The Jamaican athlete, a former 100-meter world record-holder who has broken the 10-second barrier more times than anyone else, is barred from competition for 18 months for taking the stimulant oxilofrine at last year’s Jamaican national championships

Jamaican sprinter and former 100 meter world record holder Asafa Powell has been given an 18-month ban for taking the banned stimulant oxilofrine at last year’s Jamaican national championships.

Powell claims the legal supplement he took had been contaminated, and calls the judgment “unfair and unjust.” He plans to appeal the suspension, which has been backdated and will end on Dec. 20.

A series of positive drug cases in recent years, with six athletes caught in 2013 alone, has put a damper on the Caribbean nation’s astonishing successes in track and field of late. On Tuesday, the Jamaican anti-doping disciplinary panel also banned sprinter Sherone Simpson and discus thrower Allison Randall.

Powell’s times of 9.77 and 9.74 propelled him to the 100m world record spot between 2005 and 2008. He has also broken the 10-second barrier more times than any other runner.

[BBC]

The soccer great surprises football fans with his team choice.

Colin Kaepernick is being investigated by Miami police for a suspicious incident after a woman claimed she had been drinking and using drugs with the NFL star and two other players and then blacked out and woke up in a hospital bed

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is under investigation for an incident that occurred in Miami earlier this month, according to the Miami police. Quinton Patton of the 49ers and Ricardo Lockette of the Seattle Seahawks are also named in the incident report.

In the report, a woman claims to have been drinking and using drugs with the players before leaving for a separate room with Kaepernick. She alleges Kaepernick left her there naked and recalled the two other players peeking into the room. She says she cannot remember anything that happened afterwards, but awoke in a hospital bed. Part of the incident report reads as follows:

They talked for a while and she mixed some drinks for all of them and gave them shots. Advised that they told her that in order to drink the shots she had to “hit” the bong which contained marijuana.

They sat down, talked, and watched the basketball game. She started to feel light headed and went to a bedroom to lie down. [Redacted] took off her jacket and jewelry. Mr. Kaepernick came behind her into the bedroom and started kissing her. She advised they were kissing (mouth) and Mr. Kaepernick started to undressed [sic] her. She got completely naked. Mr. Kaepernick told her that he was going to be right back and left the bedroom. They did not have sex. [Redacted] advised that she was in bed naked and Mr. Patton and Mr. Lockette opened the door and “peeked” inside. She told them “what are you doing? Where is Colin?”; “get out!” They closed the door and left. She cannot remember anything after that.

[Redacted] woke up in a hospital bed and doesn’t remember how she got there or who transported her to the hospital. [Redacted] advised that she has had a sexual relationship with Mr. Kaepernick in the past.

The 49ers organization issued the following statement, according to Comcast Sportsnet:

The 49ers organization is aware of the recent media report regarding Colin Kaepernick and is in the process of gathering the pertinent facts.

Nike, the official brand for NFL team uniforms, is increasing the prices for its higher-end jerseys. Fans will have to hand over $150 for a "Limited" jersey and $295 for an “Elite” jersey. Nike had no comment as to why prices went up

Football fans may have to start taking out loans to demonstrate support for their teams.

If you think the NFL is greedy and takes advantage of fan loyalty at every opportunity, what with franchises charging full price for (meaningless) preseason games and hitting season ticketholders with ridiculous mandatory “seat fees” just for the privilege of buying one’s tickets, add this to your list of grievances. In 2012, Nike became the official brand for team uniforms—and replica jerseys sold to fans—taking over for Reebok. Prices for jerseys sold to fans went up immediately, with the cheapest official team jerseys rising from $85 to $100.

Two years later, prices are going up again. While the low-end official NFL jersey made by Nike remains at $100, the two premier levels of jerseys will hit new heights. The “Limited” jersey, billed as “one step closer to mimicking the team’s on-field jersey through the application of embroidery as well as tackle-twill numbering and lettering,” and priced at $135 in 2012, will now run $150. And the top-of-the-line “Elite” jersey, pumped up as having the “same level of innovation that the athletes wear on the field” what with “zoned stretch fabric tailored for precise fit and movement, water-repelling fabric” and such, will have a retail price of $295, up from $250.

In a post at ESPN.com, a Nike spokesperson highlighted the fact that there were three distinct price points to suit the needs (and budgets) of a variety of fans, but had no comment as to why prices went up at the higher end. Matt Powell, an analyst for the sports marketing firm SportsOneSource, offered the simple, obvious explanation for Nike’s move: “When you have a monopoly, you can charge whatever you want.”

Sophomore starter Derrick Gordon on Wednesday became the first player in the NCAA's Division I Men's Basketball league to come out as gay. 'It's like this huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders,' Gordon told ESPN after revealing his orientation

Derrick Gordon, a sophomore starter on the University of Massachusetts men’s basketball team, revealed that he was gay in an interview with ESPN on Wednesday, becoming the first openly gay Division I men’s basketball player in the NCAA.

“I just didn’t want to hide anymore, in any way,” Gordon said. “I didn’t want to have to lie or sneak. I’ve been waiting and watching for the last few months, wondering when a Division I player would come out, and finally I just said, ‘Why not me?’” Gordon said he came out to his teammates on April 2, shortly after his team lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Tennessee on March 21.

Teammates met Gordon’s announcement with support and understanding, and the 6’3″ player says he can now be himself. “Before, I usually just kept to myself because I didn’t want to lie or be fake,” Gordon said. “But not anymore. I feel so good right now. It’s like this huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

“From speaking with Derrick, I realized the pressure he had, the weight that was on his shoulders,” UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. “You can already see in his demeanor that he is so much happier. I actually think this is something that brings our team closer together and helps Derrick play more freely.”

Gordon tweeted shortly after the news broke:

I am the first Division 1 male basketball player to come out and not the last. I AM gay. I'm not afraid. I'm not alone.

— Derrick Gordon (@DerrickGordon02) April 9, 2014

Gordon said he was inspired to publicly come out by veteran NBA player Jason Collins, who came out as gay in Sports Illustrated in April 2013. He signed a contract with the Brooklyn Nets in February, making him the first openly gay NBA player. “That was so important to me, knowing that sexuality didn’t matter, that the NBA was OK with it,” Gordon said.

Collins also took to Twitter to support Gordon on Wednesday:

I'm so proud of @flash2gordon. Another brave young man who is going to make it easier for so many others to live an authentic life. #courage

— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins34) April 9, 2014

The University of Massachusetts also voiced support for the student athlete, who averaged 9.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game this season. “UMass is proud to have Derrick Gordon as a member of our athletic family and to honor his courage and openness as a gay student-athlete,” athletic director John McCutcheon said in a written statement. “UMass is committed to creating a welcoming climate where every student-athlete, coach and staff member can be true to themselves as they pursue their athletic, academic and professional goals.”

[ESPN]