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Oakland Athletics starter Frankie Montas has been suspended for 80 games after testing positive for the banned performance-enhancing substance Ostarine, MLB said Friday.
Montas, 26, was in the midst of a breakout season in which he was 9-2 with a 2.70 ERA and 97 strikeouts against 21 walks in 90 innings. He will not be eligible to return to the A's until the end of September and will not be eligible to pitch in the postseason.
After Montas tested positive, he argued that he took a tainted substance not intended to enhance his baseball performance. While the argument was credible, sources said, Montas opted against appealing the suspension and eventually accepted the standard first-time penalty for a banned substance.
Montas said in a statement issued by the MLB Players Association he was "deeply saddened" by the positive test.
"While I never intended to take any prohibited substance, I unfortunately and unknowingly ingested a contaminated supplement that I had purchased over the counter at a nutrition store here in the United States," Montas said in the statement. "That said, I respect MLB rules and understand my responsibilities under the Joint Drug Agreement, and accept full responsibility. I sincerely apologize to the A's organization, the fans, my teammates, and my family for this mistake. My hope is to be able to return to the A's later this season and contribute as best I can."
The right-handed Montas has been the best pitcher for Oakland and was a legitimate All-Star candidate before the suspension. At 40-36, the A's are one game behind Boston for the second wild-card spot in the American League.
"The A's were disappointed upon learning of this suspension," the team said in a statement. "We fully support MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and we will welcome Frankie back after the discipline has been served."
Oakland does have a surplus of starting pitching primed to join the roster heading into the second half. Top prospect Jesus Luzardo is expected to make his next appearance at Triple-A after missing the season's first two months with a shoulder injury.
A.J. Puk, also a dynamic left-hander, is at High-A building up his pitch count after Tommy John surgery last spring. Sean Manaea, the ace of Oakland's staff last season, is nearing a rehab assignment following shoulder surgery in September.
Andy Murray's 'magic' best shots on fairytale return at Queen's
Watch some of the best shots as Andy Murray makes a "fairytale return" to action after a career-saving hip operation with an impressive victory in the Queen's doubles.
READ MORE: Murray makes winning return in doubles at Queen's
WATCH MORE: Wawrinka beats Evans in straight sets - best shots
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British number one Kyle Edmund will continue his Wimbledon preparations after being awarded a wildcard to the Eastbourne tournament.
Britons Dan Evans and Jay Clarke also have wildcards, along with Heather Watson, Harriet Dart and Katie Swan.
French Open semi-finalist Johanna Konta and British number two Cameron Norrie will also play the grass-court event.
Andy Murray announced earlier this week that he will play doubles with Brazilian Marcelo Melo.
Edmund retired from the French Open with a knee injury against Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas last month and made his competitive return this week at Queen's, where he lost to top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round.
Defending Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber features in a women's draw that includes eight of the world's top 10 players.
The German will be up against fellow Grand Slam winners Ashleigh Barty, Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Sloane Stephens and Jelena Ostapenko.
Qualifying for the Eastbourne Nature Valley International began on Friday with the main tournament starting on Sunday until 29 June.
Andy Murray column: I asked Ashleigh Barty to partner me at Wimbledon
In his regular BBC Sport column, Andy Murray reveals how he approached French Open women's singles champion Ashleigh Barty to play with him in the Wimbledon mixed doubles, discusses his emotional journey from possible retirement to making his competitive comeback at Queen's and getting around on his new electric scooter.
I would like to play mixed doubles at Wimbledon next month and I have spoken to a couple of players about partnering up.
But I've been rejected a couple of times so far - in the nicest possible way, of course!
One of those people was Ash Barty.
I asked her during the French Open and she said no because she is already playing in singles and doubles, so didn't want to play in three competitions.
Of course, I understood that.
She also said: "There's many better out there than me.' Then a few days later she won the French Open, so I fired her a message saying I told her she was one of the best - but she still rejected me!
It is a shame we can't play together because I want the best partner possible.
I'm sure I will find another great partner, providing I feel good enough to play the men's and mixed doubles. That said, I need to wait and see how I'm feeling first.
'Tennis hasn't made me emotional recently'
Making my return at Queen's was a special moment; it was really nice being back on a tennis court and I enjoyed it.
I was happy playing again. But I wasn't overcome with emotion on the court.
The past couple of years have been an emotional time for me, and when it came to the Australian Open I decided I had had enough and was able to speak out about it.
Before that it was really difficult for me to do that.
Because of how professional sport is, you end up telling everyone you're OK and you're feeling a bit better. But you're not.
You say things like that to try to sound optimistic and not tell everyone how much you're struggling.
I might have had to play against those people asking me how I was, so I wasn't going to tell them that my hip was killing me and then play them the following day.
But over the past few months I haven't been emotional with regards to tennis.
I was nervous going out on to the court for the doubles match with Feliciano Lopez - and I was nervous throughout most of the match.
It felt very different to when I came back here last year, playing Nick Kyrgios in the singles. I was really emotional that day.
There have only been a couple of other times in the past few months when I have been nervous.
That's been on aeroplanes, because I get butterflies and sweaty palms when I take off on flights. And the other time was playing in the golf club championships at Wentworth last week - especially when I handed in my card having shot triple figures!
When I'm on court I notice my nerves in my legs a bit and sometimes I don't breathe properly.
Nerves are funny because they manifest in players in different ways.
For some, it affects the way they think, but it doesn't affect me in that way. I feel I am able to think quite clearly and calmly.
'I didn't see Scotland's VAR controversy'
Before the match I received plenty of messages of support from my family and friends. The people closest to me - my wife and my team, particularly - know exactly what I've been going through and they have been with me throughout the whole journey.
They have seen everything I've been through and I think they were a bit apprehensive and a bit nervous, even though they didn't want to show it.
That's because it was my first match playing with what is essentially a metal hip! But it was great, it went well and I'm pleased that they were there to see it.
The match being pushed back a day by the rain didn't affect me too much. I practised as normal on Wednesday but, unfortunately, I didn't get to see Scotland's match in the Women's World Cup. I heard it was another video assistant referee (VAR) controversy though...
And on Thursday morning I had a swim with my kids and then we all walked the dogs. I say walked, we hopped on my electric scooter - which I got for my birthday - for most of it!
I love being able to do things like that, especially now I'm pain free.
Andy Murray was talking to BBC Sport's Jonathan Jurejko at Queen's.
Kyrgios fined for unsportsmanlike behaviour at Queen's
Nick Kyrgios has been fined £13,766 ($17,500) for unsportsmanlike conduct in two matches at Queen's on Thursday.
In the first he accused a line judge of "rigging the game" and mocked the umpire, as well as threatening to walk off court.
In the second the Australian, 24, hit a ball out of the stadium.
Kyrgios, who also berated himself for "playing Fifa until 3am", beat Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena, then lost to Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The former Wimbledon quarter-finalist was fined £13,000 at Queen's last year for making a lewd gesture with a water bottle.
In his first-round match at the tournament this year, the world number 39 ranted at umpire Fergus Murphy after losing a set point which he thought was a double fault.
"It couldn't have been further out. What are you doing?" said Kyrgios.
"The ball was this far out on the second serve. I'm going," he later added.
"I'm not going to give 100% when I've got linesmen rigging the game; I don't want to play."
His other antics included peering over a fence at a changeover to watch Gilles Simon's match against Kevin Anderson on the adjacent court, trying to fist-bump with a line judge and mocking the umpire's choice of headwear.
"It's a joke, man. It's a serious joke," he said to Murphy. "Like your hat looks ridiculous, also. It's not even sunny."
Rain delays meant the Australian had to play his second-round match against Auger-Aliassime later on Thursday and he was disruptive then too, serving underarm and overruling a line call in his opponent's favour.
Barty beats Williams in Birmingham to close in on number one ranking
Ashleigh Barty moved to within two matches of becoming world number one after beating Venus Williams 6-4 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham.
The French Open champion will overtake Naomi Osaka at the top of the rankings if she wins the title on Sunday.
Barty, 23, won five games in a row to take the first set and then broke Williams' serve twice in the second.
The Australian will face Barbora Strycova in the semi-finals.
Para table tennis recommended for Commonwealth Games inclusion
Para table tennis could be set to make its debut at the Commonwealth Games after the sport was recommended for inclusion at Birmingham 2022 alongside Women’s T20 cricket and beach volleyball.
It would represent the eighth para-sport to be showcased at the Commonwealth Games, helping to further the diversity of the events programme, while continuing to raise the profile of Para table tennis around the world.
The sport has enjoyed a dramatic growth in participation numbers in recent times with over 2000 athletes currently active globally, representing more than 100 different countries.
Moreover, the sport boasts a proud history as one of the founder Paralympic Games disciplines, having been included among eight sports at the first ever event held in Rome in 1960, and its rich tradition with the Games will be further strengthened at the upcoming Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 events.
Now inclusion at the Commonwealth Games would ensure the sport features among the world’s most prestigious events, further increasing its exposure and appeal in key growth territories.
“The ITTF is delighted to learn that the CGF Executive Board has accepted the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee’s recommendation for the inclusion of Para table tennis. We wish to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Table Tennis England in preparing the submission. This will hopefully provide us with an opportunity to build upon the successes of the Gold Coast Games, to further the development of our Para athletes across the Commonwealth and provide an impetus for activity on the local and national scene in England. We eagerly await the endorsement of the CGF membership so that planning can move into high gear.”
Bruce Burton, ITTF Executive Vice President
Since the ITTF took over the governance of Para Table Tennis in what was a pioneer move in 2007, plenty of work has been done to improve many areas of the game, such as educating coaches, officials and developing the players themselves.
From a technical perspective, Para table tennis makes an extremely strong case for being regarded as the most inclusive sport for people with disabilities, using the same equipment as able-bodied athletes, the same rules and the same field of play, helping to provide equal opportunities and experiences to all.
Opportunity for youth: Ghana holds trials for African Games selection
Established names will no doubt gain ultimate selection but in order to give young players the opportunity to show their skills, trials will be held at the D. G. Hathiramani Hall located in the Accra Sports Stadium, where some 49 players, comprising 30 men and 19 women, have been invited under the supervision of Anthony Owusu Ansah, the national head coach.
In addition to the established players, most notably Joseph Amissah, a left handed pen-holder has been invited alongside Augustine Baidoo, Desmond Osei, Samuel Hagan, Godwin Nyarko Aseku and Daniel Tawiah. All impressed recently in April at the African Junior and Cadet Championships.
Meanwhile, Celia Baah-Danso, the current Sports Writers Association of Ghana player of the year and recent Liebherr 2019 World Championships participant has been invited alongside the experienced Cynthia Kwabi, Eva Adom-Amankwaa, Hilda Asare and Eva Ampah. The notable female junior names on the list are Augustina Baidoo, Millicent Ankude, Matilda Fodu and Diana Opoku; all rapidly improving players.
Worthy contenders for national team places but one name stands out, listed at no.411 on the current Cadet Girls’ World Rankings, 10-year-old Emmanuella Yaa Kyere is present.
The first series of matches which comprise the trials will be held from Wednesday 3rd to Friday 5th July, the second from Wednesday 10th to Saturday 13th July and the third on Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th July.
Flying the flag in Minsk: Marcos Freitas, Panagiotis Gionis and Vladimir Samsonov
The three medallists in each of the men’s singles and women’s singles events secure places in Tokyo. Similarly, the gold medallists in each of the men’s team and women’s team competitions gain qualification, as do the mixed doubles winners; all being subject to National Olympic Committee approval,
Notably for Vladimir Samsonov his target is twofold. On the one hand to make his seventh consecutive Olympic Games appearance, his debut being in 1996 in Atlanta, on the other to climb one step higher than four years ago in Baku when beaten in the final by Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov.
Almost as impressive for Panagiotis Gionis, his aim is a fifth such appearance, his initiation being in 2004 on home soil in Athens, for Marcos Freitas, the quest is to make it four in succession, his first venture was in 2008 in Beijing.
It is the men’s singles and women’s singles events which start play. Germany’s Timo Boll, aiming for a sixth consecutive Olympic Games appearance, heads the men’s singles seeding ahead of Sweden’s Mattias Falck. The defending champion, Dimitrij Ovtcharov is the no.3 seed, he is followed by Great Britain’s Liam Pitchford. Vladimir Samsonov, Frenchman Simon Gauzy, pursued by Austria’s Daniel Habesohn and Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson complete the top eight names.
Meanwhile, in the women’s singles event, Romania’s Bernadette Szocs, Austria’s Sofia Polcanova and Sweden’s Matilda Ekholm occupy the top three respective seeded positions ahead of Germany’s Petrissa Solja, Romania’s Bernadette Szocs and Hungary’s Georgina Pota. Li Jie, the runner up in Baku when beaten by now retired colleague, Li Jiao, is the no.7 seed, Portugal’s Fu Yu is the no.8 seed.
The mixed doubles event will commence on Sunday 23rd June, the men’s team and women’s team competitions on Thursday 27th June.
Minsk 2019 European Games – Table Tennis: Qualification Procedure
Minsk 2019 European Games – Table Tennis: Schedule of Play
Minsk 2019 European Games – Table Tennis: Special Team Ranking Men (December 2018)
Minsk 2019 European Games – Table Tennis: Special Team Ranking Women (December 2018)
Minsk 2019 European Games – Table Tennis: Latest Results
Zac Alexander at full stretch as he and Rex Hedrick reach the men’s final
All-Australia on finals day in Gold Coast
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad International Correspondent
Hosts Australia are guaranteed gold medals in all competitions after dominating day four of the WSF World Doubles Squash Championships at the Carrara Squash Centre on the Gold Coast.
In the men’s competition, defending world champions Cameron Pilley and Ryan Cuskelly overpowered their Colombian opponents Andrés Herrera and Juan Camilo Vargas to have another shot at gold.
The pair from New South Wales won the match 11-5 11-7 and will face a challenge from second-seeded compatriots Zac Alexander and Rex Hedrick in the final.
“I thought we played really well, we probably lost a bit of concentration in the second where the ball got a little bit dead after the first game, but overall very confident,” Cuskelly said.
Pilley added: “We haven’t played together since the Commonwealth Games over a year ago so we are getting better with each match and getting more confident.”
Alexander and Hedrick were pushed by gritty South African duo Jean-Pierre Brits and Christo Potgieter (all pictured above), with the Australians eventually winning 11-9, 11-4.
“They (the South African pair) have looked dangerous the whole time and they’ve had some good results, so we knew it was going to be tough and a bit tricky but we thought we’d stick to our guns and do what we do well,” Hedrick said.
Partner Alexander added: “For us as a team it is getting through the first couple of points at the start of the game and the other boys (Cuskelly and Pilley) are so strong and attacking and are pretty much top 20 in the world still so we are the underdogs for sure.”
With no bronze medal playoff at the WSF World Doubles, both the Colombian duo and the South African pair will take home bronze.
Pilley will have a shot at a second gold in the championships when he pairs with cousin Donna Lobban in the mixed doubles final. Pilley and Lobban, the defending Commonwealth Games mixed doubles gold medallists, won through against Alexander and 17-year-old South Australian Alex Haydon 11-9, 11-7.
“It is nice to not play your absolute best and still come off with a two-nil win so we will take that,” Lobban (pictured) said.
“We thought our Aussie team-mates played really well today and it was a good game, so yeah we’re happy to be in the final.”
Making his senior Australian debut at the tournament, Ethan Eyles (also 17-years-old) will play off in the gold medal match with his partner Christine Nunn. Eyles and Nunn tamed their more experienced opponents, Catalina Pelaez and Matias Knudsen of Colombia, 11-10, 11-6.
Australia will take gold in the women’s doubles competition as well, with the final round robin match between Lobban/Nunn and Sarah Cardwell/Jessica Turnbull to determine the final position.
Cardwell and Turnbull are guaranteed a silver medal at worst on the final day, after defeating Colombian sisters Laura and Maria Tovar 11-8, 5-11 ,11-5 in what was day four’s tightest match.
The Colombian pair will be looking to stop an Australian clean sweep of medals, when they play Taylor Flavell and Selena Shaikh on the final day. The Victorian pair, who are making their national team debut in the tournament, defeated Jemyca Aribado and Aysah Dalidah of the Philippines 11-7, 11-6 on the penultimate day to give themselves a shot at world championship bronze.
WSF World Doubles Squash Championships, Gold Coast, Australia.
Men’s semi-finals:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly & Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [3] Andrés Herrera & Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 11-5, 11-7 (23m)
[2] Zac Alexander & Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [5] Jean-Pierre Brits & Christo Potgieter (RSA) 11-9, 11-4 (35m)
Women’s 4th Pool round:
[2] Sarah Cardwell & Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt [3] Laura Tovar & Maria Tovar (COL) 11-8, 5-11, 11-5 (26m)
[4] Taylor Flavell & Selena Shaikh (AUS) bt [5] Jemyca Aribado & Aysah Dalida (PHI) 11-7, 11-6 (18m)
Mixed semi-finals:
[1] Donna Lobban & Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [3] Alex Haydon & Zac Alexander (AUS) 11-7, 11-9 (18m)
[4] Christine Nunn & Ethan Eyles (AUS) bt [2] Catalina Pelaez & Matias Knudsen (COL) 11-10, 11-6 (24m)
FINAL DAY SCHEDULE
Women’s pool match (gold medal playoff):
Donna Lobban & Christine Nunn (AUS) v Sarah Cardwell & Jessica Turnbull (AUS)
Men’s Final:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly & Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [2] Zac Alexander & Rex Hedrick (AUS)
Mixed Final:
[1] Donna Lobban & Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [4] Christine Nunn & Ethan Eyles (AUS)
Pictures courtesy of CRAIG STEWART (Brisbane Sports Photography)
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