Sports & Competitions

Russia banned from 2018 Winter Olympics, athletes can compete under Olympic flag

Russia were banned from the 2018 Winter Olympics on Tuesday over state-sponsored doping but the International Olympic Committee said Russian competitors would still be able to compete “under strict conditions”. The IOC announced the decision after examining evidence of state-sponsored doping over several years that reached its zenith at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, […]

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International, Sports & Competitions

Netanyahu says Iran forcing its wrestlers to lose sums up Tehran’s hostility

By TOI staff Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said Iran forcing a wrestler to lose a bout in order to avoid competing against an Israeli perfectly summed up the regime’s hostility to the Jewish state. “Close your eyes and think about Alireza for a moment. He trained countless hours; he dreamed of becoming a

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International, Middle East, Sports & Competitions

Colin Kaepernick honored at ACLU Bill of Rights Dinner in Beverly Hills

LOS ANGELES — Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who launched a protest movement last year when he refused to stand for the national anthem before NFL games, was honored Sunday at the ACLU of Southern California’s annual Bill of Rights Dinner in Beverly Hills. Kaepernick was awarded the Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate

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Sports & Competitions, USA

Iran wrestler throws bout to avoid fighting Israeli

Iran’s government has paid tribute to one of the country’s wrestlers who threw an international bout when he was ahead because winning would have meant fighting an opponent from Israel. The Islamic republic does not recognise the Jewish state, placing it in the same “Great Satan” category as the United States, and forbids its sportsmen

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International, Middle East, Sports & Competitions

UK’s Jewish ‘heir hunter’ tracks down missing relatives who now stand to inherit

By Renee Ghert-Zand You can be certain Saul Marks isn’t scamming you when he calls to say you have a windfall coming your way. The money he’ll tell you about is a legitimate inheritance you didn’t even know you were entitled to. BBC One watchers will recognize Marks from “Heir Hunters,” a reality show about

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International, Sports & Competitions

Important parts of life obituaries tend to omit

© By Oliver B. Pollak RICHMOND, California — Sports, recreation, athletics promote healthy living, competition and social networks. They can be lifelong habits, even obsessions. When a team member dies they are missed, mourned, and remembered by the remaining teammates. You will not get this from reading newspaper obituaries. Joseph Goldstein and Peter Craig are examples.

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Obituaries & memorials, Oliver Pollak, Sports & Competitions, USA

As only Israeli in NBA, Omri Casspi tries to be ‘best ambassador’ he can

By Jon Marks PHILADELPHIA — A new team, new city, new culture — and best of all, a new baby. Life couldn’t be much better these days for Omri Casspi, the only native Israeli currently playing in the National Basketball Association. His time on the court may be limited, but that happens when you’re a

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Middle East, Sports & Competitions, USA

Former Wimbledon champion tragically passes away at age 49

Jana Novotná, the winner of the 1998 Wimbledon tournament, died on Sunday in her native Czech Republic after a long battle with cancer. Her death was confirmed in a statement by the Women’s Tennis Association on Monday. Novotná, 49, won 17 Grand Slams, including 16 in doubles and mixed doubles, as well as three Olympic

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International, Sports & Competitions

UCLA basketball dad LaVar Ball breaks silence on Trump helping his son, and it went exactly as expected

ball LaVar Ball and President Donald Trump are no strangers when it comes to “going there,” so it comes as no surprise whatsoever that Ball responded to the president getting his son out of trouble in China by saying: Trump who? RELATED:Â Donald Trump wants accused UCLA players to thank him Watch the video Trump,

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International, Sports & Competitions, USA

President Trump has reportedly intervened in the shoplifting case against one of LaVar Ball’s sons

President Trump has reportedly asked China President Xi Jinping to help resolve the shoplifting case against three UCLA men’s basketball players, according to the Washington Post. The three players — LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley — were arrested last week while on a trip in China for allegedly stealing sunglasses from a Louis

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International, Sports & Competitions, USA

In Morocco, Israeli judoka permitted to display his country’s name

By TOI staff Israeli judoka Ori Sasson was booted from the Openweight World Championships in Marrakech, Morocco on Saturday after losing to Frenchman Cyrille Maret. But Sasson, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, was at least allowed to wear Israeli insignia — in contrast to the ban imposed on Israeli national symbols at a tournament last

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Middle East, Sports & Competitions