Digest

SOCCER

Maradona autopsy shows no intoxicants

A second autopsy has shown that Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona did not consume alcohol or narcotics in the days before his death, a local prosecutor's office said on Wednesday.

The 1986 World Cup winner died of a heart attack aged 60 on Nov 25, less than a month after undergoing surgery in Buenos Aires to remove a blood clot on his brain.

Results of the autopsy, published by the San Isidro public prosecutor, revealed Maradona was suffering from problems related to his kidneys, heart and lungs.

Investigators have said they are trying to determine whether there was negligence on the part of doctors and medical staff.

An initial autopsy found that Maradona had died from "acute pulmonary edema secondary to exacerbated chronic heart failure with dilated cardiomyopathy".

Late drama ensures Milan ends year on top

Theo Hernandez's stoppage-time winner ensured AC Milan ended the year top of Serie A after beating Lazio 3-2 on Wednesday.

The Milan players all piled on top of Hernandez in joyful celebration after his late winner. Milan had let slip a two-goal lead and seemed set to head into the winter break behind city rival Inter, which earlier won 2-1 at Hellas Verona.

The Rossoneri instead go into the festive period a point above Inter and edging closer to ending their 10-year title drought as the last remaining unbeaten team across Europe's top five leagues.

"It's a very important goal. For the team. I'm happy," Hernandez said. "We fought right until the end and it was worth it.

"Lazio had a good game. But we never gave up."

BASKETBALL

Houston game off amid Harden virus absence

The James Harden soap opera in Houston now comes with a canceled season opener－and a $50,000 fine for the league's leading scorer.

Houston's opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night was scrapped after coronavirus cases and Harden's violation of the NBA's COVID-19 protocols left the Rockets without the league-mandated eight players available.

It was a dispiriting blow to the NBA on just the second night of an uncertain season launching with the pandemic still raging.

The NBA announced the postponement in a release that said three Rockets players had returned tests that were either positive or inconclusive and that four other players were quarantined because of contact tracing.

The release also said that Harden was unavailable for the game because of a violation of health and safety protocols after video of the disgruntled star surfaced on social media where he was not wearing a mask at a crowded party in a private event space Monday night.

ICE HOCKEY

Lightning's Kucherov to miss regular season

Leading playoff scorer Nikita Kucherov is expected to miss the entire regular season because of a hip injury that requires surgery, a blow to the Tampa Bay Lightning that also comes with a silver lining for the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Kucherov won't be available for the 56-game NHL season that's scheduled to run from Jan 13-May 8. General manager Julien BriseBois is optimistic the 27-year-old will be back for the playoffs and claimed Kucherov's absence will allow the Lightning to be salary-cap compliant with the rest of their key players under contract.

Kucherov had a postseason-best 27 assists and 34 points despite playing through a groin injury. BriseBois said Kucherov reported discomfort in early December, tried a rehab regimen with a cortisone shot and only decided to have surgery next week after none of that alleviated his pain.

Before helping the Lightning win the championship last season in the bubble, Kucherov won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2018-19, leading the league with 128 points.

Xinhua - Agencies