Nairo Quintana has elected not to ride in the Vuelta a Espana, with his decision coming a day before the start of the season's final Grand Tour gets under way in the Netherlands.
On Wednesday, Quintana was retrospectively disqualified from this year's Tour de France for an in-competition drug infringement.
The Colombian finished sixth in the General Classification, his first top-10 Grand Tour finish since the 2019 Vuelta and his best performance in the Tour de France since 2016.
However, the UCI announced that two samples of Quintana's blood showed traces of tramadol, a banned substance.
The 32-year-old was given 10 days to appeal the ruling with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), though he has not been banned from competition as it is a first offence.
On Thursday, the Colombian confirmed he would not be riding in the Vuelta, despite initially stating he would be doing so.
In a widely reported statement, Arkea-Samsic rider Quintana said: "I communicate that I will not participate in the Vuelta to assert my reasons before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I will return to the calendar races at the end of the season."
Quintana had responded to the allegations via his social media channels, stating: "I have been surprised by the announcement of the UCI of an infraction for use of tramadol.
"I am completely unaware of the use of this substance and I deny having used it in my career.
"With my team of lawyers we are exhausting all the processes to assume my defence.
"I also want to ratify that I will be in the Vuelta a Espana, riding my best for the team, my country and my fans."
Emma Raducanu admitted she has been "too tense" in recent defeats and is aiming to play more freely as she prepares to defend her US Open title.
Raducanu has struggled to follow up last year's shock win at Flushing Meadow, but she appears to have hit form at just the right time.
The 19-year-old has beaten both Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka in straight sets during this week's Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati, dropping just four games against Williams and two against Azarenka.
Her win against Azarenka on Wednesday was just Raducanu's third career victory against a top-25 opponent, after beating Belinda Bencic and Maria Sakkari on her way to winning last year's US Open.
Speaking after her win against the Belarusian, Raducanu said: "I think I have tried a lot of things, and this year I think some matches, I have lost a lot of matches from leading situations and probably just played too tense.
"I think that I just need to swing, and I just said that these two tournaments, or this tournament especially, I'm just going to swing freely and take that and see what happens."
Raducanu also said she will wait until after the tournament to reflect on beating two multiple grand slam champions with relative ease.
"I think after the tournament I actually have to take a step back and be like, 'Look, you just beat two unbelievable champions'," she said. "It's a pretty good achievement. You know how difficult the wins are to come by."
The number 10 seed will face seventh seed Jessica Pegula in the third round in Cincinnati on Thursday.
The Los Angeles Lakers have tied down the immediate future of the greatest player of all time in LeBron James, according to Lakers podcaster Anthony Irwin.
James has agreed a two-year contract extension with the Lakers worth a whopping $97.1million, it was reported by ESPN on Wednesday, citing Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul.
The 37-year-old had been entering the final year of a contract worth $44.5m. His new deal apparently includes a player option for the 2024-25 season.
Last season, James played 56 games overall, averaging 30.3 points per game, only the second time he has averaged over 30 in a single campaign (31.4 PPG for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005-06).
He averaged 8.2 rebounds per game, 6.2 assists and hit a career-high season average of 2.9 three-pointers and 8.0 attempts per game.
James also became the first player in NBA history to record more than 10,000 career points, rebounds and assists.
Speaking to Stats Perform, Irwin said he lists James ahead of Michael Jordan and former Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when it comes to judging the best player of all time.
"I have him as the greatest ever, in my book," he said. "Now, we're splitting hairs anytime you're talking about him and Michael and Kareem, who for some reason is never like involved in the conversation in ways that I think he should be.
"The league is more competitive I think now than it was when Michael was playing. I think you have to take that into account.
"If you have Michael as your GOAT (greatest of all time)? Cool. If you have LeBron as your GOAT? Cool. If you have Kareem is your GOAT? Super cool, because I would love to hear the people who make that case.
"Anybody who tries to act as if those three guys don't have a case to be made, those are the people that I find myself rolling my eyes at."
Irwin – who hosts Lakers podcasts on Silver Screen and Roll – was pleased with the reported agreement between the organisation and James, believing it could make things easier for the Lakers as they look to move Russell Westbrook on.
"It's good that all parties came to the conclusion that they couldn't have this loom over the season or training camp," Irwin added. "I think if LeBron was going to continue his relationship with the Lakers, they had to either announce an exit strategy or announce an extension. Fortunately, they came to the latter decision.
"The other part of this that I find interesting is obviously everybody knows they've been trying to trade Russell Westbrook.
"One source of leverage that other teams might have had on the Lakers as they tried to do that was 'You have to trade Russell Westbrook, you have to appease Lebron James. Otherwise, he's not going to sign that extension.' And you have that awkward relationship carrying forward into the season.
"Now, that's not something that other teams have. So this helps the Lakers, I think, accomplish their goal of not just moving Westbrook but not overpaying to do so. And hopefully bringing some legitimate help back in return."
Josh Donaldson produced a remarkable 10th-inning walk-off grand slam to snap the New York Yankees' slump with an 8-7 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.
Trailing 7-4 in the 10th inning after losing 11 of their past 13 games, Donaldson had his signature moment with bases loaded, blasting Jalen Beeks with a high fly ball deep right over Randy Arozarena's head into the stands.
The victory from the jaws of defeat, was the 10th walk-off grand slam win in Yankees history and first since 2016.
The win also comes amid the Yankees recent offensive struggles, with the slam marking Donaldson's 12th home run of the season.
The Rays had appeared destined for victory after Francisco Mejia's three-run double at the top of the 10th inning, but the Yankees responded by filling the bases before Donaldson's blast.
The result snapped the Yankees' third-game losing streak and ensures they avoided their first sweep at home this season, improving their record to 73-45.
Shohei's one-man show not enough
Shohei Ohtani starred with a two-run homer among his feats but it was not enough to prevent the Los Angeles Angels from being swept by the Seattle Mariners, losing 11-7 on Wednesday.
Ohtani had four hits, four RBIs, with a run-scoring triple in the seventh inning and his two-run blast in the ninth inning, marking his 27th home run of the season.
But the Mariners moved into the top American League Wild Card slot led by two homers from Cal Raleigh, along with two-run shots from Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker each.
Baty's dream major league debut
Rookie Brett Baty homered in front of his family in a fairytale MLB debut as the New York Mets won 9-7 over the Atlanta Braves.
Baty struck a two-run homer out of the yard in his first major league at-bat from the second pitch he faced from Jake Odorizzi. He becomes the fifth Met to homer in their first at-bat.
The Mets withstood a late Braves push after Max Scherzer had eight strikeouts across six-and-one-third innings.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has revealed his appendectomy last month was more serious than first thought after his appendix ruptured.
Burrow returned to training on Sunday after undergoing an appendectomy on July 26, giving him four weeks to build up before the Bengals' NFL season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 11.
The 25-year-old quarterback, who was due to return to team drills on Wednesday, revealed the extent of the issue when addressing a press conference for the first time since the surgery.
"It wasn't normal appendicitis that you hear about," Burrow said.
"I didn't really feel much. Just getting checked out and had some discomfort so we thought we'd get it checked out.
"Turns out I had it, so we had to get it fixed. Not ideal timing obviously but glad to have it now than halfway through the year."
Burrow was sidelined longer than most players for an appendectomy which typically means only missing a few days.
The Bengals are confident the 2020 NFL Draft top pick will be fit and healthy to face the Steelers but Burrow said there was plenty of work to do to ramp up, having lost weight in hospital.
"When they cut into you and do all that stuff your core is going to lose some muscle and some strength just getting that back," said Burrow, whose 2020 and 2021 preseasons were interrupted by COVID-19 and knee surgery respectively.
"I'd like to have a normal offseason at some point. That would be great. Going into the season feeling as good as I can, but that hasn't been the reality for three years."
Burrow, however, is not expecting to play in the Bengals' preseason.
"I think it will be OK," Burrow said. "We have a good plan as far as nutrition and weight room and all that stuff.
"I feel good right now and just going to keep feeling better."
Aaron Rodgers made headlines Tuesday for criticising the Green Bay Packers young wide receivers. A day later, the legendary quarterback met with the wideouts to work with them and get everyone on the same page.
Rodgers and fellow Packer quarterbacks Jordan Love and Danny Etling, along with members of the offensive coaching staff met in the quarterback meeting room Wednesday morning with the wide receivers.
"Aaron spoke to us about what he likes or what not just based on concepts or what he sees," rookie receiver Romeo Doubs said.
"He just wants us to see what he sees. So then that way we can be able to react faster, play faster and just be able to dominate and continue to be who we are."
Doubs had a bad drop Tuesday in the Packers’ joint practice with the New Orleans Saints, prompting Rodgers to call out the young receivers.
"The young guys, especially young receivers, we've got to be way more consistent," Rodgers said on Tuesday.
"A lot of drops, a lot of bad route decisions, running the wrong route. We've got to get better in that area."
Rodgers did not call Wednesday’s meeting but reportedly did plenty of talking during it to try to build chemistry.
"It was just really giving us advice," rookie receiver Samori Toure said. "Basically, letting us know that the Green Bay receiving corps has always been held to a super-high standard.
"All the legends who have been through here. It's just about us carrying on that standard and stepping up."
For the first time since 2013, Rodgers and the Packers open a season without Davante Adams after the five-time Pro Bowl receiver was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in March.
In 2021, Adams was second in the NFL in receptions (123), third in receiving yards (1,553) and fifth in receiving touchdowns (11).
Allen Lazard (40 receptions, 513 receiving yards, 8 receiving touchdowns in 2021) and Randall Cobb (38 receptions, 375 yards, 5 TDs) now take over as Rodgers’ primary targets, and both also spoke during the meeting.
"Both Randall and Allen have been playing with 12 for quite a long time so certain things that we do, that we may have a mistake on, just from experience they've went through that same stage as well," Doubs said.
"Just them picking up the young guys throughout these dog days of camp has been a tremendous blessing and great piece of advice."
The message seemed to resonate with the young receivers as both Toure and Doubs caught touchdown passes in Wednesday's scrimmage with the Saints.
The changes continue at the Texas Rangers with president of baseball operations Jon Daniels the latest to be shown the door effective immediately.
Daniels was informed by owner Ray Davis on Wednesday that his contract will not be renewed at the end of this season.
The Rangers fired manager Chris Woodward on Monday with less than 50 games to go in a season that will almost certainly end with the team missing the playoffs for a sixth year in a row.
The pair of dismissals comes following a season with raised expectations in Texas after the team spent more than $500million in free agency, headlined by the additions of All-Star infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.
"Bottom line is we're not good, and we haven't been good for six years," Davis said.
"To be competitive going forward, I felt that we needed to make a change."
Chris Young, who was brought in as the team's general manager in December 2020, will step into Daniels' role and lead the baseball operations department.
The Rangers have not reached the postseason since 2016 when they won the American League West division. Texas played in the World Series in 2010 and 2011, losing both.
Daniels had been with the Rangers since 2002, appointed as general manager in October 2005 and promoted to president of baseball operations in March 2013.
The Cincinnati Reds have announced six-time All-Star first baseman Joey Votto will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.
The 38-year-old, who won the 2010 National League MVP, revealed the issue had been lingering for a while, dating back to the 2015 season.
Votto will have surgery on Friday, which will repair his torn left rotator cuff.
"I don't know how to explain what exactly happened, but it's been lingering for a while," he said.
"I've had a difficult time with it. Only the past maybe three months or so has it been painful to the point where it's difficult to lift [and] hurts to sleep.
"I'm not sure it's affected my performance. … I can't say that. I don't want to make an excuse."
Votto has batted .205 with 11 homers and 41 RBIs across 91 games this season for the Reds who have a 46-70 record.
Taylor Fritz believes there would be no "harm" in Novak Djokovic competing at the US Open, although the American admits he is conflicted about whether he should be allowed.
Wimbledon champion Djokovic has his route to Flushing Meadows blocked by red tape at present, with the United States refusing to allow unvaccinated foreign visitors to enter the country.
US tennis authorities have pledged to adhere to government rulings surrounding COVID-19 protocols, despite including Djokovic on their entry list.
For Djokovic to be allowed into the United States, it appears he would require a change of policy from law-makers, or he would have to be considered suitable for an exemption.
Among those who would be eligible for such an exemption are "persons whose entry would be in the national interest".
With 21 grand slam titles, Djokovic sits second on the men's all-time list behind Rafael Nadal, who has 22 victories at the majors.
And Fritz, ranked 13th in the world, said that while the situation is complicated, there is part of him that thinks Djokovic should be allowed to take part in the competition that starts in under a fortnight.
"It's tough," he said. "I think on one side of it, I think it's tough to make certain exceptions to the rules for certain people.
"I don't know how I feel about that, but then, at the same time, we're not the most COVID-safe country in general with how we are doing things.
"So it does seem like, what's the harm of letting the best player in the world come play the US Open?
"But like I said, at the same time, it's conflicting, because I don't know how I feel about making special exceptions just for one person because of who they are.
"So I see both sides of the argument, to be honest. It's tough to differentiate, obviously. It's good for every player if Novak is not in the draw."
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard says he feels good as he closes in on his long-awaited return from injury ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP missed the entire of the last campaign due to an ACL injury sustained in game four of the 2021 Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Utah Jazz.
The Clippers certainly felt Leonard's absence as they missed out on the play-offs, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans in the play-in tournament.
The small forward averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and a career-high 5.2 assists per game in the 2020-21 regular season, having averaged a personal best of 27.1 points the previous term - his first with the Clippers.
In a compilation video posted on the franchise's social media channels, which featured several clips of him in the gym, Leonard could be heard saying: "Physically, I feel good."
The 31-year-old will hope to make his return when the Clippers launch their 2022-23 campaign against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 20.
Deontay Wilder will return to the ring to fight Robert Helenius on October 15.
Wilder has not fought since he was beaten by Tyson Fury for a second time in their trilogy fight last October.
Fury knocked the American out in the 11th round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to retain his WBC heavyweight title.
Wilder will end his exile from the ring against Finland's Helenius at Barclays Center in New York.
The 36-year-old American, known as the 'Bronze Bomber', said: "It's been a long journey for me and as of today it continues. I thought so many times about whether I should stay out of the business or come back.
"Once I got my statue in my hometown and saw so many people arrive and celebrate with me and my family, to see all the emotions, grown men crying in front of their children and saying he is a real true king, made me feel like my job is not done.
"So, here I am once again, looking forward to returning to the ring. I am looking forward to coming to Barclays Center, a place where I have had my most devastating knockouts and a place I consider my second home.
"So where all my Bombzquad people at? It's time to put on your war gear. And let's go to work, baby. Bombzquad is back!"
LeBron James has agreed a two-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers worth a whopping $97.1million.
James, 37, had been entering the final year of a contract worth $44.5m. His new deal, as reported by ESPN, includes a player option for the 2024-25 season.
The NBA great missed the Lakers' final two games of the 2021-22 season after suffering a sprained ankle, although he did enjoy the second-most productive campaign of his storied career in terms of points per game.
He played 56 games overall, averaging 30.3 points per game, only the second time he has averaged over 30 in a season (31.4 PPG for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005-06).
James averaged 8.2 rebounds per game, 6.2 assists and brought three-pointers into his arsenal more than ever, hitting a career-high season average of 2.9 successes and 8.0 attempts per game.
He also became the first player in NBA history to record more than 10,000 career points, rebounds and assists.
During career, James has won four NBA titles with three different teams – the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Lakers.
In each of his championship-winning seasons, James was voted as Finals MVP, while he is also a four-time regular-season MVP, and an 18-time All Star.
Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas have praised the leadership qualities of Tiger Woods after a small group of leading players met to discuss the ongoing threat posed by LIV Golf to the long-established PGA Tour.
Woods, a 15-time major champion, flew to Delaware on Tuesday to meet fellow professionals involved in the BMW Championship, including the likes of McIlroy, Thomas and Jordan Spieth.
While the details of the meeting remain undisclosed, Woods was reportedly trying to rally support from his fellow PGA Tour professionals over the battle with the breakaway series.
The 46-year-old, who is believed to have turned down an offer between $700million and $800million to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, has insisted he will play in limited events in the future as his glittering career winds down.
Nevertheless, his presence at the discussion was hugely valued by McIlroy, who feels that all in attendance are on the same page regarding what the PGA Tour must do during the ongoing battle.
The four-time major winner said: "I think the one thing that came out of it, which I think was the purpose, is all the top players on this tour are in agreement and alignment of where we should go going forward, and that was awesome.
"I think it shows how much [Tiger] cares about the players that are coming through and are going to be the next generation. We're moving into a different era, and we just have to think about things a little differently.
"Like it or not, they can't really sell Tiger Woods anymore. The tour had an easy job for 20 years. They don't have Tiger. They've got a bunch of us and we're all great players, but we're not Tiger Woods.
"He is the hero that we've all looked up to. His voice carries further than anyone else's in the game of golf. His role is navigating us to a place where we all think we should be."
Reigning US PGA Championship winner Thomas added: "It was a productive meeting. I think it's just one of those things where we all want what's best for the players, and we're working to do that.
"I think if someone like [Tiger] is passionate about it, no offence to all of us, but that's really all that matters.
"If he's not behind something, then one, it's probably not a good idea in terms of the betterment of the game, but two, it's just not going to work. He needs to be behind something."
T.J. Watt was voted the NFL's best defensive player last season but the Pittsburgh Steelers' pass-rushing demon still feels he has a long way to go before being considered the greatest player in his own family.
Speaking to former NFL linebacker Channing Crowder on The Pivot podcast, Watt said his accomplishments – which include tying a league record for sacks in a season in 2021 – still pale in comparison to those of his older brother J.J., a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year award recipient.
Though his most recent seasons have often been marred by injuries, J.J. Watt became the first player in NFL history to earn Defensive Player of the Year honours three times in a four-year span when he did so in 2012, 2014 and 2015. That feat has since been matched by Los Angeles Rams superstar Aaron Donald, whose run was ended by the younger Watt's superlative 2021 campaign in which he recorded 22.5 sacks.
"I want people to understand how great my brother truly was in his prime," T.J. Watt said. "I think it gets lost today, and I know he'd be upset if I said this, but I think it truly is. You go back, and you look, you watch the film, the guy was frickin' unstoppable. Absolutely unstoppable.
"I think I'm too early in my career to compare myself to him at the moment, honestly."
T.J. Watt does compare favourably with his sibling in at least one important category, as his 72 career sacks are the third most in league history of any player through his first five seasons since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
J.J. Watt ranks second on that list with 74.5, trailing only Hall of Famer Reggie White's 81.
The elder Watt, now a member of the Arizona Cardinals after spending 10 of his first 11 seasons with the Houston Texans, has recorded only one double-digit sack season since 2016 – mainly because he has had trouble staying on the field. The 33-year-old has been limited to eight games or fewer four times in that six-year stretch.
"I think people need to go back and look at that," T.J. Watt said about his brother's past dominance. "The guy was doing incredible things for four or five years, and I think he can still play at a high level."
T.J. Watt enters this season with a chance to make some history of his own after producing at least 13 sacks in each of the last four years. The only player with a streak that long since 1982 is White, who did it from 1985-88 and again from 1990-93.
Anthony Joshua admitted his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk is "must win" ahead of the fight on Saturday.
Joshua was surprisingly outclassed by Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September as the Ukrainian won the IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles.
Usyk will defend his belts for the first time in a rematch this weekend with the Briton in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking at the final press conference before their bout at the Shangri-La hotel in Jeddah, Joshua insisted he has to win, but felt confident after his camp with new trainers Robert Garcia and Angel Fernandez.
"That's it. Must win," Joshua said. "I like the pressure. It's been tough. Robert Garcia, Angel Fernandez, existing members of my previous team as well, definitely pushed me, challenged me.
"Now we just get the job done. Instinct, stay focused, get the job done, God willing, victorious."
On his motivation for the fight, where he will face the unfamiliar role of challenger, Joshua said: "It's competition.
"I've got goals I want to achieve in the ring on the night. That's competition with myself. You've got to have a competitive spirit."
Usyk is aiming to repeat his impressive performance from the first fight, and seemed relaxed at the press conference, echoing what his opponent said about the importance of competition.
"We were born to compete for life, for belts, for everything. The one who does not compete does not live," Usyk said.
"All our lives are competition, for anything, for something, for somebody. That's why we are competing."
Either as a mind trick or simply to show how unfazed he was in general, as Joshua was leaving the stage following their face off, Usyk burst into song, joined by members of his team.
Dr. Scott Jennings created history on Tuesday when he won the gold medal in the 83kg class at the 19th NAPF North American Regional Powerlifting Championships in Panama City, Panama.
It was the first time a Jamaican athlete was winning a gold medal in powerlifting in an international competition.
Dr Jennings recorded a deadlift of 312.5kg and a total score of 732.5kg.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
