Ruth Chepng’etich

banned 3 years

MONACO (AP) — Track and field’s Athletics Integrity Unit says women’s marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepng’etich has been banned for three years after admitting a doping violation.

The AIU says Chepng’etich admitted to anti-doping rule violations over the presence and use of the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide. She had been suspended in July.

The Kenyan runner broke the world record by almost two minutes at the Chicago Marathon last year when she clocked 2 hours, 9 minutes, 56 seconds.

Lionel Messi

stays in Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi has agreed to a new contract with Inter Miami, ensuring he stays with the team as they move to a new stadium next year.

The deal was announced Thursday, a day before Inter Miami’s playoff opener against Nashville. Messi’s presence is expected to boost ticket sales as the club prepares for the move into the stadium near Miami International Airport. He was the league’s MVP last season and is favored to win again this year.

Messi’s decision to stay is significant for both the club and MLS, as his influence continues to grow. Inter Miami said it was a three-year deal through 2028.

Wembanyama leads

Spurs to win

DALLAS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama dunked on Cooper Flagg’s debut. And shot over it. And dribbled around it. And reminded everyone what was missing the last two months of the French star’s second season.

Wembanyama wowed the Dallas crowd and had a noisy San Antonio contingent chanting “M-V-P! M-V-P!” in a season opener. He had 40 points and 15 rebounds in the Spurs’ 125-92 rout of the Dallas Mavericks.

Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, was the talk of the Dallas opener going in. Coming out, the talk was Wembanyama. He offered quite the reminder that he was the top overall choice just two years ago.

Loss of Evans

huge for Bucs

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The image of Mike Evans down on the turf, knocked out and motionless was jarring for teammates, coaches and fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His impressive streak of 11 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons is going to end because of the broken clavicle he suffered Monday night at Detroit.

Evans also sustained a concussion on the same play, trying to make a leaping grab like the ones he’s made throughout a remarkable career. Rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka knelt over Evans in prayer. Others did the same on the field, on their couches at home, wherever they were watching the game.