Digest

SOCCER

Neymar among trio of positive PSG tests

Neymar

Neymar is reported to be among three Paris Saint-Germain players who have tested positive for COVID-19.

"Three Paris Saint-Germain players have confirmed positive SARS COV2 tests and are subject to the appropriate health protocol," a statement from PSG said.

"All of the players and coaching staff will continue to undergo tests in the coming days."

French sports daily L'Equipe later reported that the three players are Neymar and Argentinian duo Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes, who holidayed together in Ibiza, Spain after the Champions League final against Bayern Munich on Aug 23.

The infected players will miss the trip to Lens on Sept 10 for PSG's opening Ligue 1 game of the new season.

French soccer's governing body has ruled that a team must cancel its training sessions if four or more positive cases are found, with the possibility that its matches could also be postponed.

BASKETBALL

Jordan buys stake in NBA's betting partner

Michael Jordan

DraftKings had a big bounce on Wall Street Wednesday on news that basketball legend Michael Jordan is taking an ownership stake in the sports betting site.

Jordan is getting stock in DraftKings in exchange for providing "guidance and strategic advice" to the Bostonbased company's board of directors, the company said. DraftKings did not release details of the size of Jordan's stake. Shares of DraftKings Inc, which went public in April, ended up 8 percent on Wednesday.

Jordan is the majority owner of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets and the deal has the league's approval.

"NBA team investors, including governors, are permitted to have involvement with sports betting and fantasy sports businesses, subject to safeguards required under league rules to prevent actual or perceived conflicts of interest," an NBA spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The NBA agreed to a multiyear deal about a year ago to make Draft-Kings its official sports-betting operator.

PANDEMIC

NCAA to furlough staff for up to eight weeks

The NCAA will furlough its entire Indianapolis-based staff of about 600 employees for three to eight weeks in a cost-saving move, according to a memo obtained Wednesday by Associated Press.

The memo from NCAA president Mark Emmert went out to the association's more than 1,200 member schools Wednesday. The furloughs will not affect senior executives.

Starting Sept 21 through the end of January 2021, all national office staff will be subjected to a mandatory three-week furlough, Emmert wrote. Some staff will be furloughed up to eight weeks, depending on position and "seasonal timing of their duties".

Earlier this year, USA Today reported Emmert and NCAA senior management were taking a 20 percent salary reduction and vice-presidents would be taking 10 percent pay cuts. The association also implemented salary freezes for all employees and did not fill open positions.

CYCLING

Penalized Alaphilippe loses yellow jersey

Julian Alaphilippe

Julian Alaphilippe was stripped of the Tour de France yellow jersey on Wednesday after being handed a time penalty for illegally receiving provisions near the end of Stage 5.

British rider Adam Yates was moved up to first place in the revised general standings after Alaphilippe was docked 20 seconds. TV footage showed the French rider grabbing a bottle from a Deceuninck-Quick Step team support member about 18 kilometers (11 miles) from the finish.

Riders are not allowed to receive provisions during the final 20 kilometers of a stage.

Yates moved to the top of the standings with a three-second lead over Primoz Roglic. Alaphilippe dropped to 16th overall, 16 seconds behind the new leader.

Belgian rider Wout van Aert won the fifth stage in a sprint finish. Alaphilippe waved to the crowd as he left the finish area without the coveted yellow tunic he had worn for the previous three stages.

"I don't think any rider would want to take the jersey like this,"Yates said."I just found out. Nobody wants to take a jersey like this."

SNOOKER

Legend Hendry out of retirement at 51

With age proving no barrier to success in snooker, the sport's greatest winning machine has decided to make a comeback at the age of 51.

Stephen Hendry, the record seven-time world champion, has come out of retirement eight years after hanging up his cue.

"I've always missed the buzz of competing," Hendry said, "and although I have no expectations in terms of performance, this felt like a good time to explore getting back to the table."

Hendry's return comes just weeks after Ronnie O'Sullivan, who rivals the Scot as the greatest snooker player of all time, became a six-time world champion at the age of 44. Mark Williams won the world title in 2018 at the age of 43, while another 45-year-old, four-time world champ John Higgins, reached the world final for three straight years from 2017.

Xinhua - Agencies