Dallas Cowboys star left tackle La’el Collins has been issued with a five-game suspension by the NFL after he reportedly missed several drug tests and even attempted to bribe a test-collector, according to reports from the US.
Collins, 28, who has been a starter for the Cowboys since 2015, was hit with the ban after reportedly failing to submit samples to several tests, as well as attempting to offer money to a test-collector to distort drug-test results, ESPN has reported sources as saying.
Former LSU man Collins is understood to have tested positive for marijuana and, while new rules state that players cannot be suspended for that offense, Collins’ punishment is related to his missed tests and the bribery allegations.
Specific information related to the bribery claims against Collins haven’t yet been made available.
His suspension comes after the NFL Players’ Association (NFLPA), which is led by Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter, assisted in negotiations to reduce Collins’ ban to just two games.
Collins subsequently appealed that suspension – only for an independent arbiter to rule that the five-game ban should be reinstated based on the evidence available.
Collins’ legal team is again launching an appeal, with ESPN quoting sources as saying that they expect the five-game ruling to be upheld, even after the player’s latest appeal. He has already served one game of the ban, missing his team’s win against the Los Angeles Chargers last weekend.
Often with appeals, there's a presumption that there's nothing to lose. Not true with NFL-NFLPA grievance system. La'el Collins faced a 5 game suspension that was reduced to 2 due to negotiation of NFLPA, but he invoked his right to appeal & arbitrator raised it back to 5 games. https://t.co/aBOGZEw2ll
“We are extremely disappointed in how the NFL has handled this entire matter, from trampling on Mr Collins’ rights to prematurely releasing the information [while] knowing [that] a timely appeal was filed to intentionally misleading the court at the hearing,” said Collins’ agent Peter Schaefer earlier this month.
“The extent and effort the NFL went to to accomplish its ends is appalling.”
In his appeal, Collins and his legal team stated that he had numerous legitimate reasons to miss the scheduled drug tests. One was to take place on the day that the Cowboys’ strength and conditioning coach, Markus Paul, passed away last November, while another was scheduled to take place on the day of Collins’ uncle’s funeral.
As a cowboys fan I gotta say I welcome this! Our great run in the 90’s was fueled in part by cocaine so maybe this vibe is what we’ve been missing. We’re back baby!!
His appeal is expected to be unsuccessful, which would mean Collins will be eligible to return to action on October 18.
The ban will also hit him hard in the pocket, costing him around $2 million in gameday fees while also voiding the injury guarantee worth well over $6 million in his salary.
“Often with appeals, there’s a presumption that there’s nothing to lose. Not true with NFL-NFLPA grievance system,” explained sports legal expert Michael McCann on social media.
“La’el Collins faced a five-game suspension that was reduced to two due to negotiation of NFLPA, but he invoked his right to appeal and the arbitrator raised it back to five games.”
“Pretty bold if the thinking was that this wouldn’t come out during the hearing,” added another legal professional, Darren Heitner.
However, at least one Cowboys fan predicted that this might be a return to the good times in Dallas.
“As a Cowboys fan, I’ve got to say I welcome this,” he joked. “Our great run in the ’90s was fuelled in part by cocaine, so maybe this vibe is what we’ve been missing. We’re back, baby.”
Lewis Hamilton earned a late 100th F1 victory in a dramatic Russian Grand Prix, celebrating in Sochi for the fifth time after torrential rain denied the impressive Lando Norris a maiden win.
In soaking conditions that threatened to emulate the thunder and lightning which delayed qualifying, 21-year-old Norris was minutes from victory despite rain beginning to batter the track with eight laps to go.
The McLaren prodigy’s decision to persist with slick tyres meant he suffered an agonizing finish, failing to even make the podium as Hamilton hauled his way past from the back of the grid, leapfrogging arch-rival Max Verstappen at the top of the standings.
“I want to say a big thank you to all the fans – it’s such a great crowd here,” Hamilton beamed to fellow British Formula One champion Damon Hill on Sky Sports afterwards, lauding the 30,000 punters who filled the Autodrom to half-capacity by the Black Sea.
HAMILTON TO THE LEAD!!
A massive downpour in the final laps of the Russian GP sees Lando Norris' first F1 victory slide away. pic.twitter.com/MrTpV4UKXU
“I know it’s not been the best of weather but what a race we provided, so thank you for backing us. It’s taken a long time to get to 100 [wins] and I wasn’t even sure whether or not it would come.”
Norris, who spun before finishing seventh, overcame his heartbreak to share a warm handshake and embrace with Hamilton as the seven-time champion spoke in the setting where he has won on three of his last four visits.
“Lando did such an amazing job,” said Hamilton. “He had incredible pace. He’s doing such a great job for McLaren and it’s very bittersweet to see my old team ahead and doing so well. They’re doing fantastically.
“I’m incredibly grateful to all these men and women who are here and back at the factory.”
Verstappen had started at the back because of an engine penalty and looked thrilled with the result at a circuit where Mercedes has traditionally been dominant.
Norris shunned the chance to be given intermediaries while his more established rivals made decisions to switch that paid off handsomely, with prophetic Verstappen charging through to finish second, having been seventh before the downpour.
“At one point it was really slippery and I think we decided to pit at the right time,” he said after he ended the day two points behind Hamilton, setting up a tantalizing final six races of the season.
“To come from last to second is very, very good. When I work up this morning, I definitely didn’t expect this result.”
Carlos Sainz Jnr – the leader at one point – finished third, with Norris teammate Daniel Ricciardo fourth and Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas, who won the race in 2017 and 2020, fifth.
Home racer Nikita Mazepin finished 18th on another difficult day for Haas, with teammate Mick Schumacher failing to finish.
Nick Kyrgios, who has gained a reputation as one of the sport’s most controversial stars, has hinted that he may be close to retiring from tennis after he announced that the Laver Cup in Boston was his final appearance of 2021.
Kyrgios, who reached as high as 13th in the world rankings in 2016, has been largely inactive from the tennis circuit for much of the past two years and has played in very few tournaments throughout the Covid-19 global pandemic.
This relative inactivity has seen his world ranking plummet to 95th, and after a straight sets defeat to Stefanos Tsitsipas during Saturday’s meeting at the Laver Cup, a disappointed Kyrgios admitted that he is unsure of his future in professional tennis.
“Definitely, this is my last event of the year,” said Kyrgios, who was participating for Team World against Team Europe in the so-called ‘Ryder Cup of tennis’.
“I need to go back home. I have been travelling for four-and-a-half months now.
“My mum is not doing too well with her health. I’d like to go back and see her.
“Obviously, I’ll get my body right and I’ll start my pre-season, spend time with my family for the Australian Open and go from there. I will reassess.”
Speaking after his 6-4, 6-3 win against the Aussie, Tsitsipas paid tribute to Kyrgios’ talents.
“He’s someone, you know, with not much practice or preparation [and] he can come out and play [some] of his best tennis due to the enormous talent that he has as an athlete,” said the Greek.
Despite not reaching a Grand Slam final throughout his career, Kyrgios has remained a fan favorite owing to his brash, outspoken character – something which has frequently landed him in hot water with the sport’s authorities.
He's talented at something he doesn't like doing it seems
Kyrgios also remains one of just a handful of players to hold wins against tennis’ three most dominant stars in Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
But despite never getting past the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam event, Kyrgios says that he has nothing left to prove in the sport.
“I feel like I’m not one of those players now that’s going to go hunting for points or hunting for accolades or anything like that,” he said.
Promising talent wasted by attitude and disrespect for the sport
“I feel like I have nothing left to prove to myself. I’m incredibly proud of what I have achieved.
“Where I go from here, everything’s a bonus. I’m playing Laver Cup again, and I’m not going to lie, I think this is my last year I will probably play Laver Cup.
“As long as I’m on the court, I will try and give my best, but I’m not going to lie and say that I’m going to plan to play four or five more years on tour – that’s just not me.”
The reaction online to Kyrgios potentially stepping away from tennis has been mixed, with some hailing his prodigious talent and others bemoaning the antics which have so often distracted from it.
“He’s talented at something he doesn’t like doing, it seems,” wrote one fan, while another said he would “start a row in an empty phone box.”
A third was perhaps a bit more cutting in their summation, observing: “Promising talent wasted by attitude and disrespect for the sport.”
The Ukrainian Hockey League has promised disciplinary action after a player was sent off for making a shocking gesture during a game that appeared to imagine a black opponent peeling a banana and eating it.
Kremenchuk forward Andrei Deniskin was caught on camera making the bizarre taunt towards new Donbass Donetsk signing Jalen Smereck, clearly mimicking the act while looking at the American in the 36th minute of a league game.
The 23-year-old was sent off and the league has warned that extra sanctions are planned for the Ukraine international following the troubling incident.
Despite the disgraceful footage, Deniskin insisted afterwards that he does not discriminate against people.
A disgusting gesture in the UHL was made towards American Jalen Smereck… This is embarrassing and pathetic for hockey. @IIHFHockey needs to step up here. pic.twitter.com/cSqxBKVC4k
“During the match, I, being of negative emotions, displayed a gesture that could be considered as an insult [relating to] race,” he said (via translation), offering a public apology to Smereck.
“I respect all people regardless of their race or nationality. Emotions in hockey, unfortunately, are different.”
In a statement, Donbass condemned “all forms of discrimination” and said they were “outraged by the behavior” of Deniskin.
Would say an appropriate response would be a five year ban from hockey, plus 500 hours of community service which must be done as a league volunteer. Either that or lifetime ban. Would be nice to see @uhlua and @IIHFHockey make a real statement that this will not be tolerated.
“[We reject] any racist manifestations – racism has no place either in sports grounds or outside of them,” they added.
“We will do our best to support our hockey player. At the same time, we call on the Disciplinary Committee to [apply] the strictest possible punishment to the Kremenchuk player.”
The league’s website said: “Such behavior of hockey players on the court is unacceptable within the framework of a civilized society.
I believe he's peeling a banana towards an african-american player.
“It should be noted that disciplinary proceedings will be opened against the player of Kremenchuk.”
The shameful episode is the second racist provocation to be filmed in a professional hockey match in little more than a month.
In August, forward Stas Petrosyan was fined by his club, Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk, when he was seen using his hand to make a slant-eyed gesture at Chinese player Hu Yan during a match in the President’s Cup of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Russian former UFC champion Petr Yan has petitioned the promotion to offer him a new opponent for the upcoming fight card in Abu Dhabi after title holder Aljamain Sterling withdrew from their scheduled rematch citing an injury.
The UFC’s return to the United Arab Emirates suffered a blow when it was revealed late on Saturday that Sterling had pulled out of the anticipated fight opposite Yan, scheduled for October 30.
The American fighter blamed “lingering” issues with his neck after having surgery to repair an injury in April, with no timetable as to when ‘The Funk Master’ might be medically cleared to return to action.
Reacting to the news, Yan has fired another salvo at his foe in what is fast becoming one of the UFC’s most contentious rivalries.
“Greetings, all,” said Yan on an Instagram Live video. “You know what’s just happened to my fight.
“You all know that Aljo just ran away like a sneaky coward. Here is what I would like to say.
“I am not going to sit and wait for him. I am going to fight on October 30 in Abu Dhabi, and I would like to address the UFC.
“UFC! Give me any fighter. Top five, top seven, top ten. Anyone who deserves to fight for the belt, and I will get the job done.
“I will show you who is the real champ.”
The tense relationship between the two fighters dates back to their controversial first meeting in March, when Yan, who entered the fight as the champion, was disqualified after he landed an illegal knee on Sterling in the fourth round when he appeared to be winning.
Sterling determined that he was unable to continue after being given time to recover by the referee, with officials announcing the 32-year-old as the winner by disqualification in what is the first and only time in UFC history that a world title has changed hands in that way.
But despite what Yan asserts is Sterling’s “cowardice“, he says that he wishes to remain on the forthcoming October 30 card to make another statement as to his own title credentials.
Since news of Sterling’s withdrawal broke there has been speculation that the UFC may opt to create an interim bantamweight title, with Yan heavily linked to a fight with the impressive American fighter Cory Sandhagen.
Sandhagen was recently defeated by the returning TJ Dillashaw, who is currently unavailable through injury.
