Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
IAAF to consider Rio schedule change for Felix
American sprinter Allyson Felix's pursuit of a rare 200-400 meters double at the Rio Olympics gained momentum on Monday when U.S. officials asked the IAAF for a schedule change to make an attempt possible. "We did receive an official request today from USATF," Paul Hardy, competitions director for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), told Reuters in an email. "This will be reviewed in the next few days."
Exclusive - Lights out for Rio 2016? Main power supplier pulls Olympic bid
Longtime Olympic power provider Aggreko has pulled out of a tender to supply generators for the games in Rio de Janeiro next year, the spokesman for Rio 2016 told Reuters, dealing a major blow to organizers rushing to secure an energy source for the world's largest sporting event. The temporary power contract is a vital part of Olympic preparations, guaranteeing a stable and secure energy supply for international broadcasters, the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as back-up electricity for the venues.
Rose's lifetime ban from baseball upheld by MLB
All-time hits leader Pete Rose's bid to have his lifetime ban from Major League Baseball overturned was denied by Commissioner Rob Manfred on Monday due in part to his admission that he still bets on baseball. Rose, who has been ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration since being banned in 1989 for allegedly gambling on games while playing for and managing the Cincinnati Reds, met with Manfred in September to make a case for reinstatement.
Blanket ban on dope-tainted nations 'unjust': Olympians
The World Olympians Association (WOA) has called blanket bans on competitors from doping-tainted nations "unjust" and called for urgent action to ensure clean athletes are allowed to participate in major sporting events. The Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) was suspended last month following a report by the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) independent commission that exposed widespread, systematic state-sponsored doping and related corruption.
Swiss examine 133 suspicious transactions linked to 2018 and 2022 World Cups
Swiss authorities are reviewing 133 reports of suspicious financial activity linked to the decisions by soccer's ruling body to let Russia and Qatar host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals, the Swiss Office of the Attorney General (OAG) said on Monday. That was up from the 103 cases the OAG had reported in August in its investigation of suspected corruption at FIFA, whose headquarters are in Zurich.
Pacers turn up defense, coast past Raptors
With his team trailing Toronto 26-5 midway through the first quarter Monday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indiana Pacers' coach Frank Vogel called a much-needed timeout during which he did not mince words. "I'm not sure I can actually repeat what I said, but essentially, it was about getting our defense right, something we have talked about for the past five games," Vogel said.
FIFA taps U.N. official for global human rights review
FIFA on Monday named a United Nations official focused on business and human rights to develop a plan for soccer's global governing body to adopt the UN's guiding principles on human rights. John Ruggie, the UN Secretary-General's special representative for business and human rights and a professor at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, will produce an independent review of how well FIFA's operations measure up to international human rights standards for workers. It will be the subject of a report released publicly in March, the school and the sporting organization said on Monday.
Serena Williams named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year
Serena Williams, who held all four of tennis's grand slam titles for the second time in her career and won 53 of 56 matches in 2015, was named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine on Monday. The 34-year-old accomplished her second 'Serena Slam' while battling a string of injuries, producing one of the greatest late-career runs in the history of any sport, the magazine said, hailing her a "global icon".
Cuban baseball defectors Puig, Abreu returning to homeland in MLB tour
Cuban baseball defectors including star players Jose Abreu and Yasiel Puig will join a Major League Baseball goodwill tour arriving in Havana on Tuesday in an unprecedented act of baseball diplomacy. Cuba does not typically welcome back defectors so soon, especially for high-profile events, and they remain banned from the Cuban national team for international events such as the World Baseball Classic.
Giants swoop to secure Cueto
The San Francisco Giants have announced a six-year $130 million deal to acquire pitcher Johnny Cueto. Cueto, who will sign pending a physical, was traded to Kansas City at mid-season in 2015 and helped the Royals capture the World Series after seven campaigns with Cincinnati.
