Many athletes have had medals stripped, some years after the Olympics, after doping sample re-testing from past Games regularly delivered dozens of positive tests. More than 100 positive cases were found in re-tests from the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics alone and some 75 medals were reallocated from those Games.
* Israel enters uncharted territory on Friday when it begins hosting the three opening stages of the Giro d'Italia, the biggest international sporting event to be held in the country. The Giro, along with the Tour de France and Spain's Vuelta comprise the world's three major tours and the Italian race's "Big Start" in Israel will mark the first time a cycling classic has included stages outside Europe.
* Former El Salvador coach Ramon Maradiaga has been banned by FIFA for two years for his alleged involvement in a match-fixing case, the global soccer body said Wednesday. FIFA said Maradiaga had failed to report a meeting between the players and a third party "in which financial compensation was promised to the players in exchange for their altering the result of the game between El Salvador and Canada."
* Brighton and Hove Albion must work hard to spoil Manchester United's momentum in Friday's Premier League match and get a crucial win to secure their top-flight status for next season, the hosts' manager Chris Hughton has said. Brighton have lost three and drawn as many of their last six league matches to drop to 14th in the standings on 37 points. Despite being five points clear of the relegation zone, the Seagulls are not yet completely safe.
* Tiger Woods returns to competition at this week's Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina eager to see the benefits of the extended break he took after finishing in a share of 32nd place at last month's U.S. Masters. Woods, 42, said it felt great to shut things down after Augusta National, where he finished 16 shots back of champion Patrick Reed, and focus on what he needs to do to return to winning ways.
* Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone called on his side's supporters to create an explosive atmosphere to push his team into the Europa League final when they host Arsenal in Thursday’s semi-final second leg. Atletico left the first leg at the Emirates Stadium with a 1-1 draw having played most of the game with ten men after Sime Vrsjalko was sent off, defending with their backs against the wall while Arsenal dominated but failed to capitalise.
* Neymar will travel to Paris on Friday to complete the final stage of his recovery from foot surgery, according to Brazilian media reports. The 26-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward has not played since suffering a cracked fifth metatarsal in his right foot in late February.
* Cambodia and Timor-Leste upset defending champion Myanmar and tournament favourite Singapore in the 6th ASEAN Youth Football semifinals respectively on Wednesday. Cambodia scored two consecutive goals in the first half to take the lead over Myanmar and managed to secure a 2-1 victory despite its fullback gifted Myanmar an own goal. In another semifinal, Timor-Leste stunned Singapore 2-1. The final will see two first-timers of the tournament Cambodia and Timor-Leste competing for the title on Saturday.
* At least 26 heads of state will be present at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in August this year in Indonesia, the National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian disclosed on Wednesday. A total of 45 nations and regions will send their athletes and officials to Indonesia to take part in 40 events.
* Two Malaysian shuttlers were given lengthy bans by the Badminton World Federation on Wednesday for match fixing. Tan Chun Seang and Zulfadli Zulkiffli have been suspended from competing in badminton for 15 and 20 years respectively for breaching the BWF Code of Conduct in Relation to Betting, Wagering and Irregular Match Results, the world badminton governing body said in a statement.
