Friday, March 31, 2017

Nadal powers past Fognini into Miami Open final

(Reuters) - Rafa Nadal rolled by unseeded Italian Fabio Fognini 6-1 7-5 on Friday to reach his fifth Miami Open final and a potential rematch of the Australian Open decider with Roger Federer.

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FIFA hands 1,300-page corruption report to Swiss authorities

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA has completed a 22-month internal inquiry into allegations of high-level corruption and criminal misconduct that buffeted world football and handed its report to Swiss authorities, soccer's ruling body said on Friday.

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Motor racing: Ferrari engine may be better than Mercedes, says Haas boss

LONDON (Reuters) - Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes Ferrari's Formula One engine may have overtaken the one used by previously dominant champions Mercedes.

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Federer saves two match points to beat Berdych in Miami

(Reuters) - Roger Federer stared down defeat and saved two match points before knocking Tomas Berdych out of the Miami Open on Thursday with a 6-2 3-6 7-6(6) victory in their thrilling quarter-final.

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Motorcycling: Suzuki rookie Rins suffers ankle fracture

LONDON (Reuters) - Suzuki's MotoGP rookie Alex Rins has broken his right ankle in an accident while training on a motocross bike, the team said on Friday.

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Thursday, March 30, 2017

Rivals play blame game as Kyrgios wins feisty encounter

(Reuters) - Tempers flared between Nick Kyrgios and Alexander Zverev late in their Miami Open quarter-final on Thursday when a botched line call and contentious decision by the chair umpire to allow a challenge on the point caused both players to react angrily.

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IOC disqualifies four Russians from London Olympics over doping

BERLIN (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee said on Thursday it had disqualified four Russian athletes from the 2012 London Olympics after re-tests of their samples came back positive for banned substances.

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Tennis: Wozniacki beats second seed Pliskova to reach Miami final

(Reuters) - Caroline Wozniacki capitalized on her renowned endurance as she made few unforced errors in wearing down Karolina Pliskova to win 5-7 6-1 6-1 in the Miami Open semi-finals on Thursday.

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Figure skating: Sui and Han cap emotional season by winning pairs title

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Sui Wenjing and Han Cong did not let a fall derail their gold medal hopes as they capped a year of pain and injury by winning the pairs title at the world figure skating championships on Thursday.

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Venus beats Kerber in Miami, Konta ousts Halep

(Reuters) - Venus Williams beat top seed Angelique Kerber on Wednesday to advance to a Miami Open semi-final against Britain's Johanna Konta.

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FIFA reveals proposed slots for 48-team 2026 World Cup

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA announced its proposed slot allocation for the expanded 48-team World Cup on Thursday, including an automatic place for Oceania, 16 places for Europe - up from 13 - and a six-team inter-zonal playoff tournament for two more spots.

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Exclusive: Chinese women golfers may shun LPGA event amid China-South Korea tensions

SEOUL (Reuters) - Chinese golfers on the U.S. women's tour may decide not to play in a tournament next month in Hawaii sponsored by South Korean conglomerate Lotte Group, a sign that fallout from a diplomatic row between Beijing and Seoul over a missile defense system is increasingly spilling into the sports world.

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Schweinsteiger flummoxed by U.S. World Cup howler

CHICAGO (Reuters) - For all the talk of how the United States has embraced soccer, it became clear there is still some way to go to complete the conversion after newly arrived Bastian Schweinsteiger was asked if he thought his club, Chicago Fire, could win the World Cup.

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Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Nadal beats Sock in Miami quarters, Nishikori out

(Reuters) - Rafa Nadal moved into the Miami Open semi-finals with a straight sets win over American Jack Sock on Wednesday, while second seed Kei Nishikori was sent packing after going down 6-4 6-2 to unseeded Italian Fabio Fognini.

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Not just another triple-double as Westbrook notches record

(The Sports Xchange) - Russell Westbrook recorded the highest scoring triple-double in NBA history Wednesday night, totaling 57 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a come-from-behind, 114-106 overtime road victory over the Orlando Magic.

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LPGA Commissioner Whan sees women's gains in game

RANCHO MIRAGE, California (Reuters) - Golf is getting younger, more global and more female, all to the delight of LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan.

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New AFA president vows to get Messi ban reduced

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The Argentine FA, lacking proper leadership since 2015 and fearful its national team might not reach the World Cup finals without banned captain Lionel Messi, elected a third-tier club chairman and former roadsweeper as its president on Wednesday.

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Exclusive: Federation to cover NHL costs at 2018 Winter Games - IOC

BERLIN (Reuters) - The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has agreed to pay NHL players' travel and insurance costs to try to lure them to the 2018 Winter Olympics but team owners have set more commercial demands, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday.

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Figure skating: Wenjing and Cong stand tall among walking wounded

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Chinese duo Wenjing Sui and Cong Han emerged unscathed in a field littered with the walking wounded to grab the lead in the pairs competition at the figure skating world championships on Wednesday.

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'Hideous' Cristiano Ronaldo statue sparks social media laughs

FUNCHAL (Reuters) - When the island of Madeira on Wednesday renamed its airport in honor of its hometown hero Cristiano Ronaldo, all eyes were expected to be on the four-time world player of the year who is adored not only for his soccer skills but also his model looks.

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Spencer's anti-doping case set for May 15

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Reigning Commonwealth Games 400 meters hurdles champion Kaliese Spencer's anti-doping hearing will begin May 15 in Jamaica, the panel overseeing the case said on Wednesday.

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Baseball: Mets' Familia banned after domestic violence arrest

(Reuters) - New York Mets All-Star closer Jeurys Familia has been suspended for the first 15 games of the 2017 Major League Baseball season after being arrested for alleged domestic violence last October, the league said on Wednesday.

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Figure skating: Medvedeva on track to emulate Kwan

HELSINKI (Reuters) - A nerveless and haunting short program by Evgenia Medvedeva kept the Russian teenager on track to become the first skater since American Michelle Kwan in 2001 to win back-to-back women's titles at the world championships on Wednesday.

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Soccer: Ronaldo Airport overshadowed by dodgy statue

FUNCHAL (Reuters) - Madeira renamed its airport in honor of Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday - although it is a new statue of the four-times world player of the year that is likely to grab the headlines.

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Motor racing: Timberlake follows Swift as F1 Austin crowd-puller

LONDON (Reuters) - Singer Justin Timberlake has been confirmed as the headline act for this year's U.S. Formula One Grand Prix at Austin's Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in October.

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Motor racing: U.S. GP boss says F1 should own some circuits

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. Grand Prix promoter Bobby Epstein says it would make sense for Formula One's new American owners Liberty Media to buy some circuits as part of their long-term strategic plans for the sport.

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Soccer: U.S. keep World Cup hopes alive, Mexico take control

(Reuters) - The United States remain in contention for a spot at next year's World Cup after Bruce Arena's side battled to a scrappy 1-1 away draw against Panama in CONCACAF qualifying on Tuesday.

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Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Federer in, Wawrinka out on mixed day for Swiss

(Reuters) - Roger Federer survived a stern test from Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut to reach the Miami Open quarter-finals on Tuesday, while top-seeded Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka was eliminated on his birthday.

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Pliskova, Wozniacki advance to Miami semi-finals

(Reuters) - Czech second seed Karolina Pliskova avenged her Australian Open quarter-final loss to Mirjana Lucic-Baroni with a 6-3 6-4 win over the 26th-seeded Croatian to secure a spot in the Miami Open semi-finals on Tuesday.

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Sharapova feels vindicated and empowered after doping ban

RANCHO MIRAGE, California (Reuters) - Tennis star Maria Sharapova said on Tuesday she is excited about her return to competition next month, feeling vindicated by the reduction of her doping suspension and empowered by her time away.

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Motor racing-Mansell joins tributes to Surtees at funeral

LONDON (Reuters) - Former Formula One world champion Nigel Mansell joined the motorsport world on Tuesday in paying tribute to John Surtees at the funeral of the only man to win world titles on two wheels and four.

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Trump declines Nationals' invite to throw first pitch

(The Sports Xchange) - President Donald Trump will not participate in the longstanding tradition of presidents throwing out a ceremonial first pitch at Washington Opening Day games due to a scheduling conflict.

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Murray, Tsonga to miss Britain's Davis Cup tie with France

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will have to make do without world number one Andy Murray for their Davis Cup quarter-final in France after he was omitted on Tuesday from captain Leon Smith's team due to injury.

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Liverpool's Lallana out with thigh injury - reports

(Reuters) - Liverpool's England midfielder Adam Lallana could be out for up to a month after suffering a thigh injury on international duty, British media reported on Tuesday.

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Snowboarding: Injured McMorris named in Canada Olympic team

(Reuters) - Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris, who is recovering in hospital from injuries sustained in an off-piste accident, received good news on Tuesday when he was provisionally nominated to Canada's 2018 Olympic team.

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Cycling: Nibali is only Italian with talent, says Cipollini

(Reuters) - Giro d'Italia great Mario Cipollini bemoaned Italy's lack of talent on the international cycling circuit, naming former Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali as the only 'talented' rider.

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Venus all smiles after straight sets win

(Reuters) - Venus Williams had every reason to smile on Monday as she defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 7-6(4) to advance to the quarter-finals at the Miami Open.

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Peerless Federer rolls on with win over del Potro

(Reuters) - Roger Federer produced another dazzling performance on Monday, easing past Juan Martin del Potro in the third round at the Miami Open.

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Monday, March 27, 2017

Red-hot Johnson withdraws from Houston Open: report

(Reuters) - World number one Dustin Johnson, fresh off his third consecutive victory and content that his form is ready for the Masters, has withdrawn from this week's Shell Houston Open, according to a Golf Channel report on Monday.

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Snowboard: Canada's McMorris in hospital after backcountry crash

(Reuters) - Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris, a bronze medalist at the Sochi Olympics, is in a Vancouver hospital recovering from injuries sustained in a backcountry snowboarding accident, Canada Snowboard said on Monday.

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Three people removed from Tokyo park at center of Olympics protest

TOKYO (Reuters) - At least three people were removed from a park in the Japanese capital Tokyo on Monday where homeless people have protested against construction projects for the 2020 Olympic Games.

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Motor racing: Hamilton hopes for 'best v best' duel with Vettel

LONDON (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton lost a battle but regained a rival after Sebastian Vettel won Sunday's Australian season-opener for Ferrari.

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Sunday, March 26, 2017

Kerber reaches fourth round in Miami, Keys falls

(Reuters) - Top seed Angelique Kerber advanced to the fourth round at the Miami Open on Sunday but eighth seed Madison Keys was sent packing.

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Johnson holds on to beat Rahm in Match Play final

(Reuters) - American Dustin Johnson became the first player to win all four World Golf Championships events when he claimed the WGC-Dell Match Play in Texas on Sunday.

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Nishikori survives Miami marathon, Raonic withdraws

(Reuters) - Second seed Kei Nishikori of Japan outlasted Spain's Fernando Verdasco 7-6(2) 6-7(5) 6-1 in a nearly three-hour marathon at the Miami Open on Sunday.

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Kamworor and Cheptai lead Kenyan cross country domination

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Geoffrey Kamworor retained the men's title and Irene Cheptai led home five of her compatriots in the women's race as Kenya dominated the world cross country championships at the Kololo Independence Grounds on Sunday.

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Ferrari prancing as Vettel wins in Australia

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel won the Australian Grand Prix for Ferrari on Sunday to dash Mercedes' hopes of extending their dominance into a fourth successive season of Formula One.

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Frustrated Mercedes lose grip as 'stressful' season looms

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Mercedes' three-year domination of Formula One looked on shaky ground on Sunday as the Silver Arrows' confidence was rocked by Ferrari pace and a Sebastian Vettel victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

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No cakewalk as Federer wins opening Miami match

(Reuters) - Roger Federer continued his impressive 2017 campaign with a straight-sets, second-round victory at the Miami Open in Florida on Saturday.

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Battling McLaren exceed rock-bottom expectations

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - In a sign of how far McLaren have fallen, a retirement for Fernando Alonso and a last-place finish for team mate Stoffel Vandoorne exceeded expectations for the embattled team at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.

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Saturday, March 25, 2017

Wawrinka makes quick work of opening Miami match

(Reuters) - Top seed Stan Wawrinka made his opening appearance at the Miami Open a quick one as he defeated Argentina's Horacio Zeballos in 65 minutes on Saturday.

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New York Knicks' Noah suspended for 20 games

(Reuters) - New York Knicks center Joakim Noah has been suspended for 20 games for violating the National Basketball Association's (NBA) anti-drug policy, the league confirmed on Saturday.

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Suns guard Booker scores 70 points to join elite club

(Reuters) - Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker became the unlikeliest member of an elite scoring club when he erupted for 70 points on Friday against the Boston Celtics.

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Cylcing: Wiggins defends his integrity after allegations of wrongdoing

(Reuters) - Bradley Wiggins has described allegations that he may have broken anti-doping rules while with Team Sky as "the worst thing to be accused of" and said he would "shock a few people" when he eventually got the chance to defend himself.

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Verstappen says Red Bull not on same level as rivals

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian Grand Prix qualifying showed Red Bull are not yet on the same level as Formula One rivals Mercedes and Ferrari but Max Verstappen said he was not surprised.

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Ricciardo sorry as home title hopes spin out

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Daniel Ricciardo was left apologizing to the Red Bull garage after his hopes of becoming the Australian Grand Prix's first home winner spun out during qualifying on Saturday.

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Fired up' Ferrari in the hunt, says Vettel

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Sebastian Vettel has seen a number of false dawns since crossing to Ferrari but the German could see good times ahead for the 'scuderia' after putting his car on the front row of the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday.

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Soccer: Dempsey grabs hat-trick as U.S. hammer Honduras 6-0

(Reuters) - Clint Dempsey scored a hat-trick as the United States hammered Honduras 6-0 in California on Friday to get their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign back on track.

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Raonic makes winning return, Nadal and Nishikori advance

(Reuters) - Big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic made a strong return to competition on Friday by beating Viktor Troicki 6-3 7-5 to reach the third round of the Miami Open.

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Friday, March 24, 2017

Golf - Johnson v Johnson in knockout clash at Match Play

(Reuters) - It will be Johnson v Johnson as world number one Dustin takes on double major champion Zach in a round-of-16 clash at the WGC-Dell Match Play in Texas on Saturday.

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Sweden to host two regular season NHL games in November

(Reuters) - Sweden will host a pair of regular-season games between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators in November, the National Hockey League said on Friday.

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Vesnina stunned by world number 594 at Miami Open

(Reuters) - Elena Vesnina, fresh off her victory at Indian Wells, crashed out of the Miami Open on Friday after a stunning 3-6 6-4 7-5 loss to world number 594 Ajla Tomljanovic.

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Serbia go top after comeback 3-1 win in Georgia

TBILISI (Reuters) - Serbia stayed on course to reach their first major tournament in eight years after goals from Dusan Tadic, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Mijat Gacinovic gave them a smash-and-grab 3-1 win over Georgia in a World Cup Group D qualifier on Friday.

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Thursday, March 23, 2017

Ice hockey: U.S. women expect player solidarity in wage dispute

(Reuters) - The U.S. women's ice hockey team has expressed "confidence" that any American players approached to stand in for them at the upcoming world championship would refuse.

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Messi penalty lifts Argentina into qualifying berths

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Lionel Messi converted a penalty as Argentina labored to a 1-0 win over Chile in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday that put them back in the automatic qualifying spots for next year's finals in Russia.

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Golf: Johnson stays perfect as McIlroy eliminated at Match Play

(Reuters) - World number one Dustin Johnson continued his perfect record at the WGC-Dell Match Play on Thursday while number two Rory McIlroy was eliminated without even setting foot on the course.

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Pliskova, Cibulkova cruise into third around at Miami

(Reuters) - Czech second seed Karolina Pliskova cruised into the third round of the Miami Open with a 6-1 6-3 win over Madison Brengle on Thursday while Dominika Cibulkova beat Paraguayan qualifier Veronica Cepede Royg 6-3 6-2.

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Hard-working Ricciardo hopes for reward for effort

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Daniel Ricciardo will again carry his nation's hopes of a first home winner at the season-opening Grand Prix at Albert Park on Sunday and it would be a well-earned victory for the Red Bull driver after a punishing week off the track.

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IOC still hopeful NHL players will compete in Pyeongchang

BERLIN (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee was hopeful negotiations with the National Hockey League would eventually be successful, allowing the world's best players to compete at next year's Pyeongchang winter Games, the governing body said on Thursday.

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Hamilton calls for more women in 'dude' dominated paddock

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - There are "too many dudes" in the paddock at Formula One races and the series needs to improve access for women, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday.

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Wednesday, March 22, 2017

National Football League roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell claims he has heard the average fan's discontent about the pace of the game and intends to do something about it.

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USA Hockey postpones training camp amid wage dispute

(Reuters) - USA Hockey said on Wednesday it had put preparations for the upcoming world championships on hold amid a wage dispute with the U.S. women's team who have threatened to boycott the event.

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United States edge Japan 2-1 to reach first WBC final

(Reuters) - The United States tagged on an eighth-inning run to edge out Japan 2-1 at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday to advance to the World Baseball Classic (WBC) final for a first time.

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Athletics: Jamaica's Spencer denies evading drug test

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Reigning Commonwealth Games 400 meters hurdles champion Kaliese Spencer denied on Wednesday that she "refused or evaded a drug test" and plans to legally challenge the assertion by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission.

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McIlroy and Spieth fall as upsets abound at WGC-Dell Match Play

(Reuters) - Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth were among the early losers in Wednesday's opening day of the WGC-Dell Match Play as the two former world number one players suffered stunning upsets.

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Mercedes look to make early statement in Australia

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Beefier cars and bulked-up drivers will hit Albert Park circuit on Sunday for Formula One's season-opening Australian Grand Prix where many fans will be hoping at least one team can strike an early blow against dominant Mercedes.

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Boxing: Brook to take on Spence in Sheffield title tilt

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Kell Brook will defend his IBF welterweight world title against mandatory American challenger Errol Spence Jr. at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane ground on May 27.

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Athletics: Jamaican duo charged with anti-doping rule violation

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Commonwealth Games 400 meters hurdles champion Kaliese Spencer and world championship relay medalist Riker Hylton have been charged with breaching anti-doping rules, Jamaican athletics officials confirmed on Tuesday.

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Tuesday, March 21, 2017

NHL's Bettman on Olympics: 'Assume we are not going'

NEW YORK (Reuters) - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said on Tuesday that with negotiations on Olympic participation at a standstill people should assume the league will not be sending its players to the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

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Golf: Johnson handed major challenge at WGC-Dell Match Play

(Reuters) - World number one Dustin Johnson has the hottest hand in golf and will need to keep that form heading into Wednesday's WGC-Dell Match Play tournament after being grouped with a trio of major champions.

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Home run king Bonds rejoins Giants as advisor

(Reuters) - Major League Baseball home run king Barry Bonds is returning to the San Francisco Giants as a special advisor, the team said on Tuesday.

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Latvian Porzingis is Knicks' best hope of bright future

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - If the New York Knicks are the NBA's stormiest soap opera, then Latvian talent Kristaps Porzingis is the central love interest, a lone symbol of better days ahead for the franchise.

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Baseball: Puerto Rico reach Classic final with win over Netherlands

(Reuters) - Puerto Rico made it to their second straight World Baseball Classic final on Monday with a 4-3 extra-innings win over the Netherlands at Dodger Stadium.

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2028 Olympic Games not an option for Paris, says bid chief

LONDON (Reuters) - The Paris Olympic bid chief said on Tuesday he was not against the awarding of the 2024 and 2028 Olympics in the same session later this year, but ruled the French capital out of the latter Games.

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Chicago Fire sign Schweinsteiger from Man United

(Reuters) - Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has agreed a deal to join Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire, the Premier League club confirmed on Tuesday.

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Monday, March 20, 2017

Ice hockey: U.S. women's team hold productive talks in wage fight

(Reuters) - The U.S. women's ice hockey team threatening to boycott the world championships over a wage dispute held productive talks with USA Hockey on Monday and will continue discussions this week in the hope of reaching a deal.

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Warriors, Timberwolves to play two preseason games in China

(Reuters) - Two-times reigning Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors are headed to China for two preseason games against the Minnesota Timberwolves in October, the NBA said on Monday.

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Tiger a hit with fans at New York book signing

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tiger Woods has been largely absent from the golf circuit for nearly two years due to nagging back problems but the 14-times major champion can still draw a crowd.

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Patriots star Brady's missing Super Bowl jersey found in Mexico

BOSTON (Reuters) - The New England Patriots jersey that vanished after quarterback Tom Brady wore it in the team's fifth Super Bowl victory last month has been found in Mexico, officials said on Monday.

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Soccer: Man City charged with misconduct in Liverpool game

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City were charged with misconduct by the FA on Monday for the way their players reacted to a 50th minute penalty that saw Liverpool take the lead in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw at the Etihad stadium.

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Woods 'trying everything' to be fit for Masters

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods has not given up hope of competing in next month's U.S. Masters and is trying everything he can to overcome back problems, the former world number one said on Monday.

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Federer tops Wawrinka in all-Swiss Indian Wells final

(Reuters) - A rejuvenated Roger Federer beat fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka 6-4 7-5 in the BNP Paribas Open final on Sunday to earn a record-tying fifth Indian Wells title and the distinction of being the tournament's oldest winner.

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Motor racing: Rivals are closer, warns Mercedes F1 boss

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One's new rules are "just what the doctor ordered", even if rival teams have become more competitive, according to Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff.

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NBA's Chris Paul, other celebrity athletes, invest for an impact

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Giving back to their communities has always been a challenge for pro athletes who get rich quick, because they tend to lose the money even more quickly. But even those who manage to build a substantial amount of wealth have a hard time using it charitably in a way that truly has a long-term impact.

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Sunday, March 19, 2017

Leishman wins Arnold Palmer Invitational by one stroke

(Reuters) - Australian Marc Leishman sank a monster eagle putt at the par-five 16th and stormed to a one-stroke victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida on Sunday.

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Baseball: U.S. win eliminates Dominican Republic from Classic

(Reuters) - The Dominican Republic were eliminated from the World Baseball Classic (WBC) after the star-laden team lost to the United States in southern California on Saturday night.

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Vesnina tops Kuznetsova in marathon Indian Wells final

(Reuters) - Elena Vesnina survived a battle of attrition to beat fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-7(6) 7-5 6-4 in the women's final at the BNP Paribas Open in the California desert on Sunday.

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Djokovic withdraws from Miami Open with elbow injury

(Reuters) - Serbian world number two Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Miami Open with a right elbow injury, the tournament's three-times reigning champion said on Sunday.

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Boxing: Golovkin edges Jacobs by decision to defend titles

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Gennady "GGG" Golovkin, the most fearsome knockout artist of this era, was pushed to the limit by Daniel Jacobs before retaining his world middleweight titles by decision at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

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Saturday, March 18, 2017

Wisconsin ousts defending NCAA champions Villanova

(The Sports Xchange) - Nigel Hayes scored 19 points and made the winning layup with 11.4 seconds remaining as eight seed Wisconsin upset defending champion Villanova 65-62 in an NCAA Tournament second-round game on Saturday.

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Hoffman and Kisner lead by three after 54 holes at Bay Hill

(Reuters) - Charley Hoffman sank a 70-foot birdie at the final hole to tie Kevin Kisner for the third-round lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida on Saturday.

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Baseball: Puerto Rico beat USA to clinch semi-finals berth

(Reuters) - Puerto Rico clinched a berth in the semi-finals of the World Baseball Classic with a 6-5 win over the United States in San Diego on Friday and remained unbeaten in this year's tournament.

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Federer and Wawrinka in all-Swiss final at Indian Wells

(Reuters) - Roger Federer continued his sizzling form on Saturday to set up an all-Swiss final against Stan Wawrinka at the BNP Paribas Open in California.

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Alpine skiing: Shiffrin a close third after first slalom run

(Reuters) - U.S. ski queen Mikaela Shiffrin remained in contention for the final slalom race of the World Cup season at Aspen, Colorado on Saturday.

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Kuznetsova, Vesnina set up all-Russian Indian Wells final

(Reuters) - Twice grand slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova and 14th seed Elena Vesnina posted hard-fought, straight-set wins in Friday's semi-finals to set up an all-Russian final in the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

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Sock knocks out Nishikori to meet Federer in semis

(Reuters) - Jack Sock celebrated a pair of firsts on Friday by powering past fourth seed Kei Nishikori 6-3 2-6 6-2 to book a date with Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.

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Friday, March 17, 2017

Injured Johnson out of USA soccer World Cup qualifiers

(Reuters) - A hamstring injury has forced versatile midfielder Fabian Johnson out of the United States team for next week's World Cup qualifiers, U.S. Soccer announced on Friday.

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No ratings disaster if Woods misses Masters, say experts

(Reuters) - The Masters, with its famed azaleas, precisely manicured greens and towering trees is bigger than any one golfer, even Tiger Woods.

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Bolt, van Niekerk, Farah, Rudisha headline Jamaican meet

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Usain Bolt, fellow world record holders David Rudisha and Wayde van Niekerk and middle distance king Mo Farah will headline the JN Racers Grand Prix on June 10, organizers announced on Friday.

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Ill Kyrgios pulls out of quarterfinal clash with Federer

(Reuters) - Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of his much anticipated quarterfinal showdown with Roger Federer at the BNP Paribas Open on Friday with suspected food poisoning.

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Horse racing: Sizing John powers to Gold Cup glory

LONDON (Reuters) - Sizing John, ridden by Robbie Power and trained by Jessica Harrington, surged to a three-length victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

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Baseball: Dominican Republic shut out winless Venezuela

(Reuters) - The Dominican Republic, with home runs by Gregory Polanco and Nelson Cruz backing a combined effort by six pitchers, shut out Venezuela 3-0 on Thursday to remain in the hunt for a semi-final berth in the World Baseball Classic.

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IOC exploring all options for 2024/28 hosting decision

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach left the door open to the possibility of naming Paris and Los Angeles as hosts of the next two Summer Games on Friday, saying no option was off the table as it reviews its bidding process.

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Wawrinka wins Thiem thriller to reach Indian Wells semis

(Reuters) - Stan Wawrinka raised his game on the big points and dominated the climactic third-set tiebreaker to beat Dominic Thiem 6-4 4-6 7-6(2) on Thursday and reach the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

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Thursday, March 16, 2017

Vesnina ousts Venus to reach semi-finals at Indian Wells

(Reuters) - Elena Vesnina denied Venus Williams another comeback win, while Kristina Mladenovic roared back from a set and a break down to beat Caroline Wozniacki on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

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'Greek Freak' using passing to make leap to stardom

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Milwaukee Bucks wunderkind Giannis Antetokounmpo is evolving at such a pace that he may soon outgrow his nickname of "The Greek Freak."

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Bulls' Wade out for season with elbow injury

(The Sports Xchange) - Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured right elbow, the team announced on Thursday.

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Long-shot Jacobs not intimidated by Golovkin

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin has something of a Mike Tyson aura about him, acknowledged Daniel "Miracle Man" Jacobs, but don't expect the challenger to feel intimidated in their title clash on Saturday.

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USA Gymnastics head resigns amid abuse scandal

(Reuters) - Steve Penny resigned as president and chief executive of USA Gymnastics on Thursday in the wake of the federation's handling of sexual abuse allegations concerning a former team doctor.

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Motor racing: McLaren 'considering options' with Honda

LONDON (Reuters) - McLaren say they are "considering options" with engine suppliers Honda amid media reports that the Formula One team have sounded out former engine partners Mercedes over a possible future supply following problems in testing.

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Miami baseball star Fernandez responsible for deadly boat crash: report

MIAMI (Reuters) - Miami baseball star Jose Fernandez was to blame for a boat crash that killed him and two passengers last year, Florida officials said on Thursday, finding that his reckless and impaired driving led the vessel to slam into a rock jetty.

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Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Kyrgios beats Djokovic again, to face Federer

(Reuters) - Nick Kyrgios ended Novak Djokovic’s 19-match winning run at Indian Wells by beating the Serb 6-4 7-6(3) to reach the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals on Wednesday, while Roger Federer also advanced with a straight sets win over Rafa Nadal.

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U.S. women's ice hockey team threaten to boycott world champs over wages

(Reuters) - The U.S. women's national ice hockey team will boycott the 2017 world championships unless their demands for higher wages are met by USA Hockey, lawyers for the players said on Wednesday.

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Kyrgios stuns Djokovic again to reach quarter-finals

(Reuters) - Australian Nick Kyrgios stunned Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-6(3) on Wednesday to secure his second victory over the world number two in less than two weeks and advance to the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

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U.S. judge upholds NHL defenseman's shortened ban, in defeat for Bettman

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Wednesday rejected National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman's bid to restore Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman's 20-game suspension for hitting a linesman, and instead upheld an arbitrator's decision to shorten the ban to 10 games.

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McIlroy not ready to forgive and forget Muirfield ban

(Reuters) - Muirfield golf club may have scrapped its all-male policy and been welcomed back into the British Open rotation but world number three Rory McIlroy said on Wednesday he is not ready to toast a new era.

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Arnold Palmer tributes to flow despite depleted Bay Hill field

(Reuters) - Emotions will run high at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week as golfers pay tribute to seven-times major champion Palmer who died last year as they hone their games for next month's U.S. Masters.

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Alpine: Fill steals downhill crown from Jansrud in final race

(Reuters) - Italy's Peter Fill stole the Alpine World Cup downhill title from Norway's Kjetil Jansrud on Wednesday with a second place finish behind team mate Dominik Paris in the final race of the season in Aspen, Colorado.

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Baseball: Japan, the Netherlands blast way into WBC final four

(Reuters) - Japan and the Netherlands crushed their opponents in second round play at the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday, earning a trip to Los Angeles for the semi-finals.

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FIFA ethics chiefs facing uncertain future

ZURICH (Reuters) - The two FIFA ethics chiefs responsible for banning some of the sport's most prominent figures following a corruption scandal face an uncertain future and may not have their mandates renewed, sources with knowledge of the matter have told Reuters.

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Nadal, Federer set up California clash with wins

(Reuters) - Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal powered to third-round wins at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Tuesday to set up a mouth-watering rematch of their recent Australian Open final.

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Vesnina upsets Kerber to set up Venus quarter-final

(Reuters) - Russia's Elena Vesnina ousted German second seed Angelique Kerber 6-3 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California on Tuesday.

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Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Puerto Rico ends Dominican dominance, Japan eyes semis

(Reuters) - Puerto Rico handed the Dominican Republic their first World Baseball Classic (WBC) loss since 2009, beating the defending champions 3-1 in their Pool F opener at Petco Park in San Diego on Tuesday.

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Golf: Willett expects revival in return to Augusta

(Reuters) - Danny Willett has had a bumpy ride on the golf course since his surprise victory at the Masters last year, but the Englishman reckons he will be all smiles when he returns next month to defend the green jacket.

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Ko at top of women's golf rankings for 92nd week

(The Sports Exchange) - Lydia Ko of New Zealand is atop the Women's World Golf Rankings for the 92nd week of her career, tied with South Korea's Inbee Park for third all time.

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Golf: Muirfield back in Open contention as it votes to let women join

LONDON (Reuters) - Muirfield golf club voted on Tuesday to admit women members, scrapping the all-male policy that led to the historic Scottish links course being stripped of its eligibility to host Britain's Open championship.

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Cycling: Quintana holds on to win Tirreno-Adriatico

(Reuters) - Colombian Nairo Quintana laid down an early marker for the Tour de France when he won the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race after holding on to his overall lead at the end of the final time trial on Tuesday.

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Wawrinka advances, to face lucky loser Nishioka

(Reuters) - Stan Wawrinka breezed into the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open on Monday and saw another seed removed from his path to the final when lucky loser Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan turned his match against Tomas Berdych upside down.

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Monday, March 13, 2017

Advertisers bet big on March Madness as live sports ratings wane

(Reuters) - The annual NCAA men's basketball tournament is still among the biggest draws on the sports calendar for advertisers looking to get in front of large audiences, even as TV ratings drop for some major U.S. sporting events.

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Kerber rallies to reach fourth round; Halep bows out

(Reuters) - Angelique Kerber displayed her grit and vaunted fitness as she battled back to beat France's Pauline Parmentier 7-5 3-6 7-5 in scorching heat on Monday to reach the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.

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Tebow collects first hit of spring training

(The Sports Exchange) - Tim Tebow, a surprise addition to the lineup Monday, got his first hit in a spring training game for the New York Mets, snapping his 0-for-8 streak.

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U.S. anti-doping chief says WADA is 'fox guarding hen house'

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is not an independent body and in its current state cannot police sport as it lacks the powers of a global regulator, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart said on Monday.

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Ex-Penn State officials plead guilty in Sandusky abuse case: reports

(Reuters) - Two former Pennsylvania State University officials pleaded guilty on Monday to child endangerment charges related to the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse case, local media reported.

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Baseball: Gregorius leads way as Netherlands thump Israel

(Reuters) - Didi Gregorius homered and drove in five runs as the Netherlands crushed Israel 12-2 on Monday in Tokyo to move closer to a semi-final spot at the World Baseball Classic.

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Durban loses right to host 2022 Commonwealth Games

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Durban has lost the right to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) president Gideon Sam told Reuters on Monday.

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Dominican Republic, United States advance in Classic

(Reuters) - Undefeated Dominican Republic erupted for seven runs in the 11th inning as the defending champions beat Colombia 10-3 in the World Baseball Classic in Miami on Sunday.

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Doping: Russia agency needs 'significant' work to get suspension lifted - WADA

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Russia's anti-doping agency (RUSADA) still has significant work to do to get its suspension lifted, the World Anti-Doping Agency said on Monday.

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Muguruza survives scare to beat teenager Day

(Reuters) - French Open champion Garbine Muguruza got a fright from Kayla Day but outlasted the precocious American teenager 3-6 7-5 6-2 to reach the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open in California on Sunday.

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Sunday, March 12, 2017

Nadal wins second round in Indian Wells, Federer rematch looms

(Reuters) - Spaniard Rafa Nadal marched toward a possible showdown with Roger Federer, emphatically winning his second-round match at the BNP Paribas Open in the California desert on Sunday.

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Villanova, Kansas, North Carolina, Gonzaga top NCAA seeds

(The Sports Xchange) - Defending champion Villanova was the overall top seed and one of four number one seeds in the NCAA basketball tournament field announced on Sunday.

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Hadwin clinches first PGA Tour victory, honeymoon on hold

(Reuters) - Canadian Adam Hadwin overcame a late double-bogey to clinch his first victory on the PGA Tour, a one-stroke win over American Patrick Cantlay at the Valspar Championship in Florida on Sunday.

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Pospisil sends Murray packing at Indian Wells

(Reuters) - World number one Andy Murray was sent packing from the second round of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday after losing 6-4 7-6(5) to Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospisil.

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Kerber sails, Venus outlasts Jankovic at Indian Wells

(Reuters) - Angelique Kerber, who will reclaim the world number one ranking on Monday, breezed to a 6-2 6-1 second-round victory over fellow German Andrea Petkovic at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday.

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Saturday, March 11, 2017

Spurs' Aldridge out indefinitely with heart arrhythmia

(The Sports Xchange) - Key forward LaMarcus Aldridge of the San Antonio Spurs is out indefinitely because of a minor heart arrhythmia, the team announced on Saturday.

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Five world athletics championships facing bribery probe: source

PARIS (Reuters) - French prosecutors investigating whether bribery was involved in the award of the 2021 world athletics championships to the U.S. city of Eugene are also looking into several other host city decisions, a source close to the case said on Friday.

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Friday, March 10, 2017

Nervous Muguruza overcomes Flipkens at Indian Wells

(Reuters) - French Open champion Garbine Muguruza survived some nervous moments before overcoming Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 6-2 6-3 in her opening round match at the BNP Paribas Open on Friday.

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New U.S. women's basketball coach not tinkering with winning formula

(Reuters) - Newly-appointed U.S. women's basketball head coach Dawn Staley said on Friday she knows better than to mess with a winning formula that has resulted in a run of six consecutive Olympic gold medals.

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NFL denies misuse of painkillers described in court filings

(Reuters) - NFL teams violated federal laws governing prescription drugs, according to a Washington Post story based on sealed court documents contained in a federal lawsuit filed by former players against the league and reviewed by the newspaper.

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1964 Formula One champion Surtees dead at 83

LONDON (Reuters) - John Surtees, a Formula One great who won the 1964 championship with Ferrari and remains the only man to win world titles on two wheels and four, died on Friday at the age of 83, his family said in a statement.

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USOC renew call for independent anti-doping agency

(Reuters) - The United States Olympic Committee renewed its call for an independent global anti-doping agency in a position paper issued on Friday ahead of a World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium at the weekend.

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Facebook signs soccer live-streaming deal with MLS, Univision

(Reuters) - Facebook Inc signed a deal with Major League Soccer and Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Communications Inc [UVN.UL] on Friday to stream at least 22 matches in English during the 2017 regular season.

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Weightlifting: Russians hoping to overturn one-year ban

LONDON (Reuters) - Russian weightlifting is hoping to persuade the sport’s world governing body to overturn a planned new one-year ban after starting an anti-doping program that it says is an example others could follow. Less than a year ago, Russia was banned from the Olympic Games and severely criticized by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) for its "shocking and disappointing statistics" on doping. Now Russia is one of nine nations due to be suspended for a year because it

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Baseball: Cuba edge Australia to reach second round of WBC

(Reuters) - Alfredo Despaigne's fifth-inning grand slam gave Cuba all the runs they would need in a 4-3 win over Australia on Friday to reach the second round of the World Baseball Classic for a fourth consecutive tournament.

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Ferrari's Raikkonen faster than ever on final test day

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Ferrari went faster than ever on the final morning of Formula One's pre-season testing on Friday, with Kimi Raikkonen breaking through the one minute 19 seconds barrier at the Circuit de Catalunya, while McLaren stayed slow.

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FIFA sets up human rights panel in response to criticism

ZURICH (Reuters) - World soccer's ruling body FIFA, stung by criticism that it overlooks human rights in countries staging its tournaments, has set up an advisory panel to address the issue.

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Baseball: Dominicans open WBC defense with rout of Canada

(Reuters) - The defending champion Dominican Republic powered their way to a 9-2 win over Canada in the Pool C opener in Miami's Marlins Park on Thursday.

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Thursday, March 9, 2017

LA2024 head says Trump will alter travel policy if Olympics bid wins

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Reuters) - The head of Los Angeles's bid for the 2024 Olympics said on Thursday President Donald Trump will make accommodations to his travel ban should the city beat out Paris for the right to host the summer Games.

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USOC deliver recommendations to USA Gymnastics

(Reuters) - The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) said on Thursday it had reached a consensus on recommendations to USA Gymnastics in the wake of a sexual abuse scandal but would not say what they were.

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Tiger Woods out of Palmer Invitational as back rehab continues

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods will miss next week's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida as he continues back rehabilitation, he announced on Thursday.

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Hamilton and Vettel disagree on who is favorite

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Sebastian Vettel lapped fastest for Ferrari on the penultimate day of Formula One's pre-season testing on Thursday but refused to accept the mantle of favorite from Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton.

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U.S. must allow access if it bids for 2026 soccer World Cup: FIFA

LONDON (Reuters) - The United States would have to grant entry to players, officials and fans from any country that qualified if it won the right to host the 2026 World Cup finals, soccer body FIFA said on Thursday.

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Motorcycling: French endurance rider Delhalle dies in testing crash

(Reuters) - French motorcycle rider Anthony Delhalle, a five-times endurance world champion, died after a crash in private testing at the Nogaro circuit in south-west France on Thursday, Le Mans organizers said.

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ITF backs switch to three-set Davis Cup matches

LONDON (Reuters) - Davis Cup matches are set to be played as best of three sets instead of five in future as part of reforms endorsed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Thursday.

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WADA chief urges Russia to quicken anti-doping reforms

(Reuters) - Russia has initiated anti-doping reforms but they are not happening fast enough, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) director general Olivier Niggli has said.

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Tebow gets cheered despite rough start in Mets debut

(Reuters) - Tim Tebow had a rough start in his first game with the Major League Baseball's New York Mets on Wednesday as the former NFL quarterback struck out twice and was hit by a pitch in a Spring Training exhibition game.

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Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Pelicans' Cousins-Davis pairing looking to buck trend

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The New Orleans Pelicans are conducting a big man experiment that is as potentially promising and combustible as their new center, DeMarcus Cousins.

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Sprinter Fraser-Pryce announces pregnancy, to miss world champs

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Jamaican sprinter and reigning 100 meters world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce announced on Wednesday that she is pregnant and will miss the world championships in London this August.

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Cowboys set to release veteran quarterback Romo on Thursday

(The Sports Xchange) - The Dallas Cowboys plan to release quarterback Tony Romo on Thursday to end his 14-year run with the team as the new league year gets underway, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

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Alonso chides Honda for lack of pace and power

BARCELONA (Reuters) - A frustrated Fernando Alonso let rip at McLaren's engine partners Honda on Wednesday after another difficult afternoon of pre-season testing.

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Todt warns F1 not to turn back clock on engines

LONDON (Reuters) - Any attempt by Formula One to turn back the clock and return to V8 or V10 engines would be unacceptable to society and trigger a walkout by manufacturers, International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Jean Todt has said.

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Nowitzki passes 30,000 point mark to join elite club

(Reuters) - Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki joined an elite club by surpassing the 30,000 point mark in Tuesday's match against the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming just the sixth player in NBA history to reach the milestone.

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Soccer: Germany, Turkey the only bidders to host Euro 2024

ZURICH (Reuters) - Germany and Turkey are the only countries who want to bid for the right to host soccer's 2024 European Championship finals, continental governing body UEFA said on Wednesday.

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'Blonde Bombshell' racehorse stolen in Italy

ROME (Reuters) - A prize-winning racehorse dubbed the "Blonde Bombshell" and a thoroughbred colt were stolen from their stables in Italy on Tuesday, in a blow for an industry reeling from years of crisis.

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Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Pacquiao vs. Khan bout shelved as talks break down: Arum

(Reuters) - Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao's proposed fight against Britain's former world light-welterweight champion Amir Khan has been postponed, according to the Filipino's promoter, Bob Arum.

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Serena Williams withdraws from Indian Wells, Miami with injury

(Reuters) - Serena Williams has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open due to a left knee injury and as a result will relinquish the world number one tennis ranking to German Angelique Kerber.

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Mayweather says McGregor is all bark and no bite

LONDON (Reuters) - Floyd Mayweather sent a message to mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor on Tuesday to stop 'barking' and find some 'bite' after months of talk about a crossover fight between the two.

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Monza to host sub two-hour marathon bid

(Reuters) - Italian Formula One race track Monza will host an audacious attempt to run the first ever sub-two-hour marathon, organizers announced on Tuesday.

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Bogut breaks leg on Cavs debut, season likely over

(Reuters) - Australian center Andrew Bogut suffered a fractured left tibia just 58 seconds into his Cleveland Cavaliers debut on Monday, with the team reporting that he could be out for the rest of the season.

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Camara elected to FIFA council after opponents unexpectedly withdraw

CAIRO (Reuters) - Almamy Kabele Camara of Guinea has been elected unopposed to the council of FIFA, a week before African elections for the post were to be held, after both his rivals pulled out hours before FIFA announced the results of background investigations on prospective candidates.

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Manfred wants quicker MLB games, opposed to ties

TOKYO (Reuters) - Major League Baseball (MLB) commissioner Robert Manfred proposed various rule changes to speed up games on Tuesday but voiced his opposition to one idea: ending extra-inning contests in a tie.

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Monday, March 6, 2017

Raiders secure financing for potential Vegas stadium: report

(Reuters) - The NFL's Oakland Raiders took a big step toward a possible relocation to Las Vegas after securing financing from Bank of America for a potential stadium, according to multiple reports on Monday.

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Former world champion Fury says will fight again in May

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has said he will make a comeback against an unnamed opponent in May, even though he is under a provisional suspension from the sport.

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Cuevas wins third Brasil Open tennis title after rain delay

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas won his third consecutive Brasil Open title by beating Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-7(3) 6-4 6-4 on Monday in a final that eventually finished more than 24 hours late after successive rain delays.

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Chinese soccer clubs can be brand leaders, says Lagardere boss

LONDON (Reuters) - A Chinese club could one day be a bigger brand than Manchester United and it is only a matter of time before the Super League (CSL) challenges the English Premier League for world domination, according to leading sports marketer Andrew Georgiou.

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Cycling: Porte's hopes all but gone in Paris-Nice

(Reuters) - Australian Richie Porte's hopes of winning the Paris-Nice for a third time all but vanished on a weather-ravaged second stage on Monday as he lost 14 minutes on the leaders.

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Baseball: Israel shock South Korea in WBC opener

(Reuters) - Israel spoiled the opening night party for South Korea on Monday by claiming a 2-1 extra innings upset victory in the first game of the World Baseball Classic in Seoul.

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Athletics: Harrison and Baker speed to yearly bests in U.S. champs

(Reuters) - Top hurdler Keni Harrison and up-and-coming sprinter Ronnie Baker ran the fastest times in the world this year at the U.S. indoor championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Sunday.

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Sunday, March 5, 2017

Red Bulls spoil Atlanta debut with 2-1 MLS win

(Reuters) - The New York Red Bulls scored two late goals to claim a 2-1 victory and spoil the Major League Soccer (MLS) debut of Atlanta United on Sunday.

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Johnson wins in Mexico to cement world number one ranking

(Reuters) - Dustin Johnson started his reign as world number one in the best possible way by winning the WGC-Mexico Championship in Mexico City on Sunday.

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Athletics: Lyles and Berry set world indoor bests at U.S. champs

(Reuters) - Teenager Noah Lyles ran the fastest indoor 300 meters of all-time as he and weight thrower Gwen Berry set world bests at the U.S. championships on Saturday.

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Team Israel keen to show they belong at WBC

PETACH TIKVA, Israel (Reuters) - To players on Team Israel, it doesn't matter that they don't live in Israel and play ball in the United States, don't speak Hebrew and haven't visited the country until recently.

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Saturday, March 4, 2017

Boxing: Underdog Bellew stuns Haye in heavyweight clash

(Reuters) - Underdog Tony Bellew stopped former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye in the 11th round of their thrilling clash at London's O2 Arena on Saturday.

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Nadal has no answer to Querrey power in Acapulco final

(Reuters) - American Sam Querrey claimed the biggest title of his career with an emphatic 6-3 7-6(3) upset victory over second seed Rafa Nadal in the final of the Mexican Open on Saturday.

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D'Antoni's fired-up philosophy has Rockets revved up

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - From basketball innovator to coaching flameout, Mike D’Antoni has survived the roller coaster of the NBA and landed back in the league’s good graces.

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Djokovic has lost his edge, says former mentor Pilic

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic has lost the tenacity which enabled him to rule men's tennis for a number of years, former mentor Niki Pilic said on Saturday.

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Cavaliers shatter record with three-point barrage

(The Sports Xchange) - The Cleveland Cavaliers have been on a three-point binge since the first of the year. On Friday, they took it step further and set an NBA record in the process.

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Murray wins first title of year in Dubai

(Reuters) - World number one Andy Murray won his first title of 2017 with a 6-3 6-2 victory over unseeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the Dubai Tennis Championships final on Saturday.

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Friday, March 3, 2017

Nadal breezes into Acapulco final

(The Sports Xchange) - Rafael Nadal continues to show no rust in his first tournament since losing the Australian Open final earlier this year.

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Kaepernick becomes free agent, 49ers without quarterback

(Reuters) - Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers, the National Football League team said on Friday.

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Olympics: IOC ethics committee looks into Rio payment claims

Rio de Janeiro (Reuters) - Organizers of the 2016 Rio Olympics denied on Friday that vote buying helped to secure the Games after a French newspaper reported that a Brazilian businessman made payments to the son of an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member before the vote.

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Tennis: Resurgent Venus says no end in sight to playing career

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Seven-times grand slam winner Venus Williams, fresh off an inspirational run to the Australian Open finals at age 36, sees no end in sight on the tennis court, even envisioning another Olympics alongside her sister Serena.

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NBA: Mavs' Nowitzki closing in on exclusive scoring club

(Reuters) - Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki was labeled a "soft Euro" by critics early in his career but the grossly misguided perception ultimately fueled the towering German to become one of the NBA's greatest scorers.

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Olympics: Repeat Olympic bidders to pay less, IOC's Bach in newspaper

BERLIN (Reuters) - Cities bidding for the Olympic Games for a second consecutive time should not have to start from scratch and can pay less than first-timers, IOC President Thomas Bach was reported as saying on Friday.

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Thursday, March 2, 2017

Ace high Kyrgios stuns Djokovic in Acapulco

(Reuters) - Nick Kyrgios served like a demon to bounce Serbia's world number two and top seed Novak Djokovic out of the quarter-finals of the Acapulco International with a 7-6(9) 7-5 victory on Thursday.

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Kaepernick to stand during national anthem: report

(The Sports Xchange) - Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has altered his stance and will stand during the national anthem next season, ESPN reported on Thursday.

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Westwood stumbles late, joins Mickelson in six-way tie

(Reuters) - Lee Westwood spoke about his "ballistic" ball after bogeying the final two holes to fall into a share of the lead with Phil Mickelson and four others after the first round at the WGC-Mexico Championship at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City on Thursday.

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Athletics wants clean Russia back, says Europe chief Hansen

BELGRADE (Reuters) - The track and field circuit wants Russia to eradicate doping so the country's athletes can return to action in full force, the head of the European Athletic Association said on Thursday.

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IOC sees 2020 golf course row being resolved by June

TOKYO (Reuters) - The club scheduled to host golf at the 2020 Tokyo Games appears to be moving towards a policy of accepting women as full members and the issue will likely be resolved by June, International Olympic Committee Vice President John Coates said.

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Wie uses helping hands to climb up Singapore leaderboard

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Michelle Wie has endured a startling decline since her U.S. Open triumph in 2014 following a string of niggling injuries but the American made the most of a couple of favors to climb to the top of the HSBC Women's Champions leaderboard on Thursday.

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Nadal, Djokovic advance in Acapulco

(The Sports Xchange) - Second-seeded Rafael Nadal remained perfect in matches at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel ATP event in Acapulco, Mexico, by easing past Italian Paolo Lorenzi 6-1, 6-1 in a second-round match Wednesday.

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Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Simon Hobday dies aged 76

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Simon Hobday, one of golf’s most colorful characters, has died aged 76, South Africa’s Sunshine Tour announced on Thursday.

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Bargain shoppers dominate quiet NHL trade deadline day

TORONTO (Reuters) - The National Hockey League's trade deadline day failed to produce any blockbusters as bargain shoppers rummaged through rosters on Wednesday tweaking lineups for a Stanley Cup run or getting an early jump on a rebuild.

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Vegas Golden Knights officially join NHL

(Reuters) - The Vegas Golden Knights officially joined the National Hockey League on Wednesday as the league's 31st team after completing the expansion transaction on Wednesday.

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Warriors' Durant out indefinitely with knee injury

(Reuters) - Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant has suffered a knee sprain and will be out indefinitely, the National Basketball Association said on Wednesday, dealing a blow to the team's bid for a third straight trip to the finals.

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Federer stunned by Russian Donskoy in Dubai

(Reuters) - Roger Federer suffered a shock 3-6 7-6(7) 7-6(5) loss to world number 116 Evgeny Donskoy of Russia in the Dubai Open second round on Wednesday.

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Team Sky did not keep proper medical records, UKAD head says

LONDON (Reuters) - Team Sky did not keep complete medical records for their riders, the head of the UK Anti-Doping agency said on Wednesday.

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Golf's governing bodies propose 'fundamental' rule changes

(Reuters) - The elimination of "ball moved" penalties and reduction of time allowed to search for a lost ball are among several fundamental rule changes that have been proposed by golf's governing bodies.

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Tattoos, drugs on docket for ex-NFL star Hernandez's murder trial

BOSTON (Reuters) - Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez's tattoos and history of drug use could be among the evidence presented at the convicted killer's second murder trial, which gets under way in Boston on Wednesday with opening arguments.

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Djokovic wins Acapulco opener

ACAPULCO (The Sports Xchange) - Playing for the first time since his early ouster at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic posted a straight-sets victory Tuesday in the first round of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel tournament in Acapulco, Mexico.

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Bogut agrees to sign with Cavaliers: reports

(Reuters) - Big man Andrew Bogut has agreed to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers giving them yet another valuable acquisition, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

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Jets confirm release of cornerback Revis

(Reuters) - The New York Jets have informed cornerback Darrelle Revis that they will be releasing him to become a free agent before March 9, the team announced Tuesday.

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