Olympic swimmer admits to use of cannabis
Singapore, Aug 31: Olympic gold-medal swimmer Joseph Schooling has apologized for using cannabis in Vietnam while competing there on leave from military service in his native Singapore. Schooling achieved superstar status in Singapore when he won his country’s first and only Olympic title at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. He won the 100 meters butterfly beating Michael Phelps in the American great’s last Olympic race. The 27-year-old swimmer ‘confessed to have consumed cannabis overseas in May,’ the Singapore Ministry of Defence said in a statement Tuesday. The defence ministry said Schooling was warned and “will be placed on a supervised urine test regime for six months.” Schooling “will no longer be eligible for leave or disruption to train or compete while in (national service),” the ministry said, and faces up to nine months detention in barracks for any subsequent drug abuse. (AP)
Nevada judge nearly publicises Ronaldo rape case documents
Las Vegas, Aug 31: A Las Vegas police report compiled a decade after a woman first made a 2009 rape complaint against international football star Cristiano Ronaldo almost became public by mistake, before a Nevada judge backtracked and kept it sealed. Clark County District Court Judge Jasmin Lilly-Spells decided to at least temporarily follow a federal court order shielding from public view the results of the police investigation, a confidentiality agreement with the alleged rape victim and allegedly stolen records of attorney-client discussions between Ronaldo and his lawyers. “The court is ordering that the temporary seal remain,” Lilly-Spells said, inviting written arguments by Sept 6 from attorneys for Ronaldo, the woman, Kathryn Mayorga, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper. (AP)
IOA treasurer Pandey booked for sexual assault
Lucknow, Aug 31: A case of rape has been registered against Anandeshwar Pandey, general secretary of the UP Olympic Association, at Bhiwadi police station in Rajasthan. A handball player has lodged an FIR against Pandey, also the treasurer of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), alleging sexual assault. Seema Sharma, a former national-level handball player of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), has filed the complaint against Pandey, who was also the secretary general of the Handball Federation of India (HFI) from 2013 to 2020. The FIR was registered at the Mahila Police Station at Bhiwadi in Rajasthan on Sunday under IPC section of 376 (rape), 511 (attempt to commit an offence) and 506 (criminal intimidation). In her complaint, Sharma has accused Pandey of trying to rape her at the UPOA’s office in Lucknow in March this year. (IANS)
Germany’s Andrea Petkovic retires from tennis
New York, Aug 31: Germany’s Andrea Petkovic was overcome with emotion after her tennis career effectively ended on Tuesday in a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 defeat against Swiss Olympic champion Belinda Bencic at the US Open. Former top 10 player and French Open semi-finalist Petkovic had announced last week that the New York grand slam would be her swansong, although she may appear once more at a smaller event in Europe to give friends and family a final chance to see her play. The German tennis star has also worked as a sports journalist and columnist during her career. (IANS)