OLYMPICS
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) In a show of unity after sharp divisions caused by the Russian doping scandal, Olympic leaders gave the World Anti-Doping Agency increased powers to lead the fight against drug cheats and pushed ahead with plans for a separate independent body to carry out global drug-testing.
A summit of top global sports officials backed WADA to continue to oversee worldwide anti-doping efforts, upholding the agency’s central role following months of strained relations caused by its call to ban Russia from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics over state-sponsored cheating.
The leaders called for WADA to lead a ”more robust, more efficient, more transparent, and more harmonized” anti-doping system, and promised more funding for the cash-strapped agency if it enacts reforms.
The summit also supported previously announced plans for the Court of Arbitration for Sport to take over the role of imposing sanctions on doping cheats, removing the responsibility from sports federations in order to make the system more independent. CAS handled doping sanctions during the Rio Games for the first time.
AUTO RACING
SAN MARINO (AP) – One spectator has died and several more are seriously injured after a car veered off course into a crowd during a rally event in the Republic of San Marino.
RallyLegend organizers say in a statement that the car ”went off the road and hit some straw bales protecting a runoff path” and that the spectators affected were ”standing right behind the bales.”
The car involved was a Renault Clio Maxi driven by Enrico Bonaso with Alice Palazzi as navigator.
Sunday’s race was canceled and local authorities immediately opened a criminal investigation into the incident.
It was the 14th edition of the event.
San Marino is nestled atop a hill in central Italy near Rimini and the Adriatic coast.
SOCCER
CHICAGO (AP) – Five of the starters from the United States‘ 2-0 win at Cuba have been released to return to their clubs and will miss Tuesday’s exhibition against New Zealand in Washington, D.C.
Defenders John Brooks, Geoff Cameron and Fabian Johnson were let go along with midfielder Christian Pulisic and forward Bobby Wood, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Saturday. They were among nine players to leave the team, a group that also included goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, defender Timmy Chandler and forwards Jordan Morris and Chris Wondolowski.
Seven players were added, leaving the U.S. with a 20-man roster: goalkeeper Bill Hamid; defenders Kellyn Acosta, Matt Besler, Michael Orozco and Tim Parker; and forwards Juan Agudelo and Terrence Boyd.
Boyd has not been with the national team since he was on the 30-man preliminary roster for the 2014 World Cup. The 25-year-old tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in December 2014.
Agudelo has not been with the national team since June 2015.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina’s stadium is mostly OK after a brush with Hurricane Matthew. So is the athletic director’s house.
There was little visible damage to Williams-Brice Stadium, a day before it will host South Carolina’s delayed game with Georgia. Athletic director Ray Tanner said he and his family also were doing well after a fallen tree damaged their house.
Tanner said on Twitter that he and his family were ”safe and all is well.”
At Williams-Brice, a few letters from ”GAMECOCKS” above the press box area came off in the storm. South Carolina executive associate AD Charles Bloom said staff was inspecting the stadium to make sure it was safe for fans and both teams Sunday.
The schools and the Southeastern Conference moved the game from Saturday night because of Matthew.
PRO FOOTBALL
DENVER (AP) – Broncos coach Gary Kubiak experienced flu-like symptoms and was taken from the stadium to a hospital by ambulance following Denver’s 23-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Team spokesman Patrick Smyth said Kubiak was transported as a precaution about 45 minutes after the game.
Players had already left the stadium, but some tweeted their well wishes to their coach upon learning of his illness.
”Prayers out for Coach Kub!” safety T.J. Ward wrote from his account.
Kubiak had a health scare in 2013 when he was coach of the Houston Texans, suffering a ”mini-stroke” in a frightening scene in which he collapsed at halftime during a game against the Colts. He returned to the sideline 10 days later but was soon fired.
