Digest

MISCELLANEOUS

Major League Eating to feed starved fans

While many self-isolating sports fans have found comfort in frequent trips to the refrigerator during the coronavirus crisis, the pros are ready to make those who have overindulged feel better about themselves when they compete in a tournament starting on Friday.

Major League Eating on Tuesday said it would return to action with the BetOnline Quarantine Challenge, which will be broadcast on YouTube and feature eight of the world's elite competitive eaters facing off via video from their homes.

Over a gallon of baked beans must be rapidly consumed for a place in the finals, where the first to finish 10 individual cups of ramen noodles will be crowned the champion.

The competition will feature $11,500 in prize money, with $5,000 going to the winner.

"While there has been substantial discussion about which professional sport would be the first to return－with baseball, basketball, golf and MMA all floating recent potential return plans－competitive eating is first to come back," MLE chairman George Shea said in a statement.

MARATHON

Former London winner suspected of doping

Former London Marathon winner Daniel Wanjiru of Kenya has been provisionally suspended for suspected doping.

The charge against Wanjiru was announced on Tuesday by the Athletics Integrity Unit, which cited suspicious readings in his biological passport. No timetable was given for a disciplinary case.

The 27-year-old Wanjiru won in London in 2017 before returning to the English capital to finish eighth in the marathon at that year's world championships.

Wanjiru said he was innocent of the charge in a statement posted on social media accounts by his management company.

"The (biological passport) finding is confusing and frustrating me," the athlete said. "I feel I am already seen as a sinner of doping, but I am not."

Wanjiru has not returned a positive test, but an athlete's blood passport can reveal the effects of doping by interpreting sample results taken over a longer period of time.

CYCLING

Postponed Tour could start in late August

After weeks of holding out hope that the Tour de France would be able to go ahead as planned, the world's most famous cycling race was finally added to the list of sporting events postponed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The three-week race could still take place this year, however, with French newspapers reporting that a new start date has been set for August. Both L'Equipe and Le Parisien said organizers are now hoping to stage the race from Aug 29-Sept 20.

That new time slot would see the race end on the Champs-Elysees just as the rescheduled French Open tennis tournament starts a few miles away in western Paris.

Tour organizer Amaury Sport Organisation did not immediately reply to a request for confirmation from Associated Press. But local authorities in Haute-Savoie region tweeted that the last of the mountain stages will pass through its rugged and daunting climbs on Sept 17 on the race's 18th stage.

Le Tour was set to start on June 27 in the Riviera city of Nice.

SOCCER

Pogba puzzled by persistent criticism

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is bemused as to why he remains a constant source of criticism despite missing most of the campaign through injury.

The 27-year-old has been restricted to just eight appearances this season due to a persistent ankle injury.

Former Liverpool captain and manager Graeme Souness has been one of the most outspoken critics of Pogba since he returned to United from Juventus for a then world-record fee of 89 million pounds ($112 million) in 2016.

However, Pogba claimed he did not even know who Souness was.

"I didn't even know who he was, really," Pogba told the official Manchester United podcast. "I heard he was a great player and stuff like that. I know the face but (not) the name.

"Like I said I'm not someone that watches a lot of (punditry), I watch a lot of football but I don't stay after the game to listen to what they say about why they did this, or why they did that. I like to focus on football."

Souness－who won three European Cups, and five league titles as a player at Liverpool－responded to World Cup winner Pogba on Tuesday morning.

"I'm happy with that. The oldest saying in football comes to mind: 'Put your medals on the table.' I've got a big table," the former Scottish international told Sky Sports.

Newcastle moving closer to takeover

A potential takeover of English Premier League side Newcastle United by a Saudi Arabian-backed group appeared to move closer on Tuesday after legal documents were lodged with the UK's regulator of companies.

But several other proposed bids to buy the club from Mike Ashley have all come to nothing during the controversial British businessman's 13 years as owner of the northeast side, which sits 13th in the EPL standings.

Those include a 2017 proposal put forward by Amanda Staveley's PCP Capital Partners－the firm involved in the latest possible purchase.

Documents filed at Companies House last week came to light on Tuesday, with the papers providing a framework for talks between PCP and Ashley.

In January, Ashley was reported to be in talks to sell the Magpies for 340 million ($429 million), with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund putting up most of the cash.

Moura dreaming of return to Sao Paulo

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Moura has expressed a wish to return to his former club Sao Paulo before retiring.

But the 27-year-old said he still has unfinished business in north London, where he is under contract until June 2024.

"I don't think it's time to go back to Sao Paulo yet, but of course I have that in mind," Lucas told the Uol news service. "I have a goal to one day go back there because it is the club that I love."

Lucas made 128 appearances over three seasons for Sao Paulo before his 2012 move to Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian joined Spurs in January 2018.

"I don't want to give anyone false hope but one day I'd like to go back there," he said.

Xinhua - Agencies