TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 SPORTS

Petrova denies wrongdoing after positive meldonium test SOFIA: Bulgarian triple jumper touched it in 2016.” last year, failed an out-of-com- Portland, Oregon earlier this month. she said. “It doesn’t sound logical for Gabriela Petrova, runner-up at the 2015 Meldonium, which helps boost petition drug test on Feb. 6. The 23- “She was ready to win the world title 150 athletes to have taken the banned European indoor championships in blood flow and increases the amount year-old has joined a long list of ath- but I decided it was better not to par- substance in an Olympic year.” , has denied any wrong-doing of oxygen taken in by the body, allow- letes, including former world tennis ticipate because we received the infor- The use of meldonium was wide- after testing positive for the banned ing athletes to recover faster while number one Maria Sharapova of Russia, mation about the positive test several spread before the ban. One study substance meldonium. training, was added to the World Anti- who have recorded positive tests for days before the championship,” said showed 490 athletes at last year’s “I have not violated, in any way, the Doping Agency’s list of banned sub- meldonium. “It has nothing to do with coach Atanas Atanasov. European Games in Baku had taken it. anti-doping rules and I can move on stances on Jan. 1. Since then, more the Sharapova case,” Petrova said. “She Petrova, named ’s Athlete of Grindeks, the Latvian company that with my head held high,” Petrova told a than 100 athletes have been found to said she took the medication in 2016 to the Year in December, is hoping she is the main supplier of the drug, says news conference at the Vasil Levski sta- have used it. treat a health problem.” will avoid a suspension and be able to the substance could protect athletes dium on Monday. “I stopped taking Petrova, who also finished fourth at The Bulgarian pulled out of the compete at the Rio Olympics in August. from cell damage but is unlikely to this medication in September. I haven’t the world outdoor championships in world indoor championships in “I believe the truth will be revealed,” improve their performance. —Reuters Djokovic powers into Miami last 16

MIAMI: World number one Novak Djokovic Wells winner Victoria Azarenka, who each advanced to the fourth round of the ATP upset world number one Serena Williams in and WTA Miami Open on Sunday, defeating the final to win those titles, reached the last Portugal’s 38th-ranked Joao Sousa 6-4, 6-1. 16 on the women’s side. German second Two-time defending champion seed Kerber advanced 1-6, 6-2, 3-0 when Djokovic, trying to match Andre Agassi’s 108th-ranked Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens record of six career Miami titles, needed retired due to illness. only 78 minutes to win his 12th match in a “I was not finding a rhythm at the begin- row at the hardcourt event and 26th in his ning of the match,” Kerber said. “I had to past 27 Miami starts. “That first set could stay strong, believe and keep fighting. I have gone either way,” Djokovic said. “I hope she gets well soon but I’m glad to be managed to hit the right balls at the right in the next round.” moment and make it to the finish.” The 28- Kerber next faces Hungary’s 49th- year-old Serbian, who won his 11th Grand ranked Timea Babos, who ousted 18-year- Slam crown at the Australian Open two old Japanese 104th-ranked wildcard Naomi months ago, also has crowns at Doha and Osaka 7-5, 6-0. Eighth-ranked Azarenka, a Indian Wells this year and hopes to com- 26-year-old from Belrus who won 2009 and plete the Miami-Indian Wells sweep for the 2011 Miami titles, eliminated Polish qualifi- third consecutive year. er Magda Linette 6-3, 6-0. She next faces Djokovic’s next foe will be Austrian 14th last year’s Wimbledon runner-up, Garbine seed Dominic Thiem, who dispatched Muguruza. The Spanish fourth seed ripped 124th-ranked Japanese qualifier Yoshihito 74th-ranked US wildcard Nicole Gibbs 6-1, Nishioka 6-2, 6-2 in 64 minutes. 6-0 in 55 minutes. “He has one of the most powerful base- Two-time Australian Open champion line games in tennis,” Djokovic said of Azarenka is trying to become only the third Thiem. “He likes to construct his points so I woman to take Indian Wells and Miami in will try and take away his time. He’s had the same year after Graf in 1994 and 1996 one of the best years of his life. He’s beaten and Kim Clijsters in 2005. Nadal on clay. He’s one of the players in the next generation we should all look out for.” FEDERER FILL-IN WINS AGAIN VANCOUVER: Vancouver Canucks’ Sven Baertschi, left, of Switzerland, scores against Chicago Blackhawks’ goalie Scott Darling, second right, as Thiem captured his fifth career ATP title last Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos, a lucky los- Teuvo Teravainen (86), of Finland, and Viktor Svedberg, right, of Sweden, defend during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, month by beating Australia’s Bernard Tomic er who replaced Roger Federer in the draw British Columbia, Sunday. — AP in the Acapulco final and downed 14-time when the 17-time Grand Slam champion Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal on the withdrew due to illness, advanced to the way to a Buenos Aires claycourt crown. “I’m fourth round by overcoming Spain’s sure he wants to showcase all that he’s got Fernando Verdasco 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4). in his arsenal but I will be sure to be ready Zeballos, ranked 112th, had not won a Crosby nets OT winner, for him,” Djokovic said. match since last July before beating coun- Sousa fell to 0-3 against Djokovic and 1- tryman Juan Martin Del Potro in the second 21 against top-10 foes with his 19th such round. After winning two in a row for the loss in a row since beating David Ferrer in first time in more than two years, he faces Penguins top Rangers 3-2 Kuala Lumpur in 2013. “He came out with a Indian Wells semi-finalist David Goffin for a clear game plan,” said Djokovic. “He wanted quarter-final berth. “Life changed for me a to take his chances. He did not have much lot here,” Zeballos said. “Beating ‘DelPo’ and NEW YORK: Sidney Crosby scored on a deflec- Daley at the left faceoff circle and shot from the (36-32-8), who had a three-game points streak to lose. It can be dangerous. I know the Verdasco, two better players than me, I tion at 4:30 of overtime and the surging point. Cullen tipped the rebound past Lundqvist snapped. importance of stepping up a few levels and greatly improved both the ranking and Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Rangers at 15:49. It was Cullen’s 13th goal of the season. delivering my ‘A’ game.” economically.” 3-2 Sunday night in a potential first-round play- BLACKHAWKS 3, CANUCKS 2 The South American is assured $67,590, off preview. Matt Cullen and Phil Kessel also HURRICANES 3, DEVILS 2 Andrew Ladd scored the winning goal with KERBER, AZARENKA ADVANCE which will help since his wife is due to give scored for the Penguins, who have won eight of Goalie Cam Ward came up a big after a 2:27 left in the third period as the Chicago Reigning Australian Open champion birth to their first child on April 10. “I am liv- nine. Marc-Andre Fleury made 25 saves. Eric midgame rough stretch, and the Carolina Blackhawks used a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Angelique Kerber and last week’s Indian ing happy moments,” he said. —AFP Staal scored twice for New York, which had won Hurricanes defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-2 Canucks to clinch a playoff spot Sunday. three straight. Kevin Hayes and Jesper Fast Sunday at PNC Arena. Ward finished with 23 Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa had a two- assisted on both of Staal’s goals. Henrik saves, stopping all nine shots in the third period. on-one breakaway. Instead of shooting, Toews Lundqvist stopped 29 shots. Victor Rask scored twice and Ron Hainsey had a dropped the puck back to Ladd, who beat Derick Brassard was called for high-sticking goal for the Hurricanes (33-28-15). Bobby Vancouver goaltender Ryan Miller for his 23rd with 1.4 seconds left in regulation to give Farnham and Travis Zajac scored for the Devils goal of the season. —Reuters Pittsburgh a power play in the extra period. But the Rangers killed it off before Kris Letang’s wrist NHL Results/Standings shot from the point ricocheted in off Crosby in front. Staal entered with one goal in 13 games with the Rangers since joining the team at the NY Rangers 2, Pittsburgh 3 (OT); Vancouver 2, Chicago 3; Carolina 3, New Jersey 2. trade deadline in a deal with Carolina. It was his Eastern Conference Western Conference second multigoal game of the season. Atlantic Division Pacific Division The Rangers took advantage of a Penguins W L OT GF GA PTS Dallas 45 22 9 247 218 99 turnover to take a 2-1 lead early in the second Florida 42 24 9 216 184 93 St. Louis 45 22 9 203 185 99 period. Staal took a pass from Fast and sent a Tampa Bay 43 27 5 211 182 91 Chicago 44 25 7 212 188 95 loose puck past Fleury at the right faceoff circle Boston 40 28 8 222 207 88 Nashville 39 23 13 210 190 91 at 2:07. The Penguins tied it again when Carl Detroit 37 27 11 192 206 85 Minnesota 37 28 11 206 189 85 Ottawa 34 33 9 217 234 77 Colorado 38 33 4 200 212 80 Hagelin used his speed to chase down a loose MontrÈal 34 36 6 201 221 74 Winnipeg 31 38 6 192 220 68 puck and put a shot on Lundqvist. Kessel back- Buffalo 31 34 10 179 20272 handed in the rebound for his 23rd goal of the Toronto 27 36 11 181 217 65 Central Division season at 8:36. Kessel, who had a goal and four Metropolitan Division Los Angeles 45 25 5 206 175 95 assists in Saturday’s win over Detroit, sent a shot Washington 53 16 5 232 174 111 Anaheim 41 23 10 194 177 92 off the crossbar a couple of minutes later. NY Rangers 43 24 9 219 199 95 San Jose 41 28 6 219 196 88 The Rangers opened the scoring in the first Pittsburgh 42 25 8 214 186 92 Arizona 34 34 7 197 221 75 period. Hayes took the puck up the left side and NY Islanders 40 25 9 208 192 89 Calgary 31 38 6 205 238 68 sent a pass in front to Staal, who fended off Philadelphia 36 25 13 193 197 85 Vancouver 27 35 13 171 217 67 KEY BISCAYNE: Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot to Joao Sousa of Portugal Carolina 33 28 15 186 206 81 defenseman Trevor Daley and deflected the Edmonton 30 41 7 193 232 67 during the Miami Open presented by Itau at Crandon Park Tennis Center on New Jersey 36 32 8 171 193 80 Note: Overtime losses (OT) worth 1 pt and not included puck past Fleury at 4:19. The Penguins tied it late Sundayin Key Biscayne, Florida.— AFP Columbus 30 37 8 194 233 68 in loss column (L). in the period. Derrick Pouliot took a pass from Polluted Hebei promises Jamie set for British first in doubles rankings clean-up for 2022 Games : Jamie Murray will become Britain’s first world number one profes- BEIJING: The top official in China’s Hebei aims to cut coal consumption sional tennis player since computerised northern province of Hebei, one of the by 40 million tonnes over the period rankings were introduced in the 1970s country’s most polluted, has vowed to from 2013 to 2017 and slash its 2013 lev- after the ATP World Tour confirmed on use the staging of the 2022 Winter els of small particulate matter in almost Sunday he will take top spot in doubles Olympics to drive efforts to cut smog, half by 2020. It will also reduce annual from Marcelo Melo. promote clean energy and ease depend- crude steel capacity below 200 million The 30-year-old, whose brother Andy is ence on heavy industry. tonnes by 2020. Zhao said the plans ranked world number two in singles, will The city of Zhangjiakou, around 200 included the planting of new forest and take top spot from the Brazilian when the km (124 miles) from Beijing, will stage the creation of an ecological conserva- new rankings are published on April 4. skiing and snowboarding events during tion zone around Zhangjiakou, where a Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association hailed the 2022 winter games, awarded to “renewable energy demonstration zone” Murray on Twitter as a history maker. China last year. But the plan has fuelled would also be set up. Murray won the Australian Open doubles concern, as Beijing is prone to air pollu- Zhangjiakou plans to boost total title in January alongside Brazilian Bruno tion and Hebei was home to China’s sev- renewable electricity capacity to 1.28 Soares. Melo’s failure to reach the doubles en smoggiest cities last year, largely gigawatts by 2017. It is already the site of quarter-finals in the Miami Open on because of its dependence on heavy 500 megawatts of wind capacity, 100 MW Sunday means he will drop points and fall industries, such as coal-fired power and of solar panels and 70 MW of power stor- behind Murray in the rankings, despite steel production. age capacity at a renewable energy the Briton’s earlier elimination. Speaking at a weekend meeting on demonstration project run by the China “He really deserves it,” the BBC quoted preparations for the Olympics, Zhao State Grid Corporation. The facility tests Melo as saying. “He made the final in Kezhi, the provincial Communist Party new renewable equipment models, with Wimbledon, final U.S. Open, won the chief, said Hebei would work to meet tar- fuel cells designed to offset the intermit- Davis Cup, won the Australian Open, so he gets for cutting cut industrial overcapaci- tent nature of wind and solar power for deserves it a lot. I’m happy for him.” ty, coal consumption and air pollution. safer connection to transmission lines. Murray posted a picture on his “We must use the staging of the Winter China has repeatedly pledged to hold Instagram account of himself sitting on a Olympics as an opportunity to stimulate an environmentally-friendly Winter beach with the number one written in the economic and social development, Games. Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer sand. speed up our transformation and Games to wide acclaim, but its bid for the “Last night I went to bed wondering if upgrading, expand effective investment Winter Games was dogged by concerns that was the closest I would ever get,” he and strengthen poverty alleviation,” Zhao over issues ranging from the city’s notori- said. “Today driving in my car my phone said, in an account of the meeting pub- ous smog problem to a lack of snow and started to go crazy.” Britain’s Virginia Wade lished on Hebei’s government website the country’s poor record on human was also world number one in women’s (http://www.hebei.gov.cn) on Monday. rights. — Reuters doubles in 1973, before computer rank- KEY BISCAYNE: Simona Halep, of Romania, returns to Heather Watson during their match at the ings were introduced. —Reuters Miami Open tennis tournament, yesterday in Key Biscayne. — AP