Gwangju mayor apologizes over swim-meet bid forgery

Gwanjgu Mayor Kang Un-tae apologized Wednesday over the forged letters of the government guarantee used to win the city’s bid for the 2019 World Aquatics Championships.His apology came a day after the central government asked the prosecution to investigate the unidentified bidding officials in connection with the document manipulation.Kang, who led the southwestern city’s successful bid for the tournament, blamed himself for the scandal. “The incident is due to my lack of discretion. I feel resp

More SportsJuly 25, 2013

2 struggling foreign pitchers released

The Kia Tigers and the Samsung Lions in the top domestic baseball league have each released a struggling foreign pitcher, the teams announced.The Tigers said they have released their American right-hander Anthony Lerew. The Lions have parted ways with Aneury Rodriguez, a right-hander from the Dominican Republic.Before the Tigers’ game against the LG Twins, Tigers’ manager Sun Dong-yol told reporters the team had waived Lerew. Lerew has had an up-and-down season as the team’s closer. He has colle

BaseballJuly 25, 2013

Selig proud of MLB’s drug efforts

MILWAUKEE (AP) ― Commissioner Bud Selig defended baseball’s fight against performance-enhancing drugs on Wednesday, declining to discuss the recent suspension of Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun or whether other stars will also face penalties.Braun was suspended for the rest of the season Monday, a total of 65 games, for violating baseball’s anti-drug policy. He is the first player to be punished as part of an investigation of the now-closed Biogenesis Clinic, which is believed to have provided per

BaseballJuly 25, 2013

Host Korea stays winless at EA Cup

South Korea remained winless under new coach Hong Myung-bo after a 0-0 draw with China at the East Asian Cup.The host dominated play at Hwaseong Stadium but couldn’t capitalize on its chances against the tournament’s defending champion. Hong was captain of the South Korean team that reached the 2002 World Cup semifinals. He took over from Choi Kang-hee on July 1, vowing to instill more discipline. Korea’s opening match against Australia on Saturday also ended in a goalless draw. China played to

SoccerJuly 25, 2013

FIFA member Zwanziger says Qatar World Cup a ‘mistake’

BERLIN (AP) ― A member of FIFA’s executive committee says awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar was a “blatant mistake” and that even moving it to avoid searing summer temperatures wouldn’t be ideal.Former German soccer federation president Theo Zwanziger tells SportBild that a suggestion by FIFA president Sepp Blatter to play the tournament in winter would seriously affect the European leagues and threaten the “unity of German football.”Blatter plans to ask the committee to consider the switch ―

SoccerJuly 25, 2013

N. Korea draws with Japan in women's East Asian Cup match

North Korea held the favored Japan to a scoreless draw in the women's match at the East Asian Cup tournament here on Thursday.At Hwaseong Stadium, south of Seoul, North Korea kept the reigning FIFA Women's World Cup champion at bay in the back-and-forth encounter at the regional tournament.Japan, the two-time defending East Asian Cup champ, entered the competition ranked third in the world, six spots ahead of North Korea on the FIFA women's rankings.North Korea will close out the tournament agai

SoccerJuly 25, 2013

Korea held to scoreless draw by China at East Asian Cup

South Korea played China to a scoreless draw at the East Asian Cup football tournament here on Wednesday.At Hwaseong Stadium in Gyeonggi Province, south of Seoul, South Korea played its second straight scoreless draw at the regional competition, as the Chinese crowded their own zone and often outnumbered South Korean attackers inside the box.South Korea, which drew Australia 0-0 last Saturday, will close out the tournament against Japan on Sunday in Seoul. China's final match will be against Aus

SportsJuly 24, 2013

Korean women fall to China at East Asian Cup football

South Korea fell to China 2-1 in the women's match at the East Asian Cup football tournament here on Wednesday.At Hwaseong Stadium here in Gyeonggi Province, south of Seoul, substitute Li Ying scored the go-ahead goal for China midway through the second half to give her team its first win at the regional tournament.China now has a win and a loss after two matches. It lost to Japan 2-1 on Saturday. South Korea is now saddled with two losses, having lost to North Korea 2-1 on Sunday.Wang Lisi put

SportsJuly 24, 2013

Barcelona confirms Martino appointment

BARCELONA (AP) ― Gerardo Martino, a relatively unknown Argentine league coach, reached an agreement Tuesday to coach a Barcelona team led by Lionel Messi that is one of great clubs in soccer history.Martino will be given a two-year contract, the team said. He is expected to travel from Argentina to sign the contract and be presented to the club.The 50-year-old Martino will follow two of European soccer’s most successful coaches ― Tito Vilanova, who succeeded Pep Guardiola.Despite having no Europ

SoccerJuly 24, 2013

Pedroia, Sox close to $100m deal

BOSTON (AP) ― All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia is close to a contract that could keep him with the Boston Red Sox for his entire big league career.A person with knowledge of the talks said Tuesday that Pedroia is in the process of agreeing to a deal adding $100 million over seven seasons through 2021.The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not yet complete. The new deal was first reported by WEEI.Pedroia is making $10 million this year a

BaseballJuly 24, 2013

L.A. stays unbeaten since break

TORONTO (AP) ― Things are going so well for the Los Angeles Dodgers right now, they’re starting to believe that anything is possible and any deficit can be overcome.Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer, Andre Ethier and Jerry Hairston Jr. added solo shots and the streaking Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-9 Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory and 22nd in 27 games.“We’re starting to be able to throw some big innings together,” manager Don Mattingly said. “If you can get to the po

BaseballJuly 24, 2013

Hong stresses moving without ball on offense

PAJU (Yonhap News) ― As his squad prepares to face China in the ongoing East Asian Cup tournament, South Korean head coach Hong Myung-bo on Tuesday stressed the importance of players’ movement without the ball on offense.Korea played Australia to a scoreless draw to open the regional competition on Saturday. South Korea had 21 shots on net and was in complete control from start to finish, but it failed to find the back of the net.Hong told reporters that he discovered the reason behind the team’

SoccerJuly 23, 2013

Former MVP Ryan Braun suspended for rest of season

Former National League MVP Ryan Braun was suspended without pay for the rest of the season and the postseason Monday, the first penalty from baseball's investigation of players reportedly linked to a Florida clinic accused of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.The Milwaukee Brewers star accepted the 65-game penalty, 15 games more than the one he avoided last year when an arbitrator overturned his positive test for elevated testosterone because the urine sample had been improperly handled.`

BaseballJuly 23, 2013

Choo extends hit streak in loss

CINCINNATI (AP) ― Jeff Locke broke into a grin before taking any questions.“Happy to be back,” the left-hander said.No one’s happier than the Pittsburgh Pirates, who used their formula from a highly successful first half ― great pitching, just enough scoring ― to salvage the final game of their series with Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Locke allowed only an infield single through six innings of a 3-2 victory.Second-place Pittsburgh left town with a three-game cushion over the NL Central-rival Reds,

BaseballJuly 22, 2013