TOKYO -- Pitcher Koji Uehara, whose dominant season in relief helped the Boston Red Sox win the 2013 World Series, has retired with Japan's Yomiuri Giants -- the team that he first played for in Japan.

The 44-year-old Uehara announced his retirement at a news conference in Tokyo, saying it was time to step away after he was unable to perform well early in the season for the Giants' farm team.

Uehara joined the Baltimore Orioles in 2009, but he became a star in 2013 with the Boston Red Sox, who defeated the St. Louis Cardinals that year in the World Series. He was dominant in relief that season for the Red Sox and it was Uehara who threw the last pitch in the final game when Boston beat the Cardinals 6-1 to win the World Series.

Uehara was 22-26 in his nine-year career in MLB and pitched his final season in 2017 with the Chicago Cubs. He also pitched for the Texas Rangers.

Uehara started with the Yomiuri Giants in 1999 and pitched for 10 seasons in Japan before moving to MLB.

The Indians on Wednesday designated Carlos Gonzalez for assignment after a five-week stint in Cleveland in which the outfielder hit .210.

Gonzalez had started the season at Triple-A Columbus after signing a minor league contract with the Indians following 11 seasons with the Colorado Rockies. He was called up April 14, and had two home runs, seven RBIs and 33 strikeouts in 30 games.

His final game with Cleveland was an 0-for-2 effort during Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Oakland Athletics.

Catcher Eric Haase was called up from Columbus in a corresponding move.

Haase could fill in for Roberto Perez, who was diagnosed with a concussion after he was struck in the mask by a foul ball in the third inning of Tuesday's game. The Indians are not placing Perez on the seven-day concussion list.

Major Michael Rotich suspended for 10 years due to “dishonest and corrupt” conduct during drug tests

The head coach of Kenya’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games athletics team, Major Michael Rotich, has been banned for 10 years by the IAAF ethics board.

A panel of the board found that Major Rotich “sought to undermine anti-doping controls and to obtain a personal financial benefit in doing so”, adding that his conduct had been “dishonest and corrupt”.

The IAAF ethics board case arose following allegations in a Sunday Times article entitled “Rio Olympics hit by new doping scandal” and accompanying video footage published on August 7, 2016.

An IAAF ethics board decision document reads in part: “This decision concerns allegations that the Defendant, Major Michael Rotich, agreed to provide advance notice of drug tests to athletes and/or coaches in exchange for money.

“The allegation is that he knew when doing so that this would allow athletes to flush banned substances from their systems in order to circumvent doping tests.

“It is also alleged that the Defendant suggested excuses which athletes could use to avoid being penalised for missing a drug test.”

It adds: “At all relevant times, Major Rotich was the Head of Athletics Kenya North Rift Province and he was the Head Coach of the Kenyan Athletics team for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro held from 5 – 21 August 2016.”

The IAAF ethics board decision document, which includes further details of the Sunday Times investigation, can be downloaded here.

“In January 2016, George Arbuthnott and David Collins, two undercover reporters from the Sunday Times, met Joseph Mwangi and Major Rotich in Kenya,” reads the decision document in part. “The journalists purported to be the sports manager and coach of a fictional team of British athletes. Mr Mwangi offered to sell the reporters the banned substance EPO for use by their athletes.

“The reporters met with Major Rotich on 21 January 2016, 22 January 2016 and 21 February 2016. During those meetings, which were secretly filmed, the reporters explained that they planned to dope eight British athletes with EPO and asked Major Rotich’s assistance to protect their athletes from testing.”

While the IAAF ethics board panel noted that there is no evidence that Major Rotich provided advance notice of doping tests to specific athletes, or that any payments actually changed hands, it found that he “acted corruptly and in deliberate violation of core principles of the Code (IAAF Code of Ethics).”

According to the decision document, when Major Rotich was confronted with the footage by the reporters “the (Sunday Times) article claims that he said he had gone along with the interview because he was investigating the reporters and Mr Mwangi because he wished to protect his athletes”.

Major Rotich has a right of appeal against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Meanwhile, the Athletics Integrity Unit has announced that Bahrain’s Olympic marathon silver medallist Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO).

The AIU confirms Provisional Suspensions against Indian sprinter Gomathi Marimuthu and Bahraini long-distance runner Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa, both for a violation of the @iaaforg Anti-Doping Rules.
Find out more ➡ https://t.co/opInfkVlnV#AIUNews #CleanSport pic.twitter.com/teT6llQDrO

— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) May 21, 2019

Kirwa, who was born in Kenya but switched allegiance to compete for Bahrain, secured silver in Rio after clocking 2:24:13 behind winner Jemima Sumgong of Kenya, who has since been banned following a positive test for EPO.

Diamond League could be on its way to North East England due to Birmingham being unavailable

World-class athletics is poised to return to Gateshead International Stadium as the North East England venue looks set to act as a home for televised events while the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham undergoes redevelopment ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Gateshead held a number of British televised track and field events at the turn of the millennium and staged the European Team Championships in 2013 – in addition to its predecessor, the European Cup – in 1989 and 2000.

Great Britain even won the European Cup in 1989 (main image, above) and 2000 at Gateshead in exciting style. In the latter, for example, the host nation fielded a depleted squad due to many stars saving themselves for the Sydney Olympics a few months later, but the Bob Weir-captained team still won by half a point from Germany in a nail-biting finish to the weekend (pictured below).

More recently Birmingham and London have been the venues for the two IAAF Diamond League meetings held in Britain.

But it is thought Gateshead could now be in the running to host a Diamond League while Alexander Stadium is redeveloped.

The Chronicle newspaper on Tyneside reports that councillors in Gateshead have agreed to stage at least three major athletics events, despite the potentially high costs.

The Chronicle says: “If the competitions are hosted in the borough it’s estimated to cost the council £320,000 per event, which will be paid for out the authority’s Economic Growth, Culture and Place Shaping reserve.”

The newspaper also reports that Gateshead could be tempted to bid to stage the European Athletics Championships.

Events like the English Schools Championships have been held at Gateshead in recent years – and runners in the Simplyhealth Great North Run pass the stadium each year in their thousands – but it has not staged international televised athletics lately.

The venue has seen many fine athletics moments over the years. Pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, 100m sprinter Asafa Powell and distance runner Brendan Foster are among those to set world records at Gateshead with local hero Foster in particular popularising the venue in the 1970s.

Culprits resign after complaints of sexism
By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor

Female squash players in Spain have complained bitterly after a sex toy was among the prizes on offer in a recent tournament.

Competitors in the recent Asturias Championship were furious as female participants discovered that prizes included a vibrator and a waxing kit.

The incident resulted in the tournament winner, Elisabet Sado, complaining about host club Squash Oviedo to the regional Asturias squash federation.

Following an enquiry, it is understood that club officials responsible for sourcing the prizes have resigned.

The incident received international coverage via the BBC and Ms Sado said: “Things have got to change.”

As well as receiving a trophy, she was given a Durex vibrator for winning the competition. The runner-up and semi-finalists received prizes that included hair-removal wax and a foot scraper to remove hard skin.

The prizes were forwarded to the local federation along with a letter of complaint.

Ms Sado told the BBC: “We were very surprised, very shocked. I think probably they just wanted to be funny or different, but we think it’s very sexist. There is too much discrimination against women.”

At the highest level in squash, most major tournaments are offering equal prize money to men and women.

But this kind of stunt is an insult to female players and the game itself. The morons responsible should be kicked out of the sport for good.

According to the BBC, Ms Sadó said she was pleased that the incident had resulted in people across Spain talking about sexism in sport.

She added: “I think the important thing is that there is a public debate and laws in Spain, and more protection so women can practise sport.”

BBC report here

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Readers are invited to leave comments below. 

Bristol Bears head coach Pat Lam has signed a new long-term contract to become director of rugby at the club.

Former Newcastle, Northampton and Samoa back row Lam, 50, will remain at Ashton Gate on a deal until 2023.

Bears finished in an impressive ninth place in the Premiership this season, just five points off the top four and a place in the European Champions Cup.

"I'm proud to commit my future to Bristol and it was an easy decision to make," Lam said.

Bristol recorded the highest Premiership points total for a promoted side since 2007 with nine wins from 22 matches.

Lam joined the club in 2017, helping them clinch promotion from the Championship at the first attempt.

"We've set out a plan to bring a Premiership trophy to Ashton Gate and we're at the start of that journey," he said.

"Although my title changes to Director of Rugby, my passion and enjoyment for hands-on coaching remains stronger than ever. I will be in a tracksuit on the field as long as I can still walk!

"We are striving for the Bristol Bears to be world class at everything we do, so it's my responsibility to ensure every department fulfils that expectation."

Owner Steve Lansdown said Lam had "reinvigorated" the club and "given us a clear purpose and direction for the future".

"He has created an environment and team spirit that the whole city has bought into," he added.

"Myself, [chairman] Chris Booy and the board are hungry to see Bristol competing at the very top of domestic and European competition. Under Pat's leadership, that ambition can become a reality."

SALISBURY, N.C. – Kyle Larson and Carson Kvapil were the top dogs during Tuesday night’s qualifying session for the sixth-annual QRC Open presented by HMS Motorsport at Millbridge Speedway.

The duo led their respective time trial flights for the crown-jewel event at the sixth-mile dirt oval, putting themselves in prime position going into Wednesday night’s $5,151-to-win feature event.

Larson was the overall fast qualifier, turning a lap of 9.8145 seconds (61.134 mph) with his No. 1k Factory QRC/McDonald’s/Chevrolet Accessories outlaw kart to lead the 42-driver field.

“I felt really good about my car all day, even though I’ve changed it a lot from what I’ve typically ran here. We had it on the scales a bunch going into this deal to get it right,” explained Larson, who was fastest in flight B. “I feel really confident about it though. We ran a fast lap for being in group two.”

Kvapil, who led flight A of qualifying, was third-quick overall with a time of 9.9566 seconds (60.262 mph) in his No. 35 CorvetteParts.net/Keen Parts/Global CFS Motorsports Financing/SKE Chassis machine.

“I didn’t have my kart completely right; I wanted my wing back a little bit,” said Kvapil. “I made do with what I had, though. The first lap I took it pretty easy, but the second lap … I basically took it as hard as I could without dying. I just wanted to put a lap together; I didn’t want to wreck it or anything like that.

“I think we’ve got a really good piece though, and I think we’ll be even faster tomorrow night.”

Chase Majdic – who won Tuesday night’s $1,000-to-win Open division feature – split Larson and Kvapil with the second-fastest lap of the night at 9.9225 seconds (60.469 mph), also in flight B of qualifying.

Max Mittry and Daniel Whitley completed the top five on the speed charts, followed by Tom Hubert, Colby Copeland, Caden Kvapil, Demo Mittry and Jesse Colwell.

Former track champion Max McLaughlin was an uncharacteristic 11th-quick in time trials, with his Phantom Racing Chassis teammate and 2017 Speed51 Open winner Nick Hoffman right behind in 12th.

Other notables in qualifying included Logan Seavey (17th), Tanner Holmes (20th) and Ethan Mitchell (27th).

Heat races and the alphabet soup leading into the QRC Open presented by HMS Motorsport kicks off at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening.

To view complete qualifying results, advance to the next page.

SALISBURY, N.C. – Chase Majdic didn’t go into Tuesday night’s Cookout Showdown at Millbridge Speedway thinking he would end up in victory lane, but he came away $1,000 richer thanks to a last-lap pass.

Majdic drove around race-long leader Caden Kvapil coming off turn two on the final circuit of the 25-lap Open division main event, charging home to the checkered flag in a photo finish with NASCAR star Kyle Larson as the younger Kvapil spun in turn three behind them.

Tuesday’s victory was the first of Majdic’s career at the one-sixth mile dirt oval.

“I could tell that he (Kvapil) was getting worn out. I was getting tired, too, so I was just trying to hang on,” Majdic said in victory lane. “He kind of bobbled down there; I don’t know exactly what happened. I just knew that was my shot, and we went for it.

“This feels really good,” added Majdic. “I hadn’t been in the car for a while, so to come out here and get a win with these guys feels amazing.”

The preliminary feature to the sixth-annual QRC Speed51 Open presented by HMS Motorsport was contested with special rules compared to a traditional weekly feature at Millbridge.

A competition caution with 10 laps to go saw all drivers outside the top 10 eliminated from competition, with Delaware double-file restarts and choose cone procedures utilized the rest of the way home.

Two early incidents set up a pair of restarts that allowed the frontrunners – Kvapil, Larson and Majdic – to figure out where they needed to be, and the second time around, Majdic’s choice of the bottom lane proved to be the move that ultimately paid off after he was able to pass Larson for second.

“I didn’t know what these restarts were. It was my first time ever doing it,” Majdic noted. “The first time, I chose the wrong line. I knew if we could get on that second row we’d have a chance. I just needed another restart to get a shot at it and we got it. I just had to be patient and pounce after that.”

Larson came through the dust to finish second by a bumper after avoiding the younger Kvapil on the final lap.

He actually passed Kvapil for the race lead twice – on laps 12 and 16 – but both times, the caution flag waved and negated the move, relegating Larson back to second and eventually into Majdic’s clutches late in the race.

“I felt really good in that feature. I just didn’t do a good job on restarts,” noted Larson. “I’d spin my tires and eventually it allowed Chase to get to my inside, and that was kind of the race after that. It was fun throwing sliders and racing like that, though. The track was really good and I thought it cleaned off well … so hopefully it’s like that tomorrow and we can put on another good show.”

Nick Hoffman completed the podium, followed by Californians Max Mittry and Chase Johnson.

Kvapil was relegated to ninth after his spin, as he stalled in turn four and didn’t take the checkered flag.

“I saw him (Majdic) peek the nose under me, so I knew he was going to try and throw a big slider,” explained Kvapil, who led the first 24 laps from the pole. “I just drove it real deep, but ended up getting loose and he took advantage of it.

“When I tried to get back to him, I just hooked his nerf bar and spun out. It’s a bummer.”

Tom Hubert completed the top 10 in the finishing order.

To view complete race results, advance to the next page.