Veteran guard Jeremy Lin has signed with the Beijing Shougang Ducks to play in the Chinese Basketball Association next season, the team announced Tuesday.

In a statement, the Ducks said the team is now in the process of working with the league to get his registration paperwork approved, a procedural move.

In an Instagram post, Lin wrote it was a "privilege to rep Asians at the NBA level" and congratulated his brother Joe on signing an extension with the Fubon Braves of the Super Basketball League in Taiwan.

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All I can say is THANK YOU to the NBA, my family, inner circle, every fan who came to watch or rooted for me during these 9 years! The journey and privilege to rep Asians at the NBA level has been amazing and Im overwhelmed with gratitude for each person who has been with me each step of the way. ⁣ Equally excited for this next step with the Beijing Ducks! I always knew my path would go through the CBA solely bc I knew how much of an honor it would be to hoop in front of all my Chinese fans. Im here now and there is more history to be made! Also congrats to @joe_linstagram on a contract extension fresh off a championship with the @fubon_braves ... you're a beast and to be able to sign our contracts on the same day is something Ill forever cherish. Love you lil bro! #linstanation #farfromdone

A post shared by Jeremy Lin 林書豪 (@jlin7) on Aug 27, 2019 at 6:30am PDT

Lin, who turned 31 last week, won his first title with the Toronto Raptors last year. During his nine-year NBA career, he is most remembered for delivering a series of high-scoring performances in early 2012 as a member of the New York Knicks, generating a wave of global sensation known as "Linsanity."

It had been speculated that Lin, who enjoys a large fan base in Asia, would sign with a CBA team after failing to land an NBA deal as a free agent this summer. During a TV appearance in Taiwan in July, an emotional Lin described a sense of hopelessness.

"In English there's a saying, and it says once you hit rock bottom, the only way is up," Lin said to an audience on Christian television station GOOD TV. "But rock bottom just seems to keep getting more and more rock bottom for me. So, free agency has been tough. Because I feel like in some ways the NBA's kind of given up on me."

The Ducks have been a CBA powerhouse in recent years, winning three league titles while led by former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury. Marbury is now the head coach for the Ducks' rival team in Beijing.

The announcement Tuesday ended months of rumors, and excited many Chinese basketball fans. After the team's announcement, Lin posted pictures of him with Beijing teammates on social media. "Beijing, here I come," Lin wrote.

A former girlfriend of DeMarcus Cousins is seeking a restraining order against him after she said in court documents and a police report obtained by TMZ that the Los Angeles Lakers center threatened her and has previously choked her.

Christy West, according to TMZ, alleges that Cousins said he would put a "bullet in (her) f---ing head," during an argument over allowing their 7-year-old son to attend Cousins' wedding to another woman.

The Lakers acknowledged the allegation.

"We are aware of the allegation involving DeMarcus Cousins and, of course, take this claim seriously," the Lakers said in a statement. "We are in the process of gathering information and will reserve further comment at this time."

Cousins declined to comment when reached by ESPN.

TMZ shared an audio recording West took of the incident and she says that the male voice heard is that of Cousins.

During the argument, the man says, "I'm gonna ask you this one more time before I take it to another level ... Can I have my son here, please?"

After West responds "No," the man makes the threat and the audio clip ends.

Cousins got married in Atlanta this past Saturday, however his son was not there, according to TMZ.

The 29-year-old former All-Star suffered a torn ACL earlier this month and could miss the entire season -- his first with the Lakers.

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan officials say they're fighting a ban by Major League Baseball that blocks its players from the South American country's winter league under strict U.S. sanctions against the socialist government.

The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League on Tuesday said it's asking the U.S. Treasury for an exception. Major League Baseball announced last week that its players are banned from the Venezuelan Winter League, citing the economic sanctions.

Eight teams in the Venezuelan league say the MLB's ban was made against their interests and the nation's passion for baseball.

U.S. officials in early August announced a new, broad round of economic measures blocking companies and individuals from doing business with Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela's state-owned oil company, known as PDVSA, has been a major sponsor of the nation's professional baseball league.

The Venezuelan Winter League is one many that major league players use to hone their skills in the offseason.

TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees right-hander Luis Severino feels ready to start a minor league rehab assignment following his second simulated game.

Severino, coming back from a lat muscle injury, said he felt good after throwing 35 pitches over two innings against minor leaguers on Tuesday. The 25-year-old also took part in a simulated game last Thursday and is lined up to start a minor league game Sunday.

Severino, 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 32 starts last season, was hurt while throwing in the bullpen before his first scheduled spring training appearance and has not pitched this season.

Reliever Dellin Betances (lat muscle) and left-hander Jordan Montgomery (Tommy John surgery) are working out with Severino at the team's complex in Tampa, Florida. All three could rejoin the AL East-leading Yankees in September.

Betances is set to face hitters Wednesday for the second time after a 20-pitch batting practice session last Saturday.

Montgomery is expected to make his second rehab start later this week. The lefty went two perfect innings Sunday for Class-A Tampa.

Also, reliever Trevor Rosenthal, signed to a minor league deal last week, threw 25 pitches in a simulated game.

CLEVELAND -- Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez has not been ruled out for the postseason -- if Cleveland can make it without him -- despite a broken hand.

Ramirez had surgery Monday in New York on the broken hamate bone in his right hand, an injury suffered during a hard swing in a weekend game. The team said the two-time All-Star could return in five to seven weeks, which would be the beginning of October.

His loss is a significant setback for the Indians, who trail first-place Minnesota by 3.5 games in the AL Central but have a half-game lead in the wild-card race.

The 26-year-old Ramirez is one of the team's most indispensable players. He broke out of an early-season batting slump in June and helped get the Indians back into contention. He is batting .254 with 20 homers and 75 RBIs but has been one of baseball's best hitters in the season's second half.

NEW YORK -- The run has been historic, though with an under-the-radar feel to it. Perhaps it's because he has given up a few home runs in between the pinpoint command. Either way, the performance Chicago Cubs righty Yu Darvish is putting on right now should vault him near the top for the National League's Comeback Player of the Year Award. He has been that good.

And now Darvish will be called upon to be the team's stopper as the Cubs hit New York after a stunning home sweep at the hands of the Washington Nationals.

Consider this: Darvish is the first pitcher since at least 1893 to strike out eight or more batters, without issuing a walk, in five consecutive starts. And if he gets through the first inning without giving up a free pass to the Mets on Tuesday night, he'll own the longest MLB walkless streak of the season.

"He just has incredible command over a variety of pitches," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said when asked what's responsible for the streak. "I don't know if I've ever witnessed -- we saw Jake Arrieta -- I'm talking about just purely commanding a baseball and being inventive.

"He was throwing a knuckle curve [Wednesday] night. He felt it in the bullpen and broke it out in the game. And it was great. He's able to manipulate his hand and his arm in ways most guys cannot. He's just a different level of talent. That's why."

It's high praise around Chicago to invoke Arrieta's name in comparison to anyone, considering the former Cubs hurler's success. But when you go 31⅓ innings pitched without walking anyone, while striking out 46, you deserve the kind of praise Darvish is garnering.

Even more intriguing is the dramatic difference in his results within this season.

On May 9, after eight starts, Darvish led the league in walks with 33, as his fastball was nonexistent. It got hit or couldn't find the strike zone. But a confidence boost came a couple of months into the season, when Darvish's mind freed up.

The pain in his elbow, which ended last season prematurely for him, had been gone since offseason surgery. But the doubt in his mind about that pain lingered; as soon as he realized it wasn't returning, his fastball took off -- and so did his game. The Cubs paint a picture of a pitcher so locked into his craft, it's almost scary.

"His routine has gone to the next level," Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. "His four-day prep, from what he eats, to when he works out, how he works out, what he does in the bullpen, the visualization stuff the day before he starts, going over the lineup, it's all come together. The routine has been huge, plus the confidence he's showing."

The results, particularly with his fastball, have been night and day. Hottovy points to early June when things began to change. In his first 13 starts, Darvish was in the strike zone with his fastball 49% of the time. In his past 13, it's up to 57%. His strike percentage went from 56% to 70%.

Perhaps most compelling is Darvish's chase rate. That also saw a huge jump, from 21% in his first 13 starts to 32% in his past 13. The more strikes he has thrown with his fastball, the more opposing hitters have been willing to chase his array of off-speed pitches, which now features a devastating split-finger.

"We all know he can spin the baseball and do what he wants to do with it, but the fastball, early in the season, wasn't quite there," Hottovy opined. "He was searching for that command."

Darvish has found that command -- and then some. All it took was some confidence. Confidence the pain wouldn't return while using the correct mechanics, as well as confidence just to throw the fastball. In fact, some believe he isn't throwing it enough.

Darvish is feeling so good right now, he is not shy in defending himself. A recent Twitter exchange with a Chicago media member about his pitch selection after his most recent start -- Darvish gave up four home runs -- would never have happened in the past.

Not including tonight's game.
Against lefty after two strilke.
Off speed pitch .137AVG .205OBP .222SLG .427OPS
4 seam .350AVG .435OBP .650SLG .1085OPS

Which one is better choice? https://t.co/gJQRZiMbJD

— ダルビッシュ有(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) August 22, 2019

Unlike many social media interactions, this one wasn't full of insults and accusations. Darvish simply stated the facts as he sees them. He didn't get defensive; that's a sign of someone comfortable in his own skin, according to his pitching coach.

"He's intelligent and knows how to find data on his own," Hottovy said of the twitter exchange. "He knows what he wants to do and knows how to read the reports on his own. He comes to the meetings as prepared as anyone. He's just locked in."

It has all paid off with a strike percentage that has jumped to an eye-popping 72% over his past five starts, while hitters are chasing at 38%. The ability to get hitters out inside and outside of the zone has finally become elite for Darvish as a Cub. The team desperately needs him to continue on the same path -- while reducing some home run totals -- if it wants to make the postseason. The Cubs need him that much.

"The biggest moment for me this year, it came in early July; he just started to understand what we meant by the way we were talking regarding certain pitches in certain situations," Hottovy explained. "He's understanding swing paths and what guys want to do with him. He can counteract that.

"I don't know if he trusted the process enough and his ability enough to do what we asked before. Now he does."

Organisers mark milestone by unveiling the design of the world championships medals, which pay homage to the Qatari capital

The medals for which thousands of athletes will compete have been revealed with exactly one month to go until the IAAF World Championships in Doha.

Paying homage to the Qatari capital, the gold, silver and bronze medals were designed by an all-female team and showcase the Doha skyline, which will be the backdrop of the marathon and race walk events. There are also illustrations of the iconic Khalifa International Stadium, which will host the championships as the event heads to the Middle East for the first time, with 13 different elements of athletics disciplines also weaved into the design.

More than 2000 of the world’s top athletes will be competing for the 192 medals on offer across 49 finals during the 10-day competition, which gets under way on Friday September 27.

“A medal is the symbol of excellence in our sport,” said IAAF president Sebastian Coe.

“It represents all the years of sweat, striving and persistence required to succeed in athletics at the highest level, so the design of the medals must be as special as the achievement in winning them.

“Our local organising committee in Doha has done a brilliant job in creating medals that our athletes will be proud to receive as a permanent keepsake of their moment of glory. I’d like to have one myself, so I may have to come out of retirement.”

Speaking on the final preparations and medals for the championships, Sheikha Asma Al Thani, director of marketing and communications for the local organising committee, said: “Having designs on the medals which showcase Qatar is a special occasion for the country, as so many people throughout Doha have played a vital role in delivering the competition.

“A gold medal will naturally take pride of place in an athlete’s collection and they will be reminded of the competition being held in the Middle East forever.

“The whole of Qatar is excited to welcome the world’s best athletes and we look forward to celebrating the successes of all those competing and those iconic moments at the finish lines and on the podiums.”

The first medals will be won just hours after the championships begin on day one, with the midnight marathon taking place along Doha’s Corniche.

The marathon and race walk events are free to attend, while tickets to track and field action at the Khalifa International Stadium are available at iaafworldathleticschamps.com/doha2019

Tickets will also give spectators access to the World Athletics Village outside the stadium where a whole host of international cuisines will be available to celebrate the global event, along with live entertainment and competitions.

Athletics Integrity Unit announces that the 2015 world 800m champion has tested positive for a prohibited substance

Belarusian middle-distance runner Marina Arzamasova has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has announced.

Arzamasova won the world 800m title in Beijing in 2015 and European gold the year before (pictured), finishing ahead of Britain’s Lynsey Sharp in Zurich.

The AIU states that one of Arzamasova’s samples showed the presence of ‘LGD-4033’, which, according to ScienceScape, is “mostly known for its muscle mass increasing properties that actually don’t come with the common steroidal side effects”.

The AIU confirms a Provisional Suspension against Belarusian middle-distance runner Marina Arzamasova for a violation of the @iaaforg Anti-Doping Rules.
Find out more ➡ https://t.co/opInfkVlnV#CleanSport #AIUNews pic.twitter.com/rAa56D1tDX

— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) August 27, 2019

The status of the case is that notice of the allegation has been issued.

“The AIU confirms a Provisional Suspension against Belarusian middle-distance runner Marina Arzamasova for a violation of the IAAF Anti-Doping Rules,” reads a tweet from the Athletics Integrity Unit.

Arzamasova has an 800m PB of 1:57.54 set in Beijing four years ago, while her best in 2019 is 2:02.51 from July.

VINTON, Iowa – Veteran Matt Ryan and newcomer Cory Dumpert will reign as national champi­ons in the IMCA Late Model division.

Both finished the 2019 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season with 594 points and 10 40-point feature wins.

“This was an extraordinary season in terms of growth of our Late Model division, both in the num­ber of licensed drivers and the number of sanctioned race tracks,” IMCA President Brett Root said. “It is only fitting that the national title chase ends shared by drivers from areas with established tracks and with newly-sanctioned tracks.”

“Both drivers,” he added, “deserve all the recognition they receive.”

Ryan, from Davenport, Iowa, and Dumpert, from York, Neb., will both receive $5,000 shares of the national divisional point fund.

Ryan has been runner-up in the national points race in three of the past four years. Now a three-time E3 Spark Plugs Illinois State champion, he has 57 wins over the course of his career, 16th on the all-time list for the division.

The national rookie of the year, Dumpert also has a championship from his home state to show for his first IMCA season.

Defending national champion Jeremiah Hurst, 1987 national champion Jeff Aikey and four-time king Justin Kay followed Ryan and Dumpert in the points race.

Barcelona representatives travelled to Paris on Tuesday to make a third offer for Neymar after seeing their first two rejected by Paris Saint-Germain, sources have told ESPN FC.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu met with his board on Monday to work on a new formula which they hope PSG will accept.

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Directors Javier Bordas and Andre Cury and Neymar's friend Alvaro Costa have flown to France to table that offer to the Ligue 1 club. Barca thought about including Ousmane Dembele as a makeweight in the transfer but sources have told ESPN FC the club are now unlikely to include any players in the deal.

The Spanish champions will instead make a renewed offer to bring Neymar back to Camp Nou on loan with an option to make the move permanent next summer. The deal, in total, would be worth around €170m to PSG, who signed the Brazilian for €222m from Barca in 2017.

PSG rejected a first offer which included Philippe Coutinho, Ivan Rakitic and €80m and then dismissed their first request to take him on loan this season ahead of a permanent move next summer.

Coutinho, a player who PSG would have been open to receiving in exchange, has since joined Bayern Munich. The French club are keen for the saga to come to an end as soon as possible, despite the fact the transfer window remains open until Sept. 2.

With Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani both facing around a month on the sidelines, they need to know if they will be able to count on Neymar this season -- or whether they will have to turn the transfer market to replace him and strengthen their attack.

There is also interest in Neymar from Real Madrid and Juventus, although neither club has yet made an official bid. Neymar has told PSG that he wants to leave this summer and the Ligue 1 side want to recoup a majority of the fee they paid two years ago.

Sources have told ESPN FC they believe the French club are in a strong position to negotiate because it was never their intention to sell a player who is under contract until the summer of 2022.

If no satisfactory offer arrives, they will look to reintegrate Neymar into the first team. He has not played since injuring his ankle in Brazil's Copa America warm up against Qatar at the start of June.