Digest

Olympics

Qatar could host Games, says Coe

The head of world athletics, Sebastian Coe, refused on Thursday to rule out a summer Olympics being held in the desert state of Qatar.

Speaking at a media conference in Doha, Coe said athletics aspired to being a global sport.

"We have consistently turned up to conferences to talk about globalization and using sport to impact and imprint on the lives of young people," Coe said.

"And we have to make sure where possible giving those countries that want to stage these events to do exactly what we have been, for the last 30 or 40 years, encouraging them to do."

Basketball

Curry unlikely to return for Game 3

Stephen Curry is unlikely to play on Saturday for Golden State in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Portland since he still has not practiced on his sprained right knee.

Curry did work on the side while the Warriors practiced on Thursday but could not yet do any of the scrimmaging that the medical staff and coaches want to see before he is cleared to return.

"It's tough to see him playing Saturday," coach Steve Kerr said. "He's gotten better and better each day."

In fact, Kerr said "probably not" when asked about Curry playing on Saturday. Game 4 on Monday is still a conceivable option if Curry keeps making good progress.

"Everything has gone very smoothly. He hasn't had any setbacks," Kerr said. "He's ramping up things in the weight room."

Cycling

Disgraced Di Luca 'regrets nothing'

Banned for life in 2013, disgraced Giro d'Italia winner Danilo Di Luca said he "regrets nothing" from a drug-fueled career that turned him and many other cyclists into "liars", in an autobiography to hit the shelves next week.

Di Luca won the three-week Italian race, the 99th edition of which begins on Friday in the Dutch town of Apeldoorn, in 2007 but earned more notoriety than fame in his career due to persistent doping controversy. But despite the ultimate humiliation of a life ban three years ago, Di Luca said he was simply following the professional peloton's etiquette.

American Football

Jets sign 3 draft picks, waive WR

The New York Jets signed cornerback Juston Burris, offensive tackle Brandon Shell and punter Lachlan Edwards, three of their seven draft picks, and waived Joe Anderson, the wide receiver who made headlines by standing outside Houston's stadium with a sign looking for an NFL job last season.

Burris was a fourth-rounder out of North Carolina State who started three seasons for the Wolfpack. He will likely compete for a backup spot behind projected starters Darrelle Revis and Buster Skrine, and also play on special teams.

Falcons' draft nest is full

One day after becoming the first team to agree to terms with its first-round draft pick, the Atlanta Falcons have become the first team to sign all their selections.

The Falcons on Wednesday signed safety Keanu Neal to a four-year, $10.7 million deal with a signing bonus of about $6 million.

The team signed its other five picks on Thursday: linebacker Deion Jones, tight end Austin Hooper, linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, guard Wes Schweitzer and wide receiver Devin Fuller.

Agencies

(China Daily 05/07/2016 page11)