citing P1 next season, said Michael Moore, co-owner of Phoenix1.Th

OLYMPICSRussian doping whistleblower Yulia Stepanova is appealing her ban from the Olympics, saying it was based on incorrect information and dubious legal grounds.Stepanova sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee contending she never said she wouldnt compete for the Russian team, as the IOC stated. The IOC would not make any exception for her to compete under a neutral flag.She says the IOCs ban of any Russian athlete who has previously served a doping ban is not permitted -- a ruling the Court of Arbitration for Sport made in 2011.Stepanova was an 800-meter runner who got caught for doping, but later came forward to expose the Russian doping system.Both the World Anti-Doping Agency and tracks governing body, the IAAF, recommended she be allowed in the Olympics.MOSCOW -- Seven Russian swimmers have been barred from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, including three linked to recent allegations of a major doping cover-up by Russian authorities, world swimmings governing body FINA said.Reigning world 100-meter breaststroke champion Yulia Efimova is among four Russian swimmers withdrawn by the Russian swimming federation because they previously served doping bans, FINA said. The others are Natalya Lovtsova, Anastasia Krapivina and Mikhail Dovgalyuk.The International Olympic Committee on Sunday said Russian athletes with previous doping bans would be banned from the Rio Games. That followed the IOCs decision not to ban the entire Russian team over allegations of state-sponsored doping.BASEBALLCHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs acquired hard-throwing reliever Aroldis Chapman in a trade with the New York Yankees, giving the NL Central leaders a boost as they try for their first World Series title in more than a century.The Cubs paid a steep price, parting with top shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres and versatile pitcher Adam Warren in the four-player package going to the Yankees. Chapman also faced a domestic violence allegation in the offseason that cost him a 29-game suspension, and the left-hander is eligible for free agency after this year.But there is no doubting the talent of the 28-year-old Chapman, who went 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA and 20 saves in 31 games with New York. He threw a 105.1 mph fastball to Baltimores J.J. Hardy last Monday night, matching the fastest since Major League Baseball began tracking speeds in 2008.He is expected to join the team in time for Tuesdays game against the White Sox.In addition to Torres, the Yankees also receive pitcher Adam Warren and minor league outfielders Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford.PRO FOOTBALLNEW YORK -- The NFL and the players association have announced a new policy regarding game-day concussion protocol and discipline for clubs that violate the procedure.Under the new policy, the NFL and NFLPA will follow a strict and fair process to investigate incidents and determine appropriate discipline, including club fines and possible forfeiture of draft picks.The league and the players union will each designate a representative to monitor the implementation of the protocol and investigate potential violations. The probe wont reach medical conclusions; it will only determine if the protocol was followed. An arbitrator will handle cases where the league and union disagree and report to the commissioner.Commissioner Roger Goodell retains sole discretion in determining penalties for violations of the game-day concussion protocol.UNDATED -- The NFL says it found no credible evidence that Peyton Manning was provided with human growth hormone or other prohibited substances as alleged in a documentary by Al-Jazeera America last year.The league said the quarterback and his wife, Ashley, fully cooperated in the seven-month investigation, providing interviews and access to all records sought by investigators.The NFL is continuing its investigation into allegations made against other NFL players in the documentary, which the league said involves different lines of inquiry and witnesses. Those other players -- all of them linebackers -- provided the league with sworn affidavits, but the NFL wants to interview them in person.CLEVELAND -- Troubled Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has been reinstated to the NFL on a conditional basis.Commissioner Roger Goodell informed Gordon in a letter that he can rejoin the team during training camp and will be allowed to participate in meetings and conditioning work. The league said once Gordon meets clinical requirements, he will be allowed to participate in all preseason activities, including practices and games.Gordon, who was suspended in 2015 for a year for multiple violations of the leagues drug policies, will be suspended for the first four games of the 2016-17 season. He is eligible to return to the team on Oct. 3. During his suspension, Gordon may participate in team meetings and other activities but cant practice.Gordon met with Goodell in New York last week, clearing the way for his partial return.In his letter to Gordon, Goodell made it clear the onus is on the 25-year-old former Pro Bowler to stay clean.PRO BASKETBALLCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Michael Jordan finally spoke out about racial tensions in America in hopes of easing conflicts between blacks and law enforcement.The NBA great and Charlotte Hornets owner announced he is giving $1 million to the Institute for Community-Police Relations and another $1 million to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The aim is to help build trust following several shootings around the country.Jordans father was killed in 1993 in a botched carjacking in North Carolina. Daniel Green and his friend Larry Demery were convicted of killing 56-year-old James Jordan along U.S. 74 and dumping his body in South Carolina. Both were sentenced to life in prison.The high-profile Jordan has been notoriously silent over the years when it comes to his opinions on politics or social justice issues, which has drawn some criticism.But he said Monday he can no longer stay silent on the issue.Mets Jerseys China . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. Wholesale Custom Mets Shirts .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. http://www.custommetsjersey.com/ . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Cheap Mets Jerseys . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Cheap Custom Mets Jersey . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season.The League of Legends free-agent frenzy has begun, and the first big domino in the North American LCS has dropped. Adrian Adrian Ma has inked a deal with Phoenix1 and he will be leaving Immortals to join the club for the 2017 spring campaign.Over the four splits in Adrians career, the former All-NA LCS support has never failed to make the top four of the regular season, even winning the regular season crown last spring with the 17-1 Immortals; however, the World Championships have eluded him, his past Team Impulse and Immortals squads both failing to reach the top three over the course of the year to qualify.I appreciated my year on Immortals and the opportunities that they provided me. During the off season I carefully considered some of the many options I had and how I wanted to move forward for the next year. After talking with Phoenix1, I realized that they had two components that made my decision easier; strong domestic players in Zig and Inori that I would want to work with, and a fresh team that has a legitimate chance at making a successful run at playoffs. While talking to the owner, Michael Moore, it was very apparent that he took all of my concerns and ideas for the team into consideration. I feel playing for Phoenix 1 will help me grow, botth as a player and as a person, said Adrian.ddddddddddddPhoenix1 has also renewed the contracts of three of its starters from the summer split: top laner Derek Zig Shao, Rookie of the Split runner-up jungler Rami Inori Charagh, and Korean import mid laner Choi Pirean Jun-sik. On who will be lining up with Adrian in P1s new bottom lane is still to be decided, as the team is currently trying out AD carries in South Korea.We couldnt be more excited to have Adrian as part of the P1 org moving into next season. Were confident he will help us build on the success we found at the end of the last split. I think fans can look forward to watching a stronger, more exciting P1 next season, said Michael Moore, co-owner of Phoenix1.The inaugural split for Phoenix1 was two distinct halves. The club failed to register a win in the round-robin stage of the summer split, but bounced back in the second half to finish 8th in the league and make it through relegations. With a strong end to the 2016 year and a revamped bottom lane, P1 is in position to not only avoid relegation again, but fight for the postseason come spring split in mid-January. ' ' '