The Olympic champion runner Mo Farah’s looked set to be questioned by the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) as part of its investigations into Farah’s coach Alberto Salazar and his training partner Galen Rupp, after it emerged that his Nike Oregon Project team-mate Treniere Moser had spoken to the agency. Salazar has denied allegations that he administered testosterone to Rupp, who also denies the claims. There is no suggestion that Moser or Farah are under investigation and both vehemently deny taking any performance-enhancing substances, with Farah pledging to continue working with his embattled coach. The wisdom of that decision may yet be questioned though: Farah’s former training partner Kara Goucher – a whistleblower in the BBC Panorama programme that first aired the allegations – has warned of more Salazar revelations to come.
Hosts Canada crash out
International football continued to stubbornly resist the seasons, as the both Women’s World Cup and the Copa América ground toward their respective finales. In Canada, the hosts were knocked out in the quarter-finals by England, with Japan, Germany and the USA also advancing to the semis. At the Copa América in Chile, Paraguay bundled out a lacklustre Brazil in the quarter-finals. The hosts progressed at Uruguay’s expense but not without bizarre controversy as Chile’s defender Gonzalo Jara was accused of poking Edinson Cavani in the bottom in order to provoke a red card for the Uruguayan. Meanwhile, Liverpool responded to the disappointment of last season’s barren Premier League campaign, splashing out £29m ($45m) on Roberto Firminio, from German side Hoffenheim, and £12.5m for Southampton’s England right back Nathaniel Clyne.
Sangakkara to call it quits
The valedictory countdown for one of cricket’s most admired personalities began after Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara confirmed he would retire from the international game in August. The 37-year-old batsman, currently ranked No 3 in the world, will call it a day after the second Test against India: “I wish I could keep on playing but I know when the time comes you have to go, and I know this is my time,” he said. In England, meanwhile, Australia’s Ashes preparations got off to a smooth start with a 255-run steamrollering of Kent in their opening tour match.
Redskins on trial
One of American football’s most famous brands may soon be feeling the winds of change after a US district court last week began considering a legal case involving the Washington Redskins. The NFL team is seeking to retain its Redskins trademark in the face of opposition from Native American groups. Last year the US Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ruled that the Redskins trademark should be deregistered as it may be offensive to Native Americans. The team denies the monicker is offensive, but lawyers for Native Americans said there was a 40-year history of opposition to the name from tribal chiefs.
