACAF 2018 World Cup qualifier that ended with wild celebrations by the home fans on Friday.











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Guatemala shock United States 2-0 in World Cup qualifier

(Reuters) - Guatemala scored a major upset on Friday with a 2-0 home win over the United States in 2018 World Cup qualifying.


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Korean Shin leads Ko, Lang by one at Kia Classic

(Reuters) - South Korean Jenny Shin shot a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Kia Classic in southern California on Friday.


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Costa Rica draw 1-1 in Jamaica, stay three points clear

(Reuters) - Johnny Acosta's 68th-minute equaliser earned Costa Rica a 1-1 draw with Jamaica in Kingston on Friday that keeps them top of Group B in the CONCACAF 2018 World Cup qualifiers.











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Campos maintains lead in hometown Puerto Rico Open

(Reuters) - Local favorite Rafael Campos rode the support of another enthusiastic gallery to maintain a one-shot lead over George McNeill after the second round at the Puerto Rico Open on Friday.


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McIlroy and Johnson to meet in knockout phase at Match Play

(Reuters) - Defending champion Rory McIlroy and British Open champion Zach Johnson will meet in the sweet 16 knockout phase at the WGC-Dell Match Play, after winning their respective matches in Texas on Friday.











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Return to winning form for Aussie Open champion Kerber

(Reuters) - Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber bounced back after two early tournament exits when she won her second-round match at the Miami Open on Friday.


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Day advances at Match Play as Casey withdraws

(Reuters) - Jason Day, who has been battling a back injury, clinched a place in this weekend's knockout phase of the WGC-Dell Match Play when Englishman Paul Casey withdrew after six holes due to illness, with the score all square.


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Federer pulls out of Miami Open with virus

MIAMI (Reuters) - Roger Federer's return from knee surgery will have to wait after the Swiss maestro withdraw from his second-round match at the Miami Open on Friday because of a stomach virus.











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Skier Picabo Street to be cleared of assaulting father: attorney

(Reuters) - Assault and domestic violence charges against U.S. Olympic gold medalist skier Picabo Street are expected to be dismissed, her attorney said on Friday, a day after prosecutors moved to drop the case stemming from an incident with her father.











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IAAF not protective of drug cheats, says Coe

LONDON (Reuters) - The IAAF ruling body of athletics is proactive in tackling doping and not protective of drug cheats, according to president Sebastian Coe.


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Ex-Honduran president to plead guilty in U.S. FIFA case

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Honduran President Rafael Callejas is expected to plead guilty on Monday to U.S. charges stemming from his involvement in bribery schemes under investigation at soccer's world governing body FIFA, according to a court document.


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Federer pulls out of Miami Open with virus

MIAMI (Reuters) - Roger Federer's return from knee surgery will have to wait after the Swiss maestro withdraw from his second-round match at the Miami Open on Friday because of a stomach virus, tournament officials said.











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Chinese anti-doping agency denies swimming cover up

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Anti-Doping Agency says there has been no "cover up" of positive doping tests by the country's swimmers and that the results of its investigations will be released in line with regulations, the official Xinhua news agency has reported.











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Thursday, March 24, 2016

Drug policy defended after report of 11 failed tests

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The embattled Australian Football League have defended their policy for illicit drug use after local media reported that 11 players from one of the indigenous code's top clubs allegedly tested positive during the off-season.


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Thunder win sixth straight game

(The Sports Xchange) - Oklahoma City has been on winning streaks before. In fact this season alone, they have had runs of six consecutive wins twice.











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Pacers' Turner celebrates birthday in style

(The Sports Xchange) - With his parents in town to help celebrate his 20th birthday, Indiana Pacers rookie Myles Turner wanted to mark the significance of the day with specific numbers Thursday night against the New Orleans Pelicans.











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New Olympic champion wants Russia barred from Rio Games

(Reuters) - Australian race walker Jared Tallent has said it would be a disgrace to have to compete at the Rio de Janeiro Games in August against the man who cheated him out of London Olympic gold.


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Park among co-leaders, Ko one back at Kia Classic

(Reuters) - South Korean Park In-bee produced a bogey-free five-under 67 to join Ai Miyazato, Brittany Lang and Jodi Ewart Shadoff at the top of the Kia Classic leaderboard on Thursday, with world number one Lydia Ko a shot behind after a strong back nine.


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Home favorite Campos claims first-round lead in Puerto Rico

(Reuters) - Rafael Campos conjured up memories of Chi Chi Rodriguez when he shrugged off strong afternoon winds to take the first-round lead in his hometown tournament at the Puerto Rico Open on Thursday.


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Federer comes clean on how he injured knee bathing twins

(Reuters) - Roger Federer, not known for serious slip-ups in his flowing run to a record 17 grand slam singles titles, has come clean about the left knee injury that sidelined him for nearly two months.











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Former Baltimore Raven tackle Terrence Cody jailed for animal cruelty

(Reuters) - Former Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Terrence Cody was sentenced on Thursday to nine months in a Maryland jail on charges he starved his dog to death, a prosecutor said.


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Spieth on fire, Mickelson ekes out rocky win at Match Play

(Reuters) - Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson won their respective matches at the WGC-Dell Match Play in Texas on Thursday to retain perfect records but did so in contrasting fashion.











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Rio cancels cycling test because velodrome is not ready

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Rio Olympics organizers have canceled the only test event for the indoor cycling at this year's Games because the velodrome will not be ready in time, a spokesman said on Thursday.


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Browns sign former Redskins quarterback Griffin

(The Sports Xchange) - Quarterback Robert Griffin III signed with the Cleveland Browns.


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IOC says ready to sign draft Kuwait deals to lift ban

BERLIN (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is ready to sign either of two draft deals it says it had agreed in principle with Kuwait that would lift the ban on the country competing at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, it said on Thursday.











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Warriors coach says team chasing Bulls' 72-win record

(Reuters) - The defending champion Golden State Warriors are closing in on the best record in NBA history and the team have every intention of pursuing the mark rather than resting players in preparation for another Finals push.


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Dutch legend Cruyff dies aged 68

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Johan Cruyff, one of soccer's greatest players and most influential and visionary coaches, died aged 68 on Thursday after a five-month battle with lung cancer.











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NFL research undercounted diagnosed concussions: report

(Reuters) - The National Football League's research into the dangers of head injuries undercounted diagnosed concussions, making them appear less frequent than they actually were, the New York Times reported on Thursday.


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California Chrome ready to justify favorite tag in Dubai

DUBAI (Reuters) - California Chrome is again favorite for the $10 million Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race, although the stallion will have to outpace a field packed with fellow American thoroughbreds to better last year’s second place.


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Adlington calls for full investigation into swimming

LONDON (Reuters) - Double Olympic gold medalist Rebecca Adlington has called for a 'full-on investigation' into claims of widespread doping in Russian and Chinese swimming.











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Russian race walker Kirdyapkin stripped of 2012 Olympic gold

LONDON (Reuters) - Russian Sergey Kirdyapkin will be stripped of the 50km walk gold medal he won at the 2012 London Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld an appeal by the IAAF against the Russian anti-doping agency (RUSADA).











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Gymnastics venue for Tokyo 2020 to be made into permanent facility

(Reuters) - Organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics announced that the planned temporary venue for gymnastics will be converted to a permanent facility by 2019.


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Partnering Pettersen is Olympic dream for Martens

LONDON (Reuters) - It may be a fanciful notion but Norwegian professional Caroline Martens is being driven this year by a powerful desire to play at the Olympics alongside her compatriot and close friend Suzann Pettersen.


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Curry and Thompson break open close game as Warriors continue run

(The Sports Xchange) - Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 18 third-quarter points, allowing the Golden State Warriors to break open a close game en route to a 114-98 victory over the rival Los Angeles Clippers.


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Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Late slump leaves Scott ruing 'pathetic' match play finish

(Reuters) - Adam Scott has been the red-hot player on the PGA Tour this season but the WGC-Dell Match Play tournament continued to be a thorn in his side as the world number six wasted a golden opportunity to record a rare win on Wednesday.


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Del Potro to face Federer in matchup of comebacks

(Reuters) - Juan Martin del Potro's comeback trail will collide with Roger Federer's after the Argentine won his opening Miami Open match against compatriot Guido Pella on Wednesday.











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Teens, amateurs using steroids, says official

(Reuters) - The recent wave of positive tests has thrust sports doping back in the headlines but it is not just athletes seeking to enhance performance who are taking banned substances, a Norwegian anti-doping official has told Reuters.


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Jason Day wins match, tweaks back at WGC-Dell Match Play

(Reuters) - Jason Day was among the winners in Wednesday's opening day of the WGC-Dell Match Play, but the Australian world number two left the Austin Country Club course clutching his back heading for treatment.











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Vault champion Yang suffers injury, unlikely for Rio - media

(Reuters) - Olympic vault champion Yang Hak-seon is likely to miss the Rio de Janeiro Games due to an Achilles injury, state media reported.


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Former ballplayer, sportscaster Joe Garagiola dead at age 90

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Former Major League catcher Joe Garagiola, who achieved more lasting fame as a sports announcer and television host after his retirement from baseball, died on Wednesday at the age of 90.


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Former ballplayer, sportscaster Joe Garagiola dead at age 90

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Former Major League catcher Joe Garagiola, who enjoyed a long career as a sports announcer and television host after his retirement from baseball, died on Wednesday at the age of 90.


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Judge dismisses ex-LA Clippers owner Sterling's lawsuit vs NBA

(Reuters) - A federal judge has dismissed former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling's lawsuit accusing the National Basketball Association of antitrust violations for forcing him to sell the franchise in 2014.











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NFL looking at playing regular season game in China

(Reuters) - National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Wednesday that China is too big a market to ignore and the league is working on holding a regular season game there within the next couple of years.











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Swimming body FINA ready to probe Russia allegations

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Swimming's world body FINA promised on Wednesday to investigate "as a matter of utmost urgency" new allegations of Russian doping if they could be substantiated by evidence.


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Brazil sports minister pushed out five months before Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil's Sports Minister George Hilton has been pushed out of his job just five months before the country hosts the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Presidential Chief of Staff Jaques Wagner said on Wednesday.











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Yankees' A-Rod to retire after 2017 season :ESPN

(Reuters) - Alex Rodriguez plans on retiring at the end of the 2017 Major League Baseball season after playing out his contract with the New York Yankees, ESPN reported on Wednesday.


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League passes automatic ejection rule for 2016 NFL season

(The Sports Xchange) - The NFL approved two more rule changes for the 2016 season on Wednesday, including players being ejected if they commit two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the same game.











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Belgian Debusschere wins local race after Brussels attacks

(Reuters) - Local favorite Jens Debusschere gave cycling-mad Belgium something to cheer about on Wednesday when he won the Dwars door Vlaanderen one-day race in Waregem, a day after the attacks on Brussels.











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Yankees extend reign as MLB's most valuable team: Forbes

(Reuters) - The New York Yankees are Major League Baseball's most valuable team for a 19th consecutive year, coming in at nearly triple the league's average value, according to a survey released by Forbes on Wednesday.


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Russian swimming federation denies doping use allegations: R-sport

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian Swimming Federation on Wednesday rejected foreign media allegations that it was covering up positive tests for doping among its athletes, R-Sport news agency reported.











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Bolt to run in London Anniversary Games

(Reuters) - Six-times Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt will run in the London Anniversary Games ahead of his multiple title defense at the Rio Olympics in August.











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China orders 'ostentation' to be banished from Winter Games

BEIJING (Reuters) - Organizers of the 2022 Winter Olympics must ensure the event is not tainted by "ostentation, waste or luxury", Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said on Wednesday, according to state television.


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Systematic drug use in Russian swimming, says The Times

BERLIN (Reuters) - Russia has undertaken systematic doping in swimming for years, the Times newspaper said on Wednesday, as the nation battles a drugs problem that could prevent the country's track and field squad from competing at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.


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Australian boxer Browne 'devastated' by positive test

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian boxer Lucas "Big Daddy" Browne protested his innocence and said he was "devastated" on Wednesday after failing doping test in wake of his victory in a world title fight two weeks ago.











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Lakers power past short-handed Grizzlies

(The Sports Xchange) - Tony Allen said the Los Angeles Lakers played with more of an edge Tuesday, and the result was a surprising victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.


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'Honey badger' does the hard yakka in Rio rugby bid

SYDNEY (Reuters) - From ploughing through Norwegian snowfields to running in the red dirt of Australia's remote Northwest, Wallabies winger Nick Cummins had prepared himself as best he could for the return to the high octane world of sevens rugby.











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Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Defense carries Thunder past Rockets

(The Sports Xchange) - Playing championship-caliber defense has not been a part of Oklahoma City's resume this season. Despite having the third-best record in the Western Conference, they have suffered through more fourth-quarter defensive breakdowns than almost any other team in the NBA.


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With game and talks, Cuba and MLB have their own rapprochement

HAVANA (Reuters) - Major League Baseball and Cuba reinstated talks on a player transfer agreement on Tuesday, taking advantage of an exhibition game in Havana that coincided with U.S. President Barack Obama's historic visit to Cuba, a senior MLB official said.











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Djokovic apologizes for comments on gender pay

(Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic has apologizes for his comments suggesting tennis's top men should get paid more than women after he drew criticism from current and former players.


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N.Y. lawmakers clear way for mixed martial arts after years-long ban

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's state Assembly on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to legalize mixed martial arts bouts, effectively ending the last remaining statewide ban on the sport in the United States.


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Vizer says judo has nothing to fear from Russian scandals

LONDON (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin's favorite sport of judo is not in danger of becoming embroiled in the doping scandals rocking Russian sport in the run up to this year's Rio Olympics, international federation head Marius Vizer said on Tuesday.


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McIlroy gearing up for Match Play defense on Spieth's turf

(Reuters) - Rory McIlroy is shifting into his head-to-head mode for the WGC-Dell Match Play tournament starting on Wednesday, and believes a successful defense of his title would set him up perfectly for next month's Masters.











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Former FIFA official Takkas extradited to U.S.: Swiss judiciary

ZURICH (Reuters) - Costas Takkas, former secretary-general of the Cayman Islands Football Association, was extradited from Switzerland to the United States on Tuesday as part of a crackdown on alleged corruption in soccer, Swiss judicial authorities said.











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Women, kids playing soccer rival gridiron players in concussions

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The National Football League has become the primary focus of concussion discussion in sports, but a former Major League Soccer MVP says it is high time to shine a light on the women and children on fields of play.











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Yahoo to suspend Daily Fantasy Sports in New York

(Reuters) - Yahoo Inc will suspend offering paid Daily Fantasy Sports contests in New York from Wednesday, a Yahoo spokesman said on Tuesday.


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Ex-NFL star Sharper faces 20 years in prison under plea deal

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Former NFL star Darren Sharper, accused of drugging and raping women in four states, could spend up to 20 years in prison under a plea deal accepted by a federal judge in New Orleans on Tuesday.


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FIFA opens proceedings over 2006 German World Cup bid

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA's ethics watchdog has started formal proceedings against six individuals, including Franz Beckenbauer, over the awarding of hosting rights to Germany for the 2006 World Cup, world soccer's governing body said on Tuesday.


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Aussie 'Brainband' joins fight against concussion

SYDNEY (Reuters) - If a couple of Australians have their way, the days when an athlete can take a big hit on the field then groggily pick himself up and head back into the fray will soon be gone.


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New York lawmakers expected to clear way for mixed martial arts fights

ALBANY, N.Y. (Reuters) - New York is poised to join the rest of the country in legalizing mixed martial arts (MMA) fights, as the state Assembly prepares to pass a bill to end a ban on the full-contact sport, a measure the Senate has approved on multiple occasions over the years.


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Kenya unlikely to beat April WADA deadline: legislator

ELDORET, Kenya (Reuters) - Kenya is unlikely to beat the April 5 deadline set by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to put in place laws needed to make it "code-compliant", a Kenyan legislator who is playing a key role in the process said on Tuesday.


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Russian wrestlers may miss Rio Games because of doping

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's wrestling team may not compete at the Rio Olympics after recording "tens" of positive doping results, the head of the Russian Wrestling Federation (WFR) said on Tuesday, further inflaming a widespread cheating scandal in the country.











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Tournament chief Moore resigns over controversial comments

(Reuters) - Raymond Moore has stepped down as CEO and tournament director of the BNP Paribas Open following controversial comments he made about women's tennis, the tournament announced on Monday.


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Monday, March 21, 2016

Spieth grouped with former college rival at WGC Match Play

(Reuters) - Jordan Spieth will face a familiar foe at this week's WGC-Dell Match Play tournament after he was drawn in the same group as former college rival Justin Thomas on Monday.











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Cavaliers blast Nuggets, clinch Central title

(The Sports Xchange) - It isn't the title they ultimately desire, but it's a start. The real work is yet to come for the Cleveland Cavaliers.


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Lights go out on Brazil ahead of friendly match

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's Olympic soccer team trained in the headlights of a lorry on Monday after the floodlights failed at their training ground, local news media reported.











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CAS poised to rule on bans for six Russian athletes

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will make a final ruling this week on "selective" doping bans handed out to six Russian athletes, including four Olympic champions.











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Hornets stage huge comeback, stun Spurs

(The Sports Xchange) - It was another episode of Linsanity, and this time it was more surreal than ever.


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FanDuel, DraftKings shut down daily fantasy sports games in New York

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Top daily fantasy sports companies FanDuel and DraftKings agreed to halt their business in New York on Monday, betting on a legislative path to make the games legal after a months-long fight with the state's attorney general.


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ATP says Moore's comments about women in 'poor taste'

(Reuters) - The ATP denounced BNP Paribas Open chief executive Raymond Moore's disparaging comments about female players while saying tournaments should decide how much to pay women.











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Howe, Donato among eight cleared by Italy of doping claims

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Olympic Committee (CONI) has acquitted eight athletes, including bronze medalist Fabrizio Donato and former European champion long jumper Andrew Howe, of failing to supply doping samples.











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U.S. top court rejects EA Sports' appeal over Madden videogame

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected Electronic Arts Inc's bid to revive its free speech defense in a lawsuit filed by former NFL players who accused the videogame maker of using their likenesses in the popular Madden NFL series without permission or proper compensation.











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Grosjean wins F1's first Driver of the Day award

(Reuters) - Frenchman Romain Grosjean has won Formula One's first Driver of the Day award after finishing sixth for the new U.S.-owned Haas team in Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.


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Qatar may house World Cup fans in Bedouin-style tents

DOHA (Reuters) - Qatar may house thousands of football fans in Bedouin-style tents in desert areas close to stadiums during the 2022 World Cup as tumbling oil prices have forced the tiny Gulf state to delay projects, including building hotels.











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Meldonium can take months to leave body, says drug maker

LONDON (Reuters) - The drug that has produced more than 100 positive doping tests since being outlawed on Jan. 1 can take "several months" to completely leave the body, the manufacturer of meldonium told Reuters on Monday.


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Meldonium tests reignite doping scandal in Russian athletics

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Four Russian track-and-field athletes have tested positive for the banned drug meldonium, Russia's athletics chief said on Monday, a disclosure that further undermines Moscow's efforts to overturn a doping ban in time for the Rio Olympics.


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FIFA scandal was China's chance, says top sponsor

BEIJING (Reuters) - Wang Jianlin, China's richest man, said FIFA's corruption scandal was an opportunity for big Chinese companies to further the country's lofty footballing ambitions by undertaking sponsorship deals with the global governing body.











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Sunday, March 20, 2016

Davis strike gives Sporting Kansas City win over Toronto

(Reuters) - Sporting Kansas City claimed their third straight victory to start the Major League Soccer season after Brad Davis's first goal for the club earned them a 1-0 win over Toronto FC on Sunday.


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Kim ties LPGA scoring record with 27-under win in Phoenix

(Reuters) - South Korean Kim Sei-young matched the LPGA scoring record in relation to par when she finished at 27-under to win the JTBC Founders Cup by five strokes in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday.











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Nowitzki joins storied list with 40-point performance for Mavs

(The Sports Xchange) - German Dirk Nowitzki continues to pile up the years and the points.


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Ethiopians shake off doping concerns to strike gold

Portland, Oregon (Reuters) - Ethiopia, one of five countries under the watchful eye of the IAAF over concern for their drug-testing systems, dominated the long races to finish second at the world indoor championships that ended on Sunday.


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Nothing off table as athletics looks forward: Coe

PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - Track and field fans were offered a small glimpse of the future at the world indoor championships this week, with athletics supremo Sebastian Coe promising nothing is off the table as he tries to rebuild the savaged sport.











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U.S. ends world indoors with record medal haul

PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - The United States closed out the world indoor athletics championships with another gold rush and a record medal haul on Sunday, while Ethiopia emerged from the doping shadows and into the spotlight by dominating the distance events.


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Day wins Bay Hill Invitational by one stroke

(Reuters) - Jason Day emulated his boyhood idol Tiger Woods when he clinched a one-stroke victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida on Sunday.


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Djokovic crushes Raonic to win a fifth Indian Wells title

(Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic produced sublime form to clinch an unprecedented fifth men's title at Indian Wells with a 6-2 6-0 demolition of big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic in the men's final on Sunday.











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Azarenka stuns erratic Williams in Indian Wells final

(Reuters) - Former world number one Victoria Azarenka took advantage of an error-prone display by Serena Williams to win her second BNP Paribas Open title with a 6-4 6-4 victory in Sunday's final at Indian Wells in California.


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First meldonium case revealed in Russian athletics

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's first track-and-field athlete has tested positive for meldonium since the substance was banned, heaping further pressure on the country's athletics federation as it fights to have a doping ban repealed in time for the 2016 Olympic Games.


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First Russian sprinter tests positive for meldonium: TASS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian sprinter Nadezhda Kotlyarova has tested positive for meldonium, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency since Jan. 1 this year, TASS news agency reported on Sunday.











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Chawrasia delights home fans with two-stroke Indian Open win

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - SSP Chawrasia staved off the challenge of compatriot Anirban Lahiri and South Korean Wang Jeung-hun to end a run of second-place finishes by winning his home Indian Open for his third European Tour title on Sunday.


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Grosjean thrilled as Haas score points on debut

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Haas driver Romain Grosjean celebrated wildly as he savored a 'winning' feeling at Sunday's Australian Grand Prix with his sixth-place finish ensuring the U.S.-owned team scored eight points on their Formula One debut.


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Rosberg wins dramatic season-opener in Melbourne

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Nico Rosberg won a dramatic Australian Grand Prix on Sunday after a bungled tire strategy dashed Sebastian Vettel's chances of a season-opening triumph and Fernando Alonso survived a spectacular crash that left his McLaren wrecked.


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Alonso walks away from huge crash in Australia

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Fernando Alonso walked away from a spectacular crash that left his smashed McLaren scattered across the Albert Park circuit and brought a halt to the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.











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Barbara Pierre targets Olympics after world indoor victory

Portland, Oregon, (Reuters) - Fast-starting Barbara Pierre is ready for a run at the Rio Olympics.


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Saturday, March 19, 2016

New qualifying format scrapped for Bahrain

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Formula One bosses have agreed to ditch the new qualifying format after it was roundly panned at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and revert to the old system for the second race of the season in Bahrain.











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Williams' Bottas handed grid penalty for gearbox change

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Williams driver Valtteri Bottas has been handed a five-place grid penalty for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix (0500 GMT) after an unscheduled gear box change and the Finn will now start from 16th place.


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Spurs beat Warriors, stay unbeaten at home

(The Sports Xchange) - LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and the San Antonio defense held Golden State to a season-low offensive output as the Spurs made a statement with an 87-79 victory over the Warriors on Saturday to remain unbeaten at home.











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No happy return for LeBron in Miami

(The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James has yet to win at AmericanAirlines Arena since leaving Miami and that trend continued Saturday night as the Miami Heat got 24 points from Dwayne Wade and defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 122-101.


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Raonic overpowers Goffin to reach Indian Wells final

(Reuters) - Big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic overcame a second-set wobble to reach the final of the BNP Paribas Open with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory over Belgian David Goffin in California on Saturday.











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Day stays two ahead at Bay Hill

(Reuters) - Australia's Jason Day, seeking his eighth PGA Tour victory, rebounded from a stumbling start to preserve a two-shot lead after Saturday's third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida.


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Spain and Mexico declared non-compliant with WADA code

(Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) declared Spain and Mexico non-compliant with its code on Saturday after both failed to meet a March 18 deadline for implementing new rules.


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Frenchman Demare wins Milan-San Remo

(Reuters) - Frenchman Arnaud Demare claimed the biggest win of his career when he sprinted to victory in the Milan-San Remo despite having crashed earlier in the 295-km classic on Saturday.


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Vettel says Ferrari have more pace for race

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The gap between dominant Mercedes and the chasing pack appeared as wide as ever after Saturday's much-criticized qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix but Sebastian Vettel still expects his Ferrari to challenge during the race.


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Rossi to race on with Yamaha until 2018

(Reuters) - Italian MotoGP great Valentino Rossi plans to keep on racing until he is nearly 40 after signing a new contract for the 2017 and 2018 seasons with Yamaha that should see out his career at the Japanese manufacturer.


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Hamilton takes pole in farcical qualifying

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Champion Lewis Hamilton took pole for Mercedes at Formula One's season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Saturday but condemnation for the revamped qualifying was almost as quick as the Briton's fastest lap.











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Serena battles past Radwanska to reach Indian Wells final

(Reuters) - Serena Williams overcame a sluggish start to forge past Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 7-6(1) and move into the final of the BNP Paribas Open on Friday.











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Gold at last for Canada's Theisen-Eaton

Portland, Ore (Reuters) - The world finally saw at the world indoor championships on Friday what Brianne Theisen-Eaton's husband sees every day.


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Friday, March 18, 2016

Westbrook, Durant power Thunder to win over 76ers

(The Sports Xchange) - Russell Westbrook set the tone and Kevin Durant finished the job.











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Lowry scores 32 in Raptors' victory over Celtics

(The Sports Xchange) - Despite concluding a stretch of four games in five nights, with travel, the Toronto Raptors were able to pour it on in the fourth quarter to outscore the Celtics 26-17 and defeat Boston 105-91 Friday.


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Ex-NBA player Chapman get probation for shoplifting in Arizona

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Former Phoenix Suns basketball player Rex Chapman was sentenced on Friday to 18 months of supervised probation for shoplifting more than $15,000 in merchandise from an Apple store in Arizona, court officials said.


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Baltimore Ravens player Tray Walker dies after motorcycle accident

(Reuters) - Baltimore Ravens cornerback Tray Walker died on Friday of injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident near Miami, his agent said.











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Nadal fends off Nishikori to reach last four

(Reuters) - Fourth seed Rafa Nadal survived a few anxious moments before booking his place in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open with a see-sawing 6-4 6-3 victory over Japanese Kei Nishikori in California on Friday.


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Ferrari boss expects 'supermarket queue' in qualifying

(Reuters) - Formula One's new qualifying format could see cars queuing up like shoppers at a supermarket checkout when it debuts in Australia on Saturday, according to Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene.


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Sizzling Day moves five ahead at Bay Hill

(Reuters) - Jason Day, who has worked hard to hone a "killer instinct", drained a 35-foot birdie putt on his final hole to storm five shots clear midway through Friday's second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida.


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Colts to honor Manning with statue, retired number

(Reuters) - Retired quarterback Peyton Manning, cut loose by Indianapolis four years ago after he lost a season to injury, will have his Colts' uniform No. 18 retired and a statue of him erected outside the stadium, the NFL club said on Friday.











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Horse racing-Don Cossack wins Cheltenham Gold Cup

CHELTENHAM, England (Reuters) - Don Cossack, the 9-4 favorite ridden by Bryan Cooper and trained by Gordon Elliott, won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Fridayas Irish punters celebrated and bookmakers took another pounding.


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Exclusive: Kuwait twice rejected deal to lift Olympic ban - IOC

BERLIN (Reuters) - The government of Kuwait twice refused to sign a deal hammered out in negotiations with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that would have lifted the Olympic ban on the country, the IOC said on Friday.











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FIFA signs sponsorship deal with China's Wanda Group

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA has signed a sponsorship deal with China's Wanda Group, soccer's world governing body said in a statement on Friday.











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CAS restores world records denied to British swimmers

LONDON (Reuters) - Four British swimmers, including triple world champion Adam Peaty, should be awarded world records they were denied in 2014 after officials failed to test them for a specific drug, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Friday.











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Still uninsured for your Latin American event? Then expect a Zika exclusion

LONDON (Reuters) - Organizers of rock concerts and conferences in Latin America or fringe events at the Rio Olympics beware: if you still need insurance to cover cancellation due to the Zika virus, it's probably too late.


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Rain dashes hopes of Vettel statement

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Sebastian Vettel's pre-race declaration that Ferrari had a car to challenge Mercedes' dominance went untested on Friday as the four-times world champion was repeatedly thwarted by rain during practice at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.


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China's Xi orders clean Winter Games after corruption scandals

BEIJING (Reuters) - China must hold a Winter Olympics that is "clean as the snow" when it hosts the event in 2022, President Xi Jinping said on Friday, after two corruption scandals involving Chinese officials linked to the Games.











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Suhr, Lavillenie vault to indoor world glory

PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - Pole vaulters Renaud Lavillenie and Jenn Suhr claimed the first gold medals of the World Indoor Championships with record-breaking clearances on Thursday, while IAAF chief Sebastian Coe was reminded that restoring fan trust could take time.











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Ravens cornerback Walker injured in motorcycle crash

(Reuters) - Baltimore Ravens cornerback Tray Walker was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident just outside of Miami on Thursday, the Ravens announced.


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Thursday, March 17, 2016

Giant killer Goffin sets up Raonic semi at Indian Wells

(Reuters) - Belgian David Goffin continued his giant-killing run at Indian Wells as he stormed into the last four of the BNP Paribas Open with a 7-6(4) 6-2 upset victory over former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic on Thursday.











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Formula One's 'Halo' protection device on track for 2017

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The prototype "halo" head protection device, aimed at shielding Formula One drivers from flying debris, is on track to be adopted for the 2017 season pending a safety review, race director Charlie Whiting said on Friday.


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Azarenka serves up 'double bagel' to reach semis

(Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka showed little sympathy against an ailing Magdalena Rybarikova as the Belarussian eased to a 6-0 6-0 victory over her Slovak opponent to book a BNP Paribas Open semi-final berth on Thursday.











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Hamilton fastest in opening free practice

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets for Mercedes in a rain-hit first free practice at Formula One's season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Friday. The Briton bided his time until a break between rain squalls late in the 90-minute session at Albert Park and posted a lap of one minute 29.725 seconds, over four-tenths of a second quicker than Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat.


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Spurs stop Trail Blazers to extend home streak

(The Sports Xchange) - LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points apiece to lead five San Antonio players in double figures as the Spurs turned a tight game into a runaway with a dominating third quarter and beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-100 on Thursday to remain unbeaten at home.











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Lowry, DeRozan lead Raptors past Pacers

(The Sports Xchange) - Toronto continues to build a solid case for at least the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and may have what it takes to reel in the Cleveland Cavaliers, who now lead the Raptors by only two games in the loss column.


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Day uses late eagle to vault into Bay Hill lead

(Reuters) - Jason Day crowned a brilliant back nine with an eagle at the 16th to seize a one-stroke lead with a six-under-par 66 in Thursday's opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida.


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Korean trailblazer Pak to retire at season's end

(Reuters) - Five-times major winner and South Korean pioneer Pak Se-ri said on Thursday she would be calling time on her glittering career at the end of the season.











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Gold medals easier to win than fan trust at world indoor athletics

PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - Winning gold medals will prove easier than winning back fan trust, admitted IAAF chief Sebastian Coe as he prepared to open the world indoor athletics championships on Thursday.


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Heptathlon world record could be in Eaton's plans

PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - A third consecutive world indoor heptathlon title may not be the only goal Ashton Eaton has in mind at this week's IAAF world championships.











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FIFA paid Blatter $3.76 million in 2015

ZURICH (Reuters) - Soccer's ruling body FIFA said it paid disgraced former president Sepp Blatter 3.63 million Swiss francs ($3.8 million) last year, publishing his salary for the first time under new governance regulations.


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Federer to make return at next week's Miami Open

(Reuters) - World number three Roger Federer said via Twitter on Thursday that he will return from knee surgery a little earlier than expected at the Miami Open next week.











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Nike cancels launch of new Brazil jersey due to protests

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Sportswear maker Nike said it canceled an event in Rio de Janeiro planned for Thursday to launch the new Brazil soccer shirt, fearing it would be disrupted by protests over President Dilma Rousseff's appointing her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva chief of staff.


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Nike brand chief leaves door open to Sharapova after doping scandal

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nike Inc, which suspended ties with Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova after she failed a drug test, believes disgraced athletes can redeem themselves, global brand head Trevor Edwards said in an interview.


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Russian bobsledder Sergeeva tests positive for meldonium

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian bobsledder Nadezhda Sergeeva, who competed at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, has tested positive for the banned substance meldonium.











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NBA sets sights squarely on India as its new frontier

TORONTO (Reuters) - When the National Basketball Association staged its All-Star Game in Toronto this year it was another subtle sign of a league's global ambitions.











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Kenya says confident of meeting WADA anti-doping compliance deadline

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya said on Thursday it is confident of meeting an April 5 deadline set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to comply with its regulations by passing a law against doping.


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Soccer: England call up Drinkwater for Germany, Dutch friendlies

LONDON (Reuters) - England manager Roy Hodgson called up uncapped Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater on Thursday for this month's friendlies against world champions Germany and Netherlands.











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South Africa rejects FIFA claim of World cup bribe

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa rejects FIFA's claim that a $10-million bribe was paid by the country to win the right to host the World Cup in 2010, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said on Thursday.


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Efimova faces life ban after positive test

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Yulia Efimova faces a life ban after the breaststroke specialist tested positive for meldonium, with her temporary suspension confirmed by the All-Russian Swimming Federation (ARSF) on Thursday.











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Haas not ruling out points on F1 debut in Australia

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - New Formula One team Haas are not ruling out clinching points on debut at Sunday's Australian Grand Prix so long as the 'stars align', according to team principal Guenther Steiner.











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Red Bull, Aston Martin team up to build supercar

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Formula One outfit Red Bull and British luxury carmaker Aston Martin have announced a technology partnership to build an Aston Martin-branded supercar.


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Ferrari can challenge Mercedes this year: Vettel

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Mercedes are deserving favorites to win the Formula One championship again but Ferrari have a car that can challenge the Silver Arrows this year, four-times champion Sebastian Vettel said on Thursday.











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Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Curry hot as Warriors make it 50 straight

(The Sports Xchange) - The Golden State Warriors recorded their 50th consecutive home victory Wednesday night, riding Stephen Curry's 34 points to a 121-85 thumping of the New York Knicks.


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Pats recruitment drive continues with Bennett addition

(Reuters) - The New England Patriots continued their off-season recruitment drive on Wednesday with a trade for Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett.











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Cubs unimpressed by Chicago chewing tobacco ban

(Reuters) - Cubs manager Joe Maddon and pitcher John Lackey have voiced their frustrations after Chicago became the fourth U.S. city to ban to chewing tobacco at sports venues on Wednesday.


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Irving fires Cavs past Mavs in Cleveland

(The Sports Xchange) - Kyrie Irving scored 33 points and came up with a key steal in the final seconds to preserve the Cleveland Cavaliers' 99-98 victory Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks.











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Russians should miss Rio, British runner says

PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - Russian athletes will be missing when the IAAF world indoor championships get underway on Thursday and their global ban for doping should stay in place for the Rio Olympics, British athlete Lynsey Sharp said on Wednesday.











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Wawrinka exits Indian Wells, Nadal scrapes through

(Reuters) - Third seed Stan Wawrinka was sent packing in the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open in California on Wednesday and was very nearly joined by Rafa Nadal, who pulled off a Houdini-like escape to reach the last eight.


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Cuba says still far from deal with MLB on player signings

HAVANA (Reuters) - The Cuban Baseball Federation and Major League Baseball are far from reaching a deal on transferring Cuban players to the United States even with new U.S. rules that could facilitate player signings, a top Cuban baseball official said on Wednesday.











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Former UK Athletics coach handed lifetime ban

LONDON (Reuters) - Former UK Athletics coach George Skafidas has been handed a lifetime ban from sport for doping offences relating to sprinter Bernice Wilson, Britain's anti-doping agency said on Wednesday.


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Former Kenya federation official questions spending priorities

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Ex-Athletics Kenya (AK) board member Noah Ngeny has questioned spending priorities at the crisis-hit federation days after stepping down in protest over a lack of action against doping.


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Rossi and Marquez renew rivalry with Qatar kick-off

LONDON (Reuters) - The MotoGP season kicks off in Qatar this weekend with fresh challenges and old rivalries as Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez square up again for the first time since last year's toxic finale.











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FIFA files for compensation in U.S. as victim of corruption

ZURICH/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global soccer body FIFA has applied to United States authorities for tens of millions of dollars compensation from ex-officials indicted there in the sport's biggest graft scandal for damage done to its reputation and business interests.


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Party over for Hamilton as new season dawns

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton spent the off-season crisscrossing the globe to party with A-list celebrities but Formula One's reigning champion is adamant there will be no hangover when he returns to work at this week's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.


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U.S. sports leagues move to add Sharapova drug to banned list

DETROIT (Reuters) - Several major U.S. sports leagues are pushing to add the drug that led to a positive test for Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova to their banned list, but in many cases they will need player approval before they can hit that goal.











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Djokovic, Nadal tested but advance in California

(Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic broke his opponent late in both sets to eke out a 7-5 7-5 third round victory over an upset-minded Philipp Kohlschreiber on Tuesday as the Serb continued his BNP Paribas Open title defense in California.


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Serena sets up Halep showdown at Indian Wells

(Reuters) - Serena Williams sent down seven aces on her way to a comprehensive 6-2 6-2 victory over Kateryna Bondarenko at the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday, setting up a mouth-watering quarter-final against defending champion Simona Halep.











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Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Spurs depth on display in win vs. Clippers

(The Sports Xchange) - The understood goal of any second unit in the NBA is to do all it can to hold its ground while its team's starters get time to rest. So when the reserves add to a lead or flip the flow of the game from one team to another, it's an unexpected bonus.











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George powers Pacers past Celtics

(The Sports Xchange) - As is usually the case when the Indiana Pacers win, Paul George provided plenty of offense.











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Pats trade away Jones, bring in Cooper and Long

(Reuters) - The New England Patriots made two big personnel moves on Tuesday when it sent Pro Bowl defensive end Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for offensive guard Jonathan Cooper and signed Chris Long.


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Palmer retiring from ceremonial tee shot at Masters

(Reuters) - Arnold Palmer will not join in the ceremonial opening tee shots at this year's Masters due to a lingering shoulder injury, and the four-time winner at Augusta said it was time for him to give up the honor.


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IOC re-tests Beijing, London samples ahead of Rio

BERLIN (Reuters) - Re-testing of hundreds of athletes' samples collected at the London 2012 and Beijing 2008 Games is underway as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) bids to root out cheats ahead of Rio 2016.


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Analysis - Link between football and CTE won't harm NFL brand

(Reuters) - The National Football League's acknowledgement that there is a link between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) will do little to hurt the allure of the seemingly Teflon-coated organization.











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IOC re-tests Beijing, London samples ahead of Rio 2016

BERLIN (Reuters) - Re-testing of hundreds of athletes' samples collected at the London 2012 and Beijing 2008 Games is underway as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) bids to root out cheats ahead of Rio 2016.


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Combative Conte would bring steely resolve to Chelsea

LONDON (Reuters) - Confirmation that Antonio Conte is to stand down as Italy coach after Euro 2016 appears to clear the way for the 46-year-old to take over the reins at Chelsea.











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Sports Direct's Ashley summoned to appear before British lawmakers

LONDON (Reuters) - British lawmakers have formally summoned Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley to answer questions in parliament about the treatment of workers at his company, Britain's biggest sportswear retailer.


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Top NFL official acknowledges link between football and brain disease

(Reuters) - A top NFL official acknowledged for the first time on Monday a link between football-related concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative brain condition caused by repeated blows to the head.











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Dallas Seavey wins Iditarod race for third consecutive year

JUNEAU, Alaska (Reuters) - Veteran Alaska musher Dallas Seavey claimed his third straight Iditarod Sled Dog Race title early on Tuesday morning, crossing the finish line in Nome ahead of his father, Mitch Seavey, for the second straight year.


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U.N. suspends Sharapova as goodwill ambassador: report

(Reuters) - Former tennis world number one Maria Sharapova has been suspended as a goodwill ambassador by the United Nations after admitting she tested positive for the banned substance meldonium at this year's Australian Open.











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Italian prosecutor wants dozens of players probed for betting

LONDON (Reuters) - More than two dozen players who feature in evidence collected from gamblers should be investigated for possible links to betting rings, an Italian prosecutor has told the BBC and BuzzFeed News.


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Giggs ready to take Man United hot seat, says Robson

MANCHESTER (Reuters) - Ryan Giggs is ready to become Manchester United’s next manager if Louis van Gaal is shown the door a year early at the end of this season, former club captain Bryan Robson told Reuters.











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Bencic, Ivanovic make early exits at Indian Wells

(Reuters) - Swiss seventh seed Belinda Bencic was stunned by Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova while former champion Ana Ivanovic was also sent packing in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in California on Monday.


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Hood, Jazz shoot down Cavaliers

(The Sports Xchange) - Taking over games is quickly becoming Rodney Hood's personal trademark.











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Monday, March 14, 2016

Evert stunned by Sharapova news; not by doping in tennis

(Reuters) - Chris Evert said on Monday she was stunned to hear that Maria Sharapova failed a doping test, but not by the fact that there is doping in tennis, claiming that she knew players who doped during her career.


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Second seed Murray ousted by Delbonis at Indian Wells

(Reuters) - World number two Andy Murray squandered a 4-1 lead in the third set before losing a tiebreaker to Argentine left-hander Federico Delbonis and exiting the BNP Paribas Open third round 6-4 4-6 7-6(3) in California on Monday.


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Football grew more than any other U.S. youth sport -survey

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Football was the fastest-growing American sport for young players last year, according to a survey sponsored by the sport's governing body.











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Steelers' Bryant banned one year for substance abuse

(The Sports Xchange) - Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant on Monday was suspended for a year by the NFL for a violation of the league's substance abuse policy.


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FIFA cancels Kuwait World Cup qualifiers

(Reuters) - FIFA has canceled Kuwait's Asian World Cup qualifying matches against Laos and South Korea this month, world soccer's ruling body said on Monday.


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Man United avoid sanction for fans' chants about Hillsborough

(Reuters) - Manchester United will not be punished by UEFA after their supporters chanted about the Hillsborough stadium disaster during the 2-0 Europa League last-16 first-leg loss to arch-rivals Liverpool on Thursday.











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Soccer-Three former S. African officials banned over 2010 matches

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Three more former South African Football Association (SAFA) officials have been banned from the sport in connection with international friendlies played by the national side in 2010, soccer's governing body FIFA said on Monday.











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Cycling: Thomas developing into next Team Sky grand tour rider

PARIS (Reuters) - Geraint Thomas secured his biggest road victory in the Paris-Nice race on Sunday but there could be much more to come for the Briton who is developing into another Team Sky-shaped grand tour champion.


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Athletes and public are demanding answers, says WADA president

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Athletes and millions of sports fans worldwide have demanded answers following the spate of doping and governance scandals which have hit sport recently, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Monday.


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Williams sign Di Resta as reserve driver

LONDON (Reuters) - Williams have appointed ex-Formula One racer Paul Di Resta as their official reserve for the 2016 season starting in Australia this week, the team said on Monday.











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Serena Williams wins third-round match at Indian Wells

(Reuters) - Top seed Serena Williams turned an early challenge into an eventual cakewalk as she beat Russian-born Yulia Putintseva 7-6(2) 6-0 in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in California on Sunday.











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Sunday, March 13, 2016

Schwartzel rides lightning to Valspar victory

(Reuters) - Charl Schwartzel secured his first victory in the United States since the 2011 Masters by beating Bill Haas in a playoff at the Valspar Championship in Florida on Sunday.











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James, Cavaliers cruise past Clippers

(The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James says the Cleveland Cavaliers are hitting their stride.


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Hend denies record charge by Piya to take Thai title

(Reuters) - Scott Hend continued Australia's impressive run on the European Tour this season by holding off the course record charge of home hope Piya Swangarunporn to win the True Thailand Classic on Sunday.


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Highlights of Saturday's NHL games

(The Sports Xchange) - Highlights of Saturday's National Hockey League games:


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Kenyan athletes' rep quits in frustration over doping crisis

NAIROBI (Reuters) - The Kenyan athletes' representative, Noah Ngeny, has quit his post, saying that the country's sporting authorities were not doing enough to tackle a doping crisis.











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Saturday, March 12, 2016

Arena irate after Galaxy sunk by late winner

(Reuters) - Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena lashed out at officials on Saturday after his side surrendered a goal in the 95th minute to lose 1-0 to the Colorado Rapids.


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McEnroe doubts Sharapova was unaware of meldonium ban

(Reuters) - Tennis great John McEnroe finds it hard to believe that Maria Sharapova was unaware she was taking a banned drug that led to her suspension, the seven-times grand slam champion said on Saturday.


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Morris stuns Suhr to take U.S. pole vault title

(Reuters) - Former collegiate champion Sandi Morris stunned world record holder Jenn Suhr to win the pole vault title at the U.S. indoor championships in Portland, Oregon on Saturday.











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Golden State sixth man Iguodala out with sprained ankle

(Reuters) - Golden State Warriors sixth man Andre Iguodala will miss at least two weeks with a sprained left ankle, the team said Saturday. Iguodala was injured during the team's victory over Portland on Friday.











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Highlights of Saturday's NBA games

(The Sports Xchange) - Highlights of Saturday's National Basketball Association games:











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DeRozan leads Raptors over Heat

(The Sports Xchange) - DeMar DeRozan poured in a game-high 38 points as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Miami Heat 112-104 in overtime on Saturday night at Air Canada Centre.


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Freakish injury will not slow Eaton's world title bid

(Reuters) - Ashton Eaton's bid for a third consecutive world indoor heptathlon title will not be affected by a freakish accident that left the American needing six stitches in his head, his coach told Reuters on Saturday.


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Murray advances, Kerber sent packing at Indian Wells

(Reuters) - World number two Andy Murray was given a tough test but pushed his way past Marcel Granollers 6-4 7-6(3) in his opening match at the BNP Paribas Open in California on Saturday.











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Haas earns one-shot lead after three rounds at Valspar

(Reuters) - Bill Haas looked at ease on the greens at the Valspar Championship in Florida on Saturday after a putting tip from Rickie Fowler helped him move into a one-stroke lead over Graham DeLaet after the third round.











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Kyrgios involved in swearing row at Indian Wells

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Australian Nick Kyrgios was involved in a fresh dispute after being accused of swearing at the BNP Paribas Open in California on Saturday.


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Russia to probe possible meldonium 'provocations' against its athletes

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has said there are "political overtones" in the decision by the international anti-doping agency WADA to ban the drug meldonium use, and that it will investigate whether positive tests among its sports stars could have been "provocations".











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Google AI program wins third straight match to take Go series

SEOUL (Reuters) - Google's artificial intelligence (AI) program on Saturday took a 3-0 lead in a five-match series against one of the world's top players of the complicated board game Go.


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Highlights of Friday's NBA games

(The Sports Xchange) - Highlights of Friday's National Basketball Association games.


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Sharapova slams media coverage of doping case

(Reuters) - Five-times grand slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova hit out at some media accounts of her doping case that she termed "wrong" in an open letter to her fans on Facebook on Friday.


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Friday, March 11, 2016

Rubio rescues Timberwolves, sinks Thunder

(The Sports Xchange) - The last time the Minnesota Timberwolves visited Oklahoma City, they were ran out of the gym. In the 20-point loss, coach Sam Mitchell left his young stars on the floor till the final buzzer so they would learn to hate the feeling of losing.


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Thunder assistant Williams not returning this season

(Reuters) - Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams, whose wife died in a car accident last month, will not return to the team this season, the team said on Friday.











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Maria Sharapova on Facebook: 'A Report said I had been warned five times about upcoming ban on medicine I was taking'; 'That is not true'

(Reuters) - * Maria Sharapova says, "A Report said I had been warned five times about











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Juve win thanks to Dybala brilliance, Buffon clean sheet

TURIN, Italy (Reuters) - Juventus forward Paulo Dybala scored another exquisite goal and their goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon kept his 10th successive clean sheet in the league to give the Serie A leaders a 1-0 win over Sassuolo on Friday.


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Russian sports minister Mutko says Russia has done enough to meet IAAF terms

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has already done enough to meet the terms set by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for lifting a ban on its athletes in international competitions, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Friday.











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Powell to carry Jamaica's hopes at world indoors

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Asafa Powell will carry Jamaica's sprinting hopes at the world indoor championships this month as the former 100 meters world record holder was named to his country's squad on Friday.











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Switzerland eyes 2026 Winter Games bid

BERNE (Reuters) - Switzerland is looking to bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics and has begun the process that officials hope will bring the Games back to the Alpine nation for the first time since 1948.


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Hamilton and Rosberg given more freedom to race

(Reuters) - Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton and team mate Nico Rosberg will be given more freedom to race each other this season, Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff said on Friday.


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Russian rugby sevens duo have taken meldonium

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Two unnamed Russians who play for the national women's and men's sevens teams have been suspended for taking the banned substance meldonium, the country's rugby federation (RRF) said on Friday.











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Jeter part of MLB delegation for Rays' Havana exhibition

(Reuters) - Retired New York Yankees great Derek Jeter will be part of the Major League Baseball delegation in Havana for the Tampa Bay Rays' exhibition game against Cuba's national team, the league said on Friday.











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IAAF to decide in May on whether to lift Olympics ban on Russia: TASS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will take a decision in May on whether to lift a ban on Russian athletes taking part in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Friday, citing Russian athletics chief Mikhail Butov.











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For Muslim-American fencer, Olympic goal extends beyond medals

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (Reuters) - U.S. fencing powerhouse Ibtihaj Muhammad is no stranger to sabre rattling, so when the Muslim-American athlete heard Donald Trump threaten to ban Muslims from U.S. shores, it only steeled her resolve to return home with a medal from the Rio Olympics.


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Red Bull get their warnings in early

LONDON (Reuters) - Red Bull have added to the pre-season pressure on their four Formula One drivers with a sharp reminder that they have to live up to expectations to keep their seats.











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As Rio approaches, no quick decision expected on Russia

MONACO (Reuters) - Russian participation in the Rio Olympics athletics is likely to remain in doubt on Friday, with a task force investigating the sporting superpower's anti-doping operation expected to make no firm recommendation when it reports to the IAAF Council.











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Olympic champion Rutherford to miss World Indoors

LONDON (Reuters) - Olympic and World champion long jumper Greg Rutherford will miss this month's World Indoors through illness, British Athletics said on Friday.











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Tokyo Games organizers lash out over cauldron gaffe

TOKYO (Reuters) - The head of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic organizing committee, Yoshiro Mori, blamed the Japanese sports minister on Friday for an embarrassing cauldron oversight at the new centerpiece stadium that has further marred Games preparations.


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Russia doesn't expect 'revolutionary news' from IAAF meeting: Interfax

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said he did not expect any "revolutionary news" from a meeting of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) later on Friday, Interfax news agency reported.











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Irving leads balanced Cavs to victory over Lakers

(The Sports Xchange) - Kyrie Irving scored 26 points and handed out nine assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers coasted past the Los Angeles Lakers 120-108 at Staples Center on Thursday.











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