Japan needs a win in pivotal match against Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia on 19 points can clinch their final berth with a win, while second-place Japan know failure to get three points could see them ...

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Japan captain Miho Takagi unfazed by heavy workload in Beijing

Hailing from the northern island of Hokkaido, Takagi has been known for her near-flawless skating technique since debuting on the Olympic stage as a teenager ...

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NPB teams prepare to start camp amid wave of COVID-19 infections

With the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant, the sense of unease surrounding baseball's spring is mounting as one player after another has become ...

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Naomi Osaka falls to No. 85 in world rankings

Naomi Osaka dropped from 14th to 85th in the singles world rankings announced Monday by the Women's Tennis Association, falling out of the top 50 ...

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Nadeshiko Japan books ninth straight Women’s World Cup berth

Nadeshiko Japan qualified for the Women's World Cup on Sunday with a 7-0 Asian Cup quarterfinal win against Thailand in Navi Mumbai, India.The tournament is ...

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Yoshikazu Nonomura set to become next J. League chairman

Yoshikazu Nonomura, chairman of first-division side Consadole Sapporo, has effectively been selected to be the next J. League chairman, multiple sources with knowledge of the ...

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Rams edge 49ers to punch ticket to Super Bowl

The Los Angeles Rams booked their second Super Bowl appearance in three years on Sunday after staging a fourth rally to beat the San Francisco ...

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Rafael Nadal wins record 21st Grand Slam title with stunning comeback in Australian Open final

"It was one of the most emotional matches in my tennis career," Nadal said

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Bengals stun Chiefs in AFC title game to reach Super Bowl

For the first time since 1989, the Cincinnati Bengals are headed to the Super Bowl.

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U.S.-born skier Eileen Gu captivates China ahead of Beijing Olympics

Chinese media has quickly latched on to its newfound star, who is fluent in Mandarin with a distinct Beijing accent, eagerly covering her public appearances ...

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Jamaican bobsled team committed to overcoming challenges in Beijing

Jamaica's bobsled team is determined to overcome financial issues and challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic as its four-man lineup returns to the Winter Games for ...

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Mima Ito tops Hina Hayata to claim national title

Olympic mixed doubles champion Mima Ito won her third singles title, and first in three years, at the national table tennis championships in Tokyo on ...

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China reports 34 new COVID-19 cases among personnel connected to Olympics

Organizers have warned of more cases in the coming days as the Chinese capital enforces stringent measures.

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Ash Barty celebrates with fellow Australians after Australian Open triumph

"As Australians, we're extremely lucky to have the tennis history and the rich history that we do, particularly here at the Australian Open," Barty said.

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British skeleton quartet hoping to maintain dominance in Beijing

For a country that does not even boast a skeleton track, Britain's record at producing Olympic medal winners in the high-speed sliding sport is phenomenal.

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Ryoyu Kobayashi captures seventh win of World Cup season

"I was lucky (with the conditions)," Kobayashi said after his 26th career World Cup win. "I didn't jump yesterday so I was fresh mentally and ...

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NFL great Tom Brady reportedly planning to retire

Brady has won a record seven Super Bowl titles during his time with the Patriots and Buccaneers

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No, athletes are not dying from COVID-19 vaccines

The conspiracy theory that athletes are collapsing or dying after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine has resurfaced after two prominent voices advanced the idea.

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Japan’s ‘Ice Prince’ Yuzuru Hanyu has sights set on historic third Olympic gold

The two-time defending champion will bring his full star power to the Winter Games and will be watched around the world by his adoring legion ...

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49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo buoyed by support of teammates as NFC title game approaches

49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has faced no shortage of doubters this season, but has the team one win away from the Super Bowl.

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Shoma Uno putting faith in homegrown blades for Beijing Games

Since Uno started using the made-in-Japan "Kozuka Blades" he's seen a significant improvement in performance.

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Chinese trauma doctors hit slopes to prepare for emergency situations during Olympics

These medics are the first group of people in China to be specifically trained for emergency ski rescues.

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J. League’s Hiromi Hara leverages new media to educate fans

Through his regular YouTube appearances and astute use of social media, the league's vice chairman has helped keep supporters connected throughout the pandemic.

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Rafael Nadal on brink of history after reaching Australian Open final

Nadal is seeking his 21st Grand Slam title, which would break a three-way tie with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

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The spotlight shifted away from Peng Shuai and some players and fans want it back

By posting pictures of their protest in support of Peng at the tournament on social media, local activists are keeping the conversation going.

from Sports – The Japan Times https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2022/01/28/tennis/peng-shuai-spotlight-back/

Japan beats China to remain second in World Cup qualifying group

The win at Saitama Stadium kept manager Hajime Moriyasu's side second in the group with 15 points from seven games.

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No. 1 Ash Barty to meet powerhouse Danielle Collins in Australian Open final

Barty is the first Australian woman into the decider of her home Grand Slam since Wendy Turnbull in 1980 and is aiming to become the ...

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Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger announces retirement

"The time has come to clean out my locker, hang up my cleats and continue to be all I can be to my wife and ...

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Wheelchair tennis ace Shingo Kunieda captures 11th Australian Open title

"I played the best tennis of my career, especially in the final set," he said. "I don't know how I did it, but I pushed ...

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Daniil Medvedev summons Novak Djokovic’s ‘warrior spirit’ to reach semifinals

Daniil Medvedev said he had "zero confidence" when he trailed Felix Auger-Aliassime by two sets in their Australian Open quarterfinal on Wednesday before somehow finding ...

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Giants praise Barry Bonds after slugger misses out on Baseball Hall of Fame

The San Francisco Giants praised the "generational talent" of Barry Bonds on Tuesday.

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Tom Brady says family will decide future amid retirement talk

The 44-year-old seven-time Super Bowl champion, widely regarded as the greatest quarterback in NFL history, says he will take his time before deciding whether to ...

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Ice hockey ‘the Canadian way’: Size, speed and aggression

Instead of stocking its roster with NHL All-Stars and future Hall of Famers, Canada has been left scrambling to find coaching staff and players.

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Danielle Collins beats Alize Cornet to make Australian Open semi-final

The American 27th seed came through an intense clash in sweltering temperatures to continue her resurgence after surgery last year.

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Australia Open: No stopping Rafael Nadal and Ashleigh Barty as both reach semi-finals

Nadal raced to a two-set quarter-final lead against Denis Shapovalov but began to feel unwell, needing medical attention for a stomach issue before surviving a ...

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David Ortiz elected to MLB Hall of Fame on first ballot

Ortiz was a 10-time All-Star with the Boston Red Sox. He compiled 541 homers and 1,768 RBIs in 20 seasons with the Minnesota Twins (1997-2002) ...

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NFL overtime rules under fire after Chiefs-Bills thriller

Following their defeat to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game in 2019, the Chiefs floated a proposal to tweak the rules so that both ...

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Packers’ Matt LaFleur: ‘No debate’ on wanting Aaron Rodgers back

The Packers, who lost a playoff game as the NFC's top seed for the second year in a row, must quickly pick up the pieces ...

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Yui Narumiya leads Japan past Vietnam to advance to Asian Cup quarterfinals

With a maximum six points from their two matches, Nadeshiko Japan are guaranteed to advance as one of Group C's top two teams to the ...

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Australian Open to allow ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ shirts after backlash

Leading players at the Australian Open have on several occasions said they still hope to hear from Peng so they can be assured of her ...

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The logistical nightmare of getting athletes to the Olympics

The official playbook stipulates people must take two COVID-19 tests within 96 hours of their departure to China, and one of those two tests must ...

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‘Small gains’: How Katie Ormerod relearned walking before jumping

In 2018, the Yorkshire rider came off a rail too soon on a practice run and split her heel bone in half, with medics taking ...

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Olympians face a daunting final qualifying event: staying healthy

With the Feb. 4 opening ceremony in their sights, athletes are cutting off contact with loved ones, changing the ways they train and ceasing all ...

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Mitakeumi had to reach new level to claim title at New Year Basho

According to the JSA, he will be the first ozeki from Nagano in 227 years, with Edo Period (1603-1868) great Raiden the last wrestler from ...

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Alize Cornet upsets Simona Halep to reach first Grand Slam quarterfinal

Alize Cornet survived stifling heat to outlast former world No. 1 Simona Halep 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in a battle of attrition at the Australian Open ...

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Martina Navratilova slams Australian Open over ban on Peng Shuai shirts

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova called a decision by Australian Open organizers to prevent fans from wearing "Where is Peng Shuai?" T-shirts "pathetic" as activists pledged ...

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Yuzuru Hanyu and Nathan Chen expected to take center stage in Beijing

A rivalry that fizzled out in Pyeongchang four years ago may produce fireworks at the Beijing Games when two-time defending Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu battles ...

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Cha Jun-hwan beats Japanese skaters to gold at Four Continents

The 20-year-old led all the way to finish ahead of Japanese skaters Kazuki Tomono and Kao Miura.

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Rams edge Buccaneers on last-second field goal to reach NFC title game

The Rams will advance to the NFC Championship game at home against the San Francisco 49ers next week with a place in the Super Bowl ...

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Takuma Asano gets first goal of season to salvage Bochum draw

The Samurai Blue call-up steered a loose ball inside the box into the bottom corner in the 70th minute, five minutes after coming on in ...

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NPB home run king Wladimir Balentien announces retirement

The Curacao native rewrote the NPB record book in 2013 with 60 home runs to surpass the previous single-season mark of 55, originally set by ...

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Hirano brothers take second and third place at X Games halfpipe

Sochi and Pyeongchang silver medalist Ayumu landed his new trademark, the triple cork 1440, in a bold declaration ahead of next month's Beijing Games.

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Mai Mihara wins second gold at Four Continents

Mihara's fourth-place finish at last month's nationals ended her hopes of competing at her first Winter Games, but she held her nerve in Tallinn to ...

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Australian Open chief says Novak Djokovic planning 2023 return

Novak Djokovic intends to play the Australian Open in 2023, tournament chief Craig Tiley said Sunday, while blaming "miscommunication" for his deportation ahead of this ...

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Abi’s win over Terunofuji sets up intriguing finale to New Year tourney

Abi's win over the yokozuna leaves four wrestlers in contention for the title heading into the final day.

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Rui Hachimura grabs eight rebounds in meeting with compatriot Yuta Watanabe

Forward Rui Hachimura scored 11 points and claimed a season-high eight rebounds in the Washington Wizards' 109-105 loss to Yuta Watanabe's Toronto Raptors on Friday.

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Naomi Osaka is out at Australian Open, but looking ahead

Upset again in the third round by a young unseeded talent on the rise, Naomi Osaka was in a different mood and better place at ...

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China’s fake snow frenzy for Beijing Olympics strains water supplies

Artificial snow has become a Winter Olympics fixture due to climate change, but Beijing will be the first host to rely completely on man-made powder.

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Nations work to protect athletes from Chinese surveillance during Olympics

National Olympic Committees in some Western countries said they will provide temporary devices to avert security risks and combat any surveillance during the Olympics.

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Confident Aaron Rodgers ready for another shot at 49ers

Rodgers and the Packers, who earned a bye as the top seed in the NFC, are entering the postseason brimming with confidence.

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Olympic medalist Erik Lesser says blame IOC, not athletes, over Winter Games being in China

"We are now standing here having to justify ourselves for the Olympic Games (being held) in a country where human rights are violated."

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Defending champion Naomi Osaka falls in third round of Australian Open

Naomi Osaka's Australian Open title defense came to an early end as the four-time Grand Slam champion was upset by Amanda Anisimova.

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Mitakeumi tops Abi to maintain share of lead at New Year Basho

Mitakeumi and Terunofuji remain in a tie for first place.

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Victoria Azarenka just trying to ‘stay in the moment’ at Australian Open

After another sparkling display that has raised hopes of a third Grand Slam title among her supporters, Azarenka said she wanted to stay in the ...

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Japan names Miho Takagi as team captain for Beijing Games

"I'm really honored," Takagi said. "We'll strive to be our strongest, no matter what challenges we meet."

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Australian court reveals reasoning behind ruling in Novak Djokovic case

An Australian court said on Thursday it dismissed tennis superstar Novak Djokovic's challenge to his visa cancellation as the minister who revoked it reasonably believed ...

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Mai Mihara takes lead at Four Continents

Mihara is looking to put a disappointing fourth-place finish at the Japanese nationals behind her and reclaim a title she won five years ago.

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Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Bills’ Josh Allen prepare for another playoff showdown

The debate about who is the better AFC quarterback, Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes, is set to play out again Sunday, when they meet in ...

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Novak Djokovic holds major stake in firm making drug to combat COVID-19

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, recently deported from Australia due to his coronavirus vaccine status, is co-founder and majority shareholder of a biotech firm developing ...

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IOC says Beijing Olympic uniforms not linked to forced labor

The International Olympic Committee issued a statement on Wednesday in reply to U.S. Congressional inquiries about the source of materials for the apparel provided to ...

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Steven Bergwijn leads stoppage-time rally as Tottenham races past Leicester

We never gave up and Stevey came on and made the difference. To get two goals like that — these are games you will never ...

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Veteran Alize Cornet upsets third-seeded Garbine Muguruza at Australian Open

"I am a bit of a dinosaur on the tour, I've been there for 16 years so I have played a lot of matches and ...

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Nadeshiko Japan star Mana Iwabuchi positive for COVID-19

The Arsenal star is asymptomatic and will isolate with the intent of joining the team after she receives medical clearance, the Japan Football Association said.

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Athletes warned against speaking up on human rights at Beijing Games

Speakers at an event organized by Human Rights Watch said that discussing controversial issues while in China could land Winter Olympic participants in legal trouble.

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Ayumu Seko and Kyosuke Tagawa join European clubs

Cerezo defender Seko will sign with Switzerland's Grasshopper on a full transfer, while Tokyo forward Tagawa will move to Portugal's Santa Clara on loan through ...

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Swiss ski jumper Simon Ammann set for his seventh Winter Games

The 40-year-old is the only jumper to have won a golden double of both individual titles — normal hill and large hill — at two ...

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Dak Prescott apologizes for praising fans who threw trash at referees

Earlier on Tuesday, the National Basketball Referees Association condemned Prescott's comments for "condoning violence against game officials."

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Andy Murray roars on as Denil Medvedev sets up Nick Kyrgios clash

The 34-year-old, there as a wildcard, showed all the fighting qualities that made him a three-time Grand Slam champion.

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Municipalities set up skate parks amid post-Olympics popularity

Local governments are looking to offer environments for people to skateboard safely and keep good manners, as the population of skateboarders is expected to increase.

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Warriors co-owner sparks fury after saying ‘nobody cares’ about Uyghurs

Palihapitiya’s comments drew sharp rebuke on social media, with many focusing on his role as a minority owner of the Warriors and on the NBA’s ...

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Naomi Osaka returns, ready or not

Back in Australia, the place where things last appeared right in her world, is she ready for the crucible?

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Yao Ming says he and Peng Shuai ‘chatted merrily’ at event last month

The former NBA star did not comment on the controversy that flared up last year after Peng appeared to allege that a former vice premier ...

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Deported Novak Djokovic welcomed home after Australian fiasco

Most Australians had wanted him gone, but Serbian fans cheered and waved national flags as the world No. 1 men's player touched down at Belgrade ...

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Jamaican Benjamin Alexander beat odds to qualify for giant slalom

Alexander said his career was made possible by the Jamaican bobsleigh team that competed in Calgary, Canada in 1988, which inspired the movie "Cool Runnings" ...

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Hideki Matsuyama returns to top 10 in world rankings

The reigning Masters champion has been as high as No. 2 in the world, but hasn't finished a year higher than No. 18 since 2017.

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Daizen Maeda scores on his debut as Celtic beats Hibernian

Fellow arrival Reo Hatate shined in midfield and Yosuke Ideguchi came off the bench while their compatriot Kyogo Furuhashi remained sidelined with a hamstring injury.

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Masaya Okugawa keeps scoring streak alive as Arminia earns draw with Furth

Midfielder Masaya Okugawa scored for the fourth straight match Sunday as Arminia Bielefeld equalized minutes before the final whistle in a 2-2 draw at home ...

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Wayne Rooney viewed as favorite to replace Rafael Benitez as Everton manager

The Spaniard paid the price for a dismal run of nine defeats in the last 13 league matches.

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Australian prime minister leaves door open for Novak Djokovic to return in 2023

The Serbian tennis player's visa saga fueled global debate over the rights of people who opt to remain unvaccinated as governments take measures to protect ...

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Russell Henley leads Hideki Matsuyama by two at Sony Open

Henley's his 18-under par total of 192 was enough to stay in front of Matsuyama, who charged up the leaderboard with a seven-under par 63 ...

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Takefusa Kubo nets wonder strike in cup win for Mallorca

The goal was the second of the season for Kubo, who has scored once in the Spanish top flight since returning in late November from ...

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Sevilla derby abandoned after Sevilla player hit by pole

Video replays showed a pole-shaped object hitting Jordan on the head moments after Nabil Fekir had equalized for host Real Betis to draw the last-16 ...

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Kamila Valieva completes Russian Euro skate sweep ahead of Olympics

The 15-year-old led a Russian sweep of the women's podium, with her 259.06 points enough to defeat world champion Anna Shcherbakova (237.42 points) and Alexandra ...

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Sumo association probe found two wrestlers gambled illegally, source says

The association's board of directors will take up the matter at its meeting on Jan. 27, when a decision about how the wrestlers should be ...

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Unbeaten Mitakeumi takes sole lead at New Year Grand Sumo Tournament

Two wrestlers, yokozuna Terunofuji, who is seeking his third straight championship, and No. 6 maegashira Abi, are a win back at 6-1 in the 15-day ...

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All to play for as Novak Djokovic returns to immigration detention facility

The saga that has dominated headlines worldwide for the past week could reach its climax on Sunday, when a court convenes to hear the 34-year-old's ...

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Quick healer Naomi Osaka allays fitness fears ahead of Australian Open

"I heal quite fast," Osaka told reporters with a smile. "I'm as good as I can be in this current moment."

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Cardinals and Rams enter playoffs with something to prove

While the Los Angeles Rams will play host to the first-ever Monday night playoff game, it is the Arizona Cardinals who are feeling completely familiar ...

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Beijing setting up Olympic bubble featuring daily COVID-19 tests and robot chefs

Unlike last summer's Tokyo Games, which took place in a porous "bubble," the perimeters of Beijing's "closed loop" are sealed and guarded.

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‘Shitamachi’ bobsleigh project pins hopes on Beijing Games

After disappointment with two Winter Olympics, a team of workers in Tokyo is hoping the Italian bobsleigh team adopts its sleds.

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Tamawashi ends yokozuna Terunofuji’s winning streak at 23

The win improved the 37-year-old Tamawashi's career record between the Mongolian-born grapplers to 6-10 and left both with 5-1 records.

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Masahiro Yamamoto and Shingo Takatsu elected to Japan’s Baseball Hall of Fame

Side-arm closer Shingo Takatsu and seemingly ageless lefty Masahiro Yamamoto were announced as the newest members of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday.

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Australia cancels Novak Djokovic’s visa again ahead of Australian Open

The Australian government says Djokovic, who is unvaccinated, may pose a risk to the community.

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Kohei Uchimura reflects on career while looking ahead to March finale

Uchimura said he is looking forward to a finale in March unlike that of any other gymnast.

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Ten-man Arsenal holds on for draw against Liverpool in first leg of semifinal

Arsenal held out for over an hour with a man down to leave its League Cup semifinal with Liverpool in a delicate position after a ...

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Naomi Osaka tops list of highest-paid female athletes

The list was published after a year in which Osaka withdrew from the French Open to focus on her mental health.

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Akito Watabe to carry flag for Japan at Beijing Games

Watabe was overall Nordic combined World Cup champion for the 2017-18 season, becoming only the second Japanese athlete to achieve the feat.

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Terunofuji topples Ichinojo on fifth day of New Year Grand Sumo Tournament

The sport's lone yokozuna demonstrated his unrivaled combination of strength and grappling technique to win the battle of Mongolian-born giants in the final bout on ...

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Novak Djokovic included in Australian Open draw despite uncertainty over status

Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke is still weighing whether to revoke Djokovic's visa for a second time.

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Chiefs ready to make run at third straight Super Bowl appearance

The Chiefs' loss in last season's Super Bowl remains a source of motivation for the defending AFC champions, but it's also a loss the team ...

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FIA continues investigation into controversial finale of 2021 Formula One season

An investigation by Formula One's governing body into last season's finale in Abu Dhabi is picking up speed amid speculation the outcome will determine whether ...

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Chelsea reaches League Cup final despite ‘playing with fire’ against Tottenham

Chelsea, a 3-0 aggregate winner, will play in the final at Wembley on Feb. 27.

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Novak Djokovic could face uncertain future on tour as unvaccinated player

"I think there will be numerous tournaments and other majors he will no longer be able to participate in if he chooses to stay unvaccinated."

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Terunofuji overcomes tricky Ura to stay unbeaten on Day 4

A close call eventually ended in victory for the sport's lone yokozuna in a thrilling conclusion to Wednesday's bouts.

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Sumo catches new audience with Pokemon collaboration

The Japan Sumo Association's tie-up with the world's biggest video game franchise could be a big step in attracting younger fans to the sport.

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Saudi-hosted Spanish Super Cup sparks debate as fans ‘forgotten’

The issue of Saudi Arabia's human rights record has been discussed widely since the Spanish FA signed a lucrative contract with the West Asian nation ...

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Novak Djokovic confirms error on Australian entry form

The world No. 1 men's player, who is seeking to win a record 21st tennis major at the Australian Open, said his lawyers had provided ...

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Mikaela Shiffrin takes record 47th World Cup slalom win

The double-Olympic gold medalist, who shed tears at the finish, has now won more races in a single discipline than any other skier, male or ...

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Tennis Hall of Fame says no new inductions for first time in history

All of the six nominees will appear on the ballot next year, as the Hall of Fame's policies allow nominees to remain on the ballot ...

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In pursuit of perfection, ‘King’ Kohei created pure art

Kohei Uchimura thrived in an era where difficult routines were key to winning gymnastics titles, but his memorable artistic qualities were a critical component of ...

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Canada’s rookies and veterans out to reclaim women’s hockey gold

The team features 13 returning players from the Pyeongchang Games roster and is currently stationed inside a "bubble" environment in Calgary ahead of its planned ...

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Giants fire head coach Joe Judge after two seasons

The decision came two days after the team capped off a disappointing 4-13 campaign with a loss to division rival Washington.

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Terunofuji wins third straight as ozeki Shodai and Takakeisho fall

The yokozuna was at his commanding best in brushing aside No. 1 maegashira Kiribayama at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

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China says omicron outbreak not affecting Olympic plans yet

Officials remained steadfast that protocols for the Winter Games would remain in place even as the country struggled to contain the fast-spreading variant.

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Golden oldie Kazuyoshi Miura joins fourth-tier club led by brother

The evergreen striker will play for Suzuka Point Getters on loan from Yokohama FC after earning just one minute of playing time in the 2021 ...

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‘Black Monday’ sees NFL coaches fired after disappointing seasons

The Dolphins, Vikings and Bears all parted ways with their head coaches after failing to make the playoffs.

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Novak Djokovic free in Australia but deportation threat still looms

The world No. 1 still faces the threat of being detained by the federal government for a second time despite Monday's court ruling quashing an ...

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Gymnast ‘King’ Kohei Uchimura announces retirement

The Kitakyushu native collected three Olympic gold medals, including back-to-back individual all-around titles, during his dominant career as the world's best male gymnast.

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Wizards’ Rui Hachimura makes season debut

The Japan national team star missed 39 games after the Wizards allowed him to sit out training camp for personal reasons.

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Snowboarders set to lead Japan in Beijing while Yuzuru Hanyu chases history

The Olympic sports analytics gurus at Nielsen's Gracenote have predicted Japan will reach a record medal total, surpassing the previous high of 13 set in ...

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Nottingham Forest knocks Arsenal out of F.A. Cup

Nottingham Forest knocked 14-time F.A. Cup winner Arsenal out of this year's competition on Sunday after Tottenham and Liverpool survived scares against lower-league opposition to ...

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Japan takes second during World Cup team event

The podium finish was the first of the season in World Cup men's team competition for Japan, which most recently reached the top three in ...

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Shaun White’s status for Beijing Games remains uncertain

White has been a constant on the U.S. Winter Olympic team since he won his first gold at the Turin Games Turin in 2006 as ...

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Nathan Chen captures sixth straight national title

No American man has enjoyed such a dominant run at the national championships since two-time Olympic champion Dick Button won seven consecutive titles from 1946 ...

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Ayumu Hirano and Ruki Tomita claim snowboarding World Cup halfpipe golds

Hirano, a silver medalist at the past two Olympics, earned his first World Cup win since December 2017, while 20-year-old Tomita won for the first ...

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China’s Eileen Gu completes perfect World Cup freestyle skiing season

Gu's win saw her become the first skier in freestyle World Cup history to win four consecutive World Cup competitions.

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Fans and anti-vaxxers protest treatment of Novak Djokovic in Australia

As some 200 demonstrators rallied outside, Djokovic spent his third day in Melbourne's former Park Hotel, which now holds some 32 people under Australia's stringent ...

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Novak Djokovic readies vaccine exemption case for Australian visa showdown

Djokovic's fight to overturn the shock cancellation of his visa will culminate in a highly publicized online hearing in federal court on Monday.

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Japan’s post-Olympic skateboard boom not yet dispelling old prejudices

Advocates see Japan's Olympic medal success and a fresh boom in the sport as a chance to both attract new skaters and to bring increased ...

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Japan eyes COVID-19 boosters for Olympic athletes ahead of Beijing Games

Japan started giving COVID-19 booster shots to medical workers in December, with elderly people at nursery facilities becoming eligible later in the month.

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Novak Djokovic’s lawyers say he tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-December

The lawyers also said the tennis superstar was held for eight hours at Melbourne airport before his visa was canceled and he was sent to ...

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Anri Kawamura, 17, claims second mogul World Cup title

After grabbing her maiden win on Dec. 11 at the season's second meet, Kawamura topped the podium again in the sixth event after edging 2018 ...

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Naomi Osaka pulls out of semifinal of Australian Open tuneup event

"Sad to withdraw due to injury from my match today, my body got a shock from playing back to back intense matches after the break ...

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Hideki Matsuyama hopeful Masters title leads to bright future for Japanese golf

The reigning Masters champion wants other players to help him lift Japanese golf to new heights.

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T.J. Watt and Cooper Kupp chasing NFL records during final week

The Steelers' Watt and the Rams' Kupp could make history in Week 18.

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Ryoyu Kobayashi takes Four Hills crown despite missing out on sweep

The 25-year-old World Cup leader claimed the golden eagle trophy for the first time in three seasons.

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Novak Djokovic in limbo in Australia as legal team works to prevent deportation

This persecution is unfair, starting with the Australian prime minister," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said about Djokovic's situation.

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Kei Nishikori pulls out of Australian Open due to hip injury

"This is very disappointing as the Australian Open feels like my "home" Grand Slam," Nishikori said.

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Kyrie Irving returns as leagues take new approach toward unvaccinated athletes

Critics feel sports leagues are giving in to their unvaccinated star players.

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Rafael Nadal expresses sympathy for Novak Djokovic, but says world No. 1 knew of risks

"In some way I feel sorry for him. But at the same time, he knew the conditions since a lot of months ago, so he ...

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Antonio Brown points finger at Buccaneers over controversial exit

"Coach was telling me that if I didn't play hurt, then I was done with the Bucs. "I didn't quit. I was cut. I didn't ...

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Olympic officials urge Beijing participants to be ‘extra vigilant’

International Olympic Committee (IOC) dismissed any idea of a postponement during a closed-door meeting

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Japan’s new rugby league kicks off with lofty ambitions

The newly minted Japan Rugby League One aims to recruit the world's top players and build upon the enthusiasm generated by Japan's successful hosting of ...

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Premier League club Southampton sold to Dragan Solak’s Sport Republic

Sport Republic, who specialize in sport and entertainment investments, have paid a reported £100 million ($135 million) for the 80% shareholding.

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‘No starting over’: A fresh year for sumo may be just like the last

Fears surrounding COVID-19 aren’t the only thing unchanged from 2021, as it looks to be another Terunofuji-dominated year.

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Canadian Olympic hopefuls play it safe amid COVID threat

The Jan. 6 to 13 championships in Ottawa, where Canada's figure skating squad for Beijing will be selected, will be held without spectators.

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Mavericks to honor Dirk Nowitzki prior to hosting Warriors

Nowitzki retired in 2019 as the Mavericks' all-time leader in most categories, including points and rebounds.

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Final three NFL playoff spots still up for grabs in Week 18

Only one spot is open in the NFC with the Green Bay Packers locked into the No. 1 seed and lone first-round bye with a ...

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Novak Djokovic got no ‘special favors’ on vaccine exemption, says Australia tennis chief

Melbourne and Sydney have both endured months of restrictions and lockdowns over the past two years, and allowing him in was widely criticized.

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Jon Rahm wants wins over consistency in 2022

The Spaniard heads a star-studded field at the PGA Tour's calendar-year opening tournament in Maui following a dazzling 2021 tour season.

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Former All-Star Hammon ‘couldn’t be prouder’ to rejoin league as a coach

Hammon signed a five-year deal that makes her the highest-paid coach in the league, with an enviable Aces squad that reached their third straight postseason ...

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Ekiden: Revered Japan distance race relays peace message to world

Ekiden involves teams of runners covering long-distance relay stages of varying lengths, and have been held in Japan for more than a century.

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Naomi Osaka overcomes nerves to make winning return after long break

The four-time Grand Slam champion, who has slid to 13 in the rankings, admitted after her third-round defeat at Flushing Meadow that she was "dealing ...

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Steelers still in playoff hunt after defeating Browns

The Steelers are a half-game behind the Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers entering the final week of the regular season.

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‘Amazing’ Marco Jansen grabs four as India struggle against South Africa in second Test

Jansen, who towers above his teammates, made the most of the steep bounce, troubling most of the batsmen.

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Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou taps J. League experience in blockbuster triple-signing

The three are now bound for Celtic, the legendary Scottish club that has experienced a revival under former F. Marinos boss Ange Postecoglou.

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Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic reflects on early days in NBA

Nikola Jokic struggled at the start of his NBA career when he joined the Denver Nuggets and had to change his diet to become the ...

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Countdown to Beijing Winter Games marred by controversy, COVID-19 and boycotts

Rights groups have long called for a boycott over China's human rights record, especially its treatment of Uyghur Muslims in the northwest region of Xinjiang.

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No. 1 Ash Barty says increased depth good for women’s tennis

World No. 1 Ash Barty said 2021 was a big year for breakout performances and that there was real depth in women's tennis, which bodes ...

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England captain Joe Root to assess future following Ashes

Joe Root said Monday that he has "questions to answer" and will assess his future as England captain after the losing Ashes tour, as Ben ...

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Aoyama Gakuin reclaims Hakone ekiden title in record-setting fashion

"We surpassed the greatest team of the past, and that is due to these amazing students," Aoyama Gakuin manager Susumu Hara said.

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Bengals win division to punch playoff ticket for first time since 2015

Cincinnati trailed by 14 points on three different occasions, but Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase wouldn't go away.

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Aoyama Gakuin in lead after first day of Tokyo-Hakone ekiden

Aoyama Gakuin University took the lead in the third of Sunday's five stages and never looked back.

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Sara Takanashi picks up 61st career World Cup win

Sara Takanashi recorded the 61st World Cup victory of her career on Saturday by leading both rounds in the second of two women's ski jumping ...

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Blues tame Wild outdoors in frigid Winter Classic

The cold was so extreme for this year's Winter Classic that the rink was heated before the game to keep the ice surface at an ...

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Celtic signs three players from J. League

Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi will join will join Kyogo Furuhashi at Celtic.

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Team Canada CEO admits being worried about Beijing Games

With just over a month until the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said he is ...

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Japan Rugby League One player Blake Ferguson arrested on drug charges

Blake Ferguson, a former Australian rugby league international who recently switched codes, has been arrested in Japan on suspicion of drug offenses, according to his ...

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