WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015 SPORTS Waratahs winger grounded Call to curb match-fixing Phelps returns to the pool MELBOURNE: The New South Wales Waratahs have been forced to omit JAKARTA: Badminton World Federation (BWF) should work MESA: Michael Phelps will compete in his first swim meet this week since returning in-form winger Taqele Naiyaravoro from their side to take on the leading harder to stamp out match-fixing in the sport, former doubles from a six-month suspension following a second drunken driving arrest. Wellington Hurricanes in their crunch Super Rugby match in New Zealand world champion Rexy Mainaky said. The 18-time Olympic champion is entered in five events in the Arena Pro Swim Series The 1996 Olympic gold medallist, now head of athlete devel- on Saturday due to a visa issue. Fijian Naiyaravoro was also omitted from meet in Arizona that begins today. Phelps is entered in the 100-meter butterfly on the team for the match against the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin last opment in the Indonesian badminton federation, was con- cerned after two Danish shuttlers said in October they had been Thursday, 100 backstroke and 400 freestyle on Friday, and 200 individual medley and month and is unable to leave Australia for the time being. 100 free on Saturday. Also entered in those same five events is his longtime rival Ryan “Taqele’s visa application is an ongoing process and as such he is not approached via social media to fix matches at the Japan Open. World number 11 Hans-Kristian Vittinghus and doubles player Lochte. able to travel overseas at this point in time,” a spokeswoman for the The Mesa meet was the first one Phelps swam in after coming out of a 20-month Waratahs said. Kim Astrup said the person who spoke to them said matches had been successfully fixed at the high-ranking Singapore Open retirement last year. Phelps’ suspension was handed down by USA Swimming Waratahs assistant coach Daryl Gibson confirmed yesterday the explo- and Thomas Cup. “We have easy access to follow matches online in October, just after his arrest in his hometown of Baltimore. It ended sive 23-year-old, who leads the team with three tries, would or via live streaming, unlike in my era. Therefore, the BWF on April 6. The 29-year-old swimmer also was banned from participat- not be on the plane to Wellington. The reigning champion should take this matter more seriously,” Rexy told the Jakarta ing in this summer’s world championships in Russia, although USA Waratahs declined to comment on whether he would be Post newspaper on Monday. Match-fixers have been prevalent Swimming has had informal discussions about Phelps possibly com- available for subsequent games in South Africa later in in soccer in Southeast Asia, tarnishing the image of the world’s peting. Phelps qualified for the world meet in the 100-meter butter- the year which could prove decisive for their title most popular sport. Rexy was keen for badminton not to go the fly, 100 freestyle and 200 individual medley before being suspend- defence. same way and warned the Malaysia-based BWF they should not ed. Since his arrest, he has completed a six-week inpatient The Waratahs play the Lions in Johannesburg on underestimate the threat. “Match-fixing exists in every sport,” he rehabilitation program and also gotten engaged. May 30 before taking on the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein said. “Fortunately in badminton it is rarely found except when Joining Phelps and Lochte in the field in Arizona are in the penultimate round of the season. Australia’s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus and Kim Astrup openly reported a fellow Olympic gold medalists Katie Ledecky, Tyler immigration authority declined to comment on the match-fixing attempt last year. It shows that badminton is not Clary, Natalie Coughlin, Matt Grevers and Allison Fijian’s case.—Reuters safe from match-fixing practices.” —Reuters Schmitt. —AP Royals remain unbeaten MINNEAPOLIS: The Kansas City Royals became the only unbeaten team in MLB as Danny Duffy pitched into the seventh inning and Kendrys Morales homered in a 12-3 romp over Minnesota, spoiling the Twins’ home opener Monday. The defending American League cham- pions improved to 7-0. It’s the second-best start in Kansas City’s history, behind the 2003 club that won nine in a row to begin the season. Detroit, which had been the only other unde- feated team in MLB, lost 5-4 at Pittsburgh earlier in the day. Duffy (1-0) went 6 1/3 innings, giving up three runs. The Twins lost their fourth straight opener. Trevor May (0-1) in the second inning into the upper deck. DODGERS 6, MARINERS 5 Alex Guerrero hit a bases-loaded single with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, com- pleting the Dodgers comeback from a four-run CHINA Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s German driver Nico Rosberg celebrates in deficit for a victory over the Mariners. this file photo. —AFP Nelson Cruz hit two of the Mariners’ four home runs off Brandon McCarthy. Yasiel Puig homered and Howie Kendrick had a tying RBI Rosberg should have single in the fifth for Los Angeles. Dominic Leone (0-1), working his third inning of relief loaded the bases on Andre Ethier’s dou- tried harder — Hamilton ble and two walks, one intentional to Adrian Gonzalez. Tyler Olsons relieved, and after an out, LONDON: Lewis Hamilton has suggested been more competitive. Guerrero lined a 2-2 pitch to right-center to end he is mentally tougher than Mercedes team “Nico didn’t try,” he said, repeating the Seattle’s third straight extra-inning game. Yimi mate Nico Rosberg and questioned how words for effect. “They said maybe he was Garcia (1-0) pitched a perfect inning to get his hard the German really tried to beat him in just comfortable with second and I said first MLB victory. last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix. In com- ‘well, that’s the difference between us. I ments that will do little to ease tensions want to win always’. “And I would have ROCKIES 2, GIANTS 0 between the pair ahead of Sunday’s done everything to get past. Or at least Eddie Butler outdueled fellow rookie Chris Bahrain Grand Prix, the double Formula pushed for three laps. He wasn’t quick Heston and the Colorado Rockies spoiled San One world champion also told British enough. Francisco’s latest World Series championship cel- reporters that he was more of a racer than “I want the guy to be up my arse if he’s ebration at the Giants’ home opener. his rival. got the pace, up my arse and putting pres- Troy Tulowitzki, back in the lineup after a day MINNEAPOLIS: Trevor May No. 65 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Kansas “I’ve always said he is really strong men- sure on me. And if I can’t defend it, you lose off, hit an RBI single in the fourth inning against City Royals during the sixth inning of the home opening game. —AFP tally,” Hamilton was quoted on Tuesday as it.” Heston (1-1). San Francisco raised its third World saying. “But I’d like to think I’m stronger this Rosberg had explained that he risked Series winning flag in five years before the Steven Souza. Dickey allowed two runs and Both homers by the Angels off Ross Detwiler year.” wrecking his tyres by attacking but game. Butler (1-0) tossed 5 1-3 innings of five-hit three hits in six innings, walked five and struck (0-2) came with runners on base after walks. The Briton has won eight of the last 10 Hamilton, who ultimately set the fastest lap ball, walking six. Rafael Betancourt struck out out six. Cowgill’s first of the season tied the game at 3, races, beaten Rosberg in nine of them, and of the day, found support from his two in a perfect ninth for his first save since and Freese’s third made it 5-3. started all three grands prix this season Mercedes bosses for his management of August 2013. YANKEES 6, ORIOLES 5 from pole position. the race. Stephen Drew delivered a pinch-hit grand CUBS 7, REDS 6, 10 INNINGS The tension between the two, evident However he came in for more criticism PIRATES 5, TIGERS 4 slam in the seventh inning, and the Yankees beat Jorge Soler homered twice and Arismendy last year as they battled for the title, flared after the celebrations when pictures Gerrit Cole shut down baseball’s top-hitting the Baltimore Orioles for their first winning Alcantara had a game-ending RBI single in the up again in Shanghai when Rosberg showed him spraying the champagne in team, allowing one run in six-plus innings as the streak of the season. 10th inning to lift the Cubs over the Reds. Chris accused Hamilton of compromising his the face of a hostess on the podium. “We Pittsburgh Pirates handed the Detroit Tigers Down 4-2, the Yankees loaded the bases with Coghlan had three hits and a homer as the Cubs race by driving selfishly slow and leaving think Lewis Hamilton should apologise for their first loss of the season. two outs before Drew connected on a 3-1 pitch came back from three runs down to overcame a him exposed to the Ferraris behind. his actions and think carefully about how The Tigers were trying to match the 7-0 start from Tommy Hunter (0-1). It was his second rough start by Jon Lester, who gave up six runs In the end they finished one-two for the he behaves in the future,” Roz Hardie, chief set by the 1984 club that went on to win the homer in two games and New York’s first pinch- and 10 hits in six innings as his ERA ballooned to second time in three races.