Clemson coach Dabo Swinney challenged at poll when out to vote in election

EDMONTON – The judge leading a fatality inquiry into the knockout death of a boxer is recommending changes to how the sport is regulated and how head injuries are monitored.

Timothy Hague, who was 34, competed in a boxing match licensed by the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission in June 2017 when his opponent, Adam Braidwood, knocked him unconscious.

Hague came to and was able to walk to the dressing room, where he vomited, and was then taken to hospital where he underwent surgery for a large brain bleed.

His condition did not improve, care was withdrawn and Hague died two days after the fight.

Justice Carrie Sharpe with Alberta’s provincial court made 14 recommendations, including that combat sports be overseen by a provincial authority instead of a patchwork of municipal bodies and that there be concussion spotters at every event.

She also recommends that if a fighter receives a blow to the head in a technical knockout, they must provide a brain scan to prove they are fit to compete again.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

TORONTO – Bianca Andreescu has withdrawn from Canada’s team in the Billie Jean King Cup finals.

Tennis Canada said in a release that Andreescu, from Mississauga, Ont., is focusing on her health after she battled injuries throughout the season.

She returned from a nine-month absence due to a back injury at this year’s French Open before taking more time off following a first-round exit at the U.S. Open, where she was champion in 2019.

She recently returned to play two events in Japan in October, reaching the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open.

Leylah Fernandez (Laval, Que.), Rebecca Marino (Vancouver), Gabriela Dabrowski (Ottawa), and Marina Stakusic (Mississauga) will form the Canadian team at the Billie Jean King Cup finals, which start later this month in Malaga, Spain.

Canada is looking to become the first team since Czechia in 2016 to defend its world title, starting with a quarterfinal clash against the winner of Britain and Germany on November 17.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Suspended South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins has had the charges against her dismissed, according to online judicial records.

Watkins was charged with assault and kidnapping on Aug. 31. She has been suspended from the women’s college basketball team ever since and did not accompany her teammates to the White House in September to be honored by President Biden for their national championship season.

Court records showed Watkins’ charges were dismissed Nov. 1. There was no immediate word on her suspension.

The top-ranked Gamecocks opened the season Monday night with a closer-than-expected 68-62 victory over Michigan in Las Vegas. They get a sterner test next time out when they face No. 9 N.C. State in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday.

Watkins was a big factor in South Carolina’s 38-0 national title season. The 6-foot-3 forward led the Southeastern Conference with 91 blocks. She averaged 9.2 points and was second behind WNBA first-round pick Kamilla Cardoso on the team with 7.4 rebounds a game.

She dunked once in each of her freshman and sophomore seasons, the first two dunks in the South Carolina program.

Watkins is expected to play an even bigger role with the team when she returns to the basketball court.

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The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.