Sport news

• Players' union backs Six Nations move

  12-05-2016 23:56 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The Rugby Players' Association supports World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont's plans to move the Six Nations.
  
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• Farquhar seriously ill after crash

  12-05-2016 23:53 via bbc.co.uk
  
  County Tyrone's Ryan Farquhar is seriously ill after he and another rider were involved in a high-speed crash during the North West 200.
  
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• Sunderland should not be celebrating after finishing 17th despite the relief... while Newcastle is 'rotten' inside and outside

  12-05-2016 23:31 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  MICHAEL WALKER: As Wednesday night became Thursday morning, Sam Allardyce was asked about champagne. There was a jocular reply about beer from a man who had just completed his job.
  
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• Roberto Martinez was an honourable guy and a man of principle but he didn't deliver, says former Everton midfielder Peter Reid 

  12-05-2016 23:30 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  PETER REID: Roberto Martinez is a man of principle, I admire that, I respect it, but it doesn't always win football matches. Belief in what you do is a strength but it is also a weakness.
  
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• Temer says Olympics will bring global focus to Brazil's politics

  12-05-2016 23:26
  SAO PAULO (Reuters) - The Olympics will bring the world's attention to Brazil, with a particular focus on its economy and politics, interim President Michel Temer said on Thursday in his first public remarks after former running mate Dilma Rousseff was suspended from office. (Reporting by Brad Haynes; Editing by Daniel Flynn)
  
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• WADA declares Kenya non-compliant, Rio at stake

  12-05-2016 23:24
  By Steve Keating MONTREAL (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency found Kenya to be non-compliant with the WADA Code on Thursday, saying changes needed to be made to legislation recently enacted by the African nation. The surprise move could lead to Kenyan athletes missing August's Rio Olympics if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) so deems. "There are sufficiently major changes (in the new legislation) that they wouldn't be operating under the same rules as everybody else so we need to
  
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• Leeds 12-52 Castleford

  12-05-2016 23:23 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Luke Dorn scores a first-half hat-trick for Castleford as they thump Super League's bottom side Leeds Rhinos.
  
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• Day equals record score to lead Players

  12-05-2016 23:22 via bbc.co.uk
  
  World number one Jason Day equals the course record to take a two-shot first-round lead at the Players Championship.
  
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• Russian sports minister dismisses Sochi doping report as nonsense

  12-05-2016 23:18
  MOSCOW (Reuters) - Allegations of extensive doping by Russian athletes at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics are nonsense, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko was quoted as saying on Thursday. The New York Times reported that dozens of Russian athletes who competed at Sochi, including at least 15 medal winners, were part of a state-run doping programme. TASS news agency quoted Mutko as saying he was confident in the athletes. "I believe these guys, they are outstanding athletes, the charges are nonsense,"
  
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• Doping programme behind Russian medals at Sochi Olympics - report

  12-05-2016 23:18
  
  (Reuters) - Dozens of Russian athletes who competed at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, including at least 15 medal winners, were part of a state-run doping programme, the New York Times reported on Thursday. The report is broadly consistent with revelations by an independent World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) commission last November of widespread state-sponsored doping in Russia, which led to a ban on the country competing in international athletics competitions. According to the New York Times re
  
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• England must build on Edwards - Connor

  12-05-2016 23:17 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A greater focus on the English grassroots game is needed to build on Charlotte Edwards' legacy, says the head of England women's cricket.
  
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• Raptors have Heat on the brink, look to clinch in Game 6

  12-05-2016 23:14
  
  MIAMI (AP) — The centers are hobbled and sidelined. The starting point guards have seen their faces bloodied. Both teams have key forwards dealing with wrist injuries, and Toronto's leading scorer needs his super-tender thumb wrapped in something resembling a shoelace so he can play.
  
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• Els enjoys upside in love-hate relationship at Players

  12-05-2016 23:10
  (Reuters) - Ernie Els has endured some tough times on the PGA Tour this season but on Thursday at the Players Championship he enjoyed one of his best days at a venue where he has developed a long-standing "love-hate" relationship. The smooth-swinging South African, whose world ranking has plummeted to 229th after recent struggles with his swing and short game, fired a six-under-par 66 in ideal conditions for the opening round at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. It was his lowest s
  
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• After political turmoil, Olympic organizers push on

  12-05-2016 23:08
  
  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The venues are, in the words of organizers, 99 percent ready. The torch is winding its way around the country in a three-month relay ending at the opening ceremony.
  
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• Revamped Penguins, speedy Lightning set for East finals

  12-05-2016 23:06
  
  PITTSBURGH (AP) — On the calendar, the gap between the last time the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning met and Friday night's Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals is less than three months.
  
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• Scott Skiles resigns as coach of Magic after just 1 season

  12-05-2016 23:05
  
  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Scott Skiles surprisingly resigned as coach of the Orlando Magic after just one season and team executives insist they never saw it coming.
  
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• Federer out, Serena overcomes dog-food illness

  12-05-2016 23:04
  Roger Federer said 'time was ticking' in his battle to recover form and fitness for the French Open after he lost to rising Austrian Dominic Thiem 7-6(2) 6-4 in the third round of the Italian Open on Thursday. Defending champion Novak Djokovic had an unexpected stumble at the start of his match, losing the first set to Thomaz Bellucci to love, before recovering to beat the Brazilian 0-6 6-3 6-2. Women's top seed Serena Williams won through to the quarter-finals despite falling ill after tasting
  
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• At LA arena, Dylan rocked, Nixon talked, Clippers flopped

  12-05-2016 23:03
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — The dump will jump no more.
  
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• Groningen take slender lead in Europa League play-off

  12-05-2016 22:54
  Groningen took a slender lead after the first leg of the Dutch league play-off on Thursday as Rasmus Lingren headed home the winner for a 2-1 victory over Heracles Almelo. Thursday’s other play-off encounter between PEC Zwolle and Utrecht ended goalless with the second leg of both ties to be played on Sunday. The two winners advance to the two-legged final to decide a place in next season’s Europa League.
  
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• Teen football player whose injury raised safety efforts dies

  12-05-2016 22:52
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Donnovan Hill, the California teenager whose paralyzing football injury led to increased safety protections for young players after he sued a youth league, has died, a lawyer for his family said Thursday.
  
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• Saudi Arabia, Iran trade blame over failed Hajj talks

  12-05-2016 22:50
  
  Officials blame each other over talks' failure that may see Iran's Muslims miss out on annual pilgrimage.
  
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• UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum set for homecoming in Brazil in historic first title defence 

  12-05-2016 22:49 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  UFC heavyweight titleholder Fabricio Werdum will finally realise one of his biggest dreams this weekend when he defends his title at the Atletico Paranaense Stadium in Curitiba.
  
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• LeBron says his retirement from NBA is 'up to my kids'

  12-05-2016 22:49
  CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James will soon face a triple-team he can't beat.
  
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• From Harper's ejection to Scherzer's 20 Ks, Nats making news

  12-05-2016 22:45
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Max Scherzer's record-tying 20-strikeout performance was only the latest in a recent series of newsworthy moments for the Washington Nationals, one right after the other.
  
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• Portsmouth 2-2 Plymouth Argyle

  12-05-2016 22:44 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Portsmouth and Plymouth share four goals in an eventful first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final.
  
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• Aberdeen 0-1 Heart of Midlothian

  12-05-2016 22:38 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Abiola Dauda's fifth goal of the season is enough to seal victory for Hearts against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
  
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• The Latest: Kenyan track officials fear Olympic ban

  12-05-2016 22:28
  
  The Latest on developments in Olympic doping stories. All times local:
  
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• How many times has your team changed coaches in the Pop era?

  12-05-2016 22:26
  
  MIAMI (AP) — Coaching changes are constant in the NBA, except in San Antonio.
  
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• GB's Scott wins fourth world title

  12-05-2016 22:23 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Britain's Giles Scott claims his fourth world title with victory in the Finn Gold Cup in Gaeta, Italy.
  
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• Russia, Kenya track teams may miss Rio after doping rulings

  12-05-2016 22:07
  
  MONTREAL (AP) — The powerhouse track teams from Russia and Kenya are in serious jeopardy of missing this summer's Olympics after the World Anti-Doping Agency delivered stinging rebukes Thursday to attempts to clean up drug-addled programs in both countries.
  
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• Day ties course record at Sawgrass with 63 for the lead

  12-05-2016 22:07
  
  PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Jason Day created a far better memory Thursday than his last round at the TPC Sawgrass. Not only was he 18 shots better, the world's No. 1 player tied the course record with a 9-under 63 that gave him a two-shot lead in The Players Championship.
  
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• UK Supreme Court blocks damages for Iraqi civilians - KLKN

  12-05-2016 22:02
  UK Supreme Court blocks damages for Iraqi civilians
  KLKN
  LONDON (AP) - Britain's Supreme Court has blocked damage claims in a series of test cases brought by Iraqi civilians who allege they were mistreated by British soldiers Iraq between 2003 and 2009. The decision has implications for more than 600 Iraqi ...en meer »
  
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• Young and Medlen put on DL by Royals with arm injuries

  12-05-2016 21:55
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Struggling pitchers Chris Young and Kris Medlen have been put on the disabled list by the Kansas City Royals.
  
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• VIDEO: Warner is all right actually! - Root

  12-05-2016 21:54 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Watch England batsman Joe Root face a series of quick-fire questions, including whether he and David Warner have made amends.
  
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• Giroud makes France squad, Ben Arfa among reserves

  12-05-2016 21:39
  By Patrick Vignal PARIS (Reuters) - France coach Didier Deschamps picked seasoned striker Olivier Giroud on Thursday for his 23-man squad for the European football Championship, which France will host, naming in-form forward Hatem Ben Arfa only as a reserve. Giroud, recovering from a lean spell at Arsenal with a strong finish to the Premier League season, is one of six strikers in the squad alongside Antoine Griezmann, Dimitri Payet, Antony Martial, Kingsley Coman and Andre-Pierre Gignac. ...
  
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• Former Liverpool player Sami Hyypia leaves Zurich after former champions slump to bottom of the league 

  12-05-2016 21:37 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Sami Hyypia has left Swiss club Zurich by mutual consent just one day after the 12-time champions slumped to last place in the league. Hyypia's team were booed off on Wednesday after losing.
  
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• Andy Murray cruises into quarter-finals of Italian Open after straight-sets victory over Jeremy Chardy

  12-05-2016 21:37 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  MIKE DICKSON IN ROME: Andy Murray recovered from a dangerous lapse in the second set to ultimately ease his way past Jeremy Chardy 6-0, 6-4 and into the quarter-finals of the Italian Open.
  
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• 7 Ireland players that need to impress in the upcoming Netherlands friendly

  12-05-2016 21:37
  
  Harry Arter and others who are hoping to secure a place in the final 23-man panel.
  
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• Murray reaches Italian Open quarters

  12-05-2016 21:33 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Andy Murray defeats Jeremy Chardy in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the Italian Open in Rome.
  
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• Sizzling Day shoots record-tying 63 to move two ahead

  12-05-2016 21:30
  (Reuters) - Jason Day lived up to his status as the world's number one golfer as he charged into an early two-shot lead with a record-tying nine-under-par 63 in Thursday's opening round of the Players Championship at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Taking advantage of a soft, receptive layout at the TPC Sawgrass where there was barely a breath of wind early on a sun-drenched day ripe for low scoring, the long-hitting Australian piled up nine birdies in a bogey-free display. "I played solid from tee
  
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• Adeniran-Olule death 'motivates' Quins

  12-05-2016 21:23 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Harlequins will be motivated by the death of prop Seb Adeniran-Olule when they play the Challenge Cup final, according to Conor O'Shea.
  
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• Roberto Martinez: How the Spaniard's stubborn nature forced Everton to sack him now

  12-05-2016 21:20 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  WHEN THE AXE finally fell, it should have dawned on Roberto Martinez he had become the antithesis of everything he admires.
  
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• Everton sack Martinez as manager

  12-05-2016 20:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Everton sack manager Roberto Martinez after three years in charge at Goodison Park, with the club 12th in the Premier League.
  
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• Seeley wins record 16th race at NW200

  12-05-2016 20:54 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Alastair Seeley passes the late Robert Dunlop's record for wins at the North West 200 with his 16th career victory.
  
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• Go for Mourinho! Everton fans want the Special One following Martinez sacking

  12-05-2016 20:49 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  JOSE MOURINHO is a popular option but would he consider the Everton job?
  
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• Brazil's Rousseff vows fight; incoming interim president sets sights on economy

  12-05-2016 20:47
  By Lisandra Paraguassu and Alonso Soto BRASILIA (Reuters) - Suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff vowed on Thursday she would fight to prove her innocence after the Senate voted to put her on trial for breaking budget laws, its historic decision fuelled by deep recession and a sprawling corruption scandal. In a dramatic changing of the guard that signalled a political shift in Brazil, Rousseff, a leftist who has been in office since 2011, departed Brasilia's Planalto presidential palace j
  
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• Wings of Desire storms into Derby contention with 'freakish' victory at York 

  12-05-2016 20:35 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Trainer John Gosden described Wings of Desire as ‘freakish’ after the colt leapt to the head of the Investec Derby betting with a neck win from Deauville in the Betfred Dante Stakes at York.
  
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• Everton manager news: Unsworth and Royle take charge for final game of the season

  12-05-2016 20:29 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  DAVID UNSWORTH and Joe Royle will take charge of Everton's final game of the season.
  
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• Hamilton calls for Kvyat to be given time

  12-05-2016 20:20
  By Alan Baldwin BARCELONA (Reuters) - Formula One World champions Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso hailed Daniil Kvyat on Thursday and said they hoped Red Bull's decision to replace the young Russian driver would have no long-lasting effects on his career. "I do really just hope for Daniil," triple champion Hamilton told reporters at a Spanish Grand Prix news conference that also featured Kvyat and his Dutch replacement Max Verstappen. "I just hope that in this manoeuvre it doesn’t hinde
  
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• Newcastle man holds crunch talks over future: Everton an option

  12-05-2016 20:19 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  RAFA BENITEZ could stay at Newcastle this summer despite the club's relegation from the Premier League, according to reports.
  
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