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Andre Agassi defends Jannik Sinner amid US Open controversy after doping case: 'I don't think he cheats'

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Andre Agassi defends Jannik Sinner amid US Open controversy after doping case: 'I don't think he cheats'

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Top-seeded Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner is competing in the U.S. Open amid a wave of controversy after it was revealed that the 2024 Australian Open winner would not be suspended after testing positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March. 

Last week, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced its decision that Sinner was not at fault for two anti-doping violations in March when he tested positive for the prohibited substance clostebol twice within an eight-day period. 

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Jannik Sinner returns a shot during the first round of the U.S. Open on Aug. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A provisional suspension was applied both times, but Sinner successfully appealed each suspension and was able to continue competing. 

The news broke after Sinner won the Cincinnati Open and on the heels of the U.S. Open, leaving many in the tennis community to speculate as to why the issue was seemingly kept under wraps and if a double standard was applied in this case because of his success.

But eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi defended Sinner in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

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“Was that material? I don’t believe it was material, nor do I believe he would ever take a risk to put that little of – it’s not possible,” he said. “Nobody is going to purposely take that risk. So, I do believe it.”

The investigation reportedly found that less than a billionth of a gram was in Sinner’s system. He said he was contaminated with the substance when his fitness trainer purchased an over-the-counter spray in Italy that contained clostebol and gave it to Sinner’s physiotherapist to treat a cut on the physiotherapist’s finger. The physiotherapist then treated Sinner while not wearing gloves.

Jannik Sinner in action

Jannik Sinner of Italy is shown during the first round of the U.S. Open on Aug. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

US OPEN WINNER ANDRE AGASSI BELIEVES AMERICAN TENNIS IS POISED FOR GRAND SLAM ‘BREAKTHROUGH’ IN MEN’S SINGLES

While some players questioned the explanation, others called for suspension and more consistency. But Agassi disagrees based on the facts of Sinner’s case. 

“If you’re going to performance enhancement cheat, you’re not going to put a billionth of a gram of something in your body on purpose. You’re going to get a benefit from the performance enhancer if that’s your objective,” he said.

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Agassi urged those with concerns about the process to direct their attention to the system and not the player. He added that Sinner’s ability to continue playing despite the ongoing case is something all players should be afforded.

Andre Agassi Australian Open winner 2003

Andre Agassi celebrates his victory after the men’s singles final of the Australian Open on Jan. 26, 2003. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)

“It’s not like when you missed three tests, or you don’t take three tests – like we’ve seen with a couple players – that’s an immediate action, right? So the quietness of it is always there in any due process, unless a player willingly chooses to talk about it. And his ability to play while it’s being appealed, it’s not necessarily a rule, it’s a law.”

“It’s sad for the sport,” Agassi added. “I don’t ever like that news coming out. I don’t ever like anybody having to go through it. I’m sure this has been a horrible time for Jannik carrying the weight of this, and I hope everybody directs it at solving a problem; if a problem exists. … I’m thinking the sooner we move past that, the better. This guy is great for the game, and I don’t think he cheats.”

Sinner, 23, has maintained that he did not purposely violate the ITIA’s anti-doping policy and has since parted ways with the two members of his team at the center of this controversy.

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Jannik Sinner celebrates

Jannik Sinner reacts after scoring a point against Mackenzie McDonald at the U.S. Open on Aug. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

“Of course, it’s not ideal before a Grand Slam,” Sinner said at a press conference before his first-round match. “But in my mind, I know that I haven’t done anything wrong. I had to play already [for] months with this in my head but just [was reminding] myself that I haven’t done really anything wrong. I always respect these rules, and I always will respect these rules of anti-doping.”

Sinner advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open this week after a lackluster win over American Mackenzie McDonald on Tuesday. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Commanders agree to deal with Von Miller in effort to bolster their pass rush: report

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Commanders agree to deal with Von Miller in effort to bolster their pass rush: report

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The Washington Commanders are bringing in reinforcements to their defensive line. 

The team reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with star edge rusher Von Miller. He posted an automated image of himself wearing a Commanders jersey to social media

Miller captioned the post, “DC… What’s good?”

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Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller against the Chiefs during the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

Miller, 36, is the NFL’s active sack leader with 129.5 career sacks. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft had six sacks in 13 games last season with the Buffalo Bills in a rotational role. 

Miller was cut by the Bills just three seasons into a six-year deal reportedly worth $120 million. In his first season with the Bills, Miller had eight sacks in 11 games before he tore his ACL on Thanksgiving Day in 2022, which ended his season. 

JOHNNY MANZIEL ADMITS HE THOUGHT ABOUT NFL COMEBACK ATTEMPT

Von Miller in action

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson scrambles as Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller rushes toward him at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Jan. 19, 2025. (IMAGN)

The three-time All-Pro was activated in October of the following season, but was a non-factor as he did not have a single sack in 12 games played in the 2023 season. 

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Despite not being the vaunted pass-rusher he once was, Miller will provide a boost to the Commanders’ pass rush. The eight-time Pro Bowler will join Dorance Armstrong, Deatrich Wise Jr., and Jacob Martin as the pass rushers.

Von Miller in action

Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller rushes towards Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix during the wild-card game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 12, 2025. (IMAGN)

The Commanders have had an active offseason after they won 12 games and made it to the NFC Championship Game with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels at the helm. 

The team went out and acquired star left tackle Laremy Tunsil from the Houston Texans and star wide receiver Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers. The two moves come with Daniels in mind, as they provide him with more stability on the offensive line and another weapon at wide receiver. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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'The Harbaugh way': Even practice jerseys are a source of pride

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'The Harbaugh way': Even practice jerseys are a source of pride

It was a summer day in June, but Daiyan Henley was dressed for a prime-time moment. Fitted with long socks, white pants and a sleeve on his elbow, the Chargers linebacker’s practice jersey was complete with game-ready lightning bolts on each shoulder.

Other team’s practice jerseys are plain. They’re looser. They’re more breathable.

“But this is us,” Henley said, running his fingertips over his crisp blue jersey. “This is clean.”

“This,” he added, “is the Harbaugh way.”

Entering his second season at the helm as training camp begins Thursday, Jim Harbaugh is firmly woven into the fabric of the Chargers organization. The coach responsible for the franchise’s best single-season turnaround in 20 years was the mastermind behind the team’s new practice jersey patches. Already outfitted with their elevated practice jerseys, players now wear their biggest accomplishments on their chest with patches that celebrate personal victories while pushing for collective success.

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The patches represent eight accomplishments: Playoff wins, Chargers records, NFL records, All-Pro seasons, seasons as a team captain, Walter Payton Man of the Year, the NFL’s Ed Block Courage Award, and the block of granite award determined by the Chargers strength and conditioning staff.

Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. talks about the patches on his practice jersey during a news conference in June.

(Michael Gonzalez / Los Angeles Chargers)

The only player who has at least one of each is Derwin James Jr.

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The four-time team captain’s right chest is plastered with three playoff appearances, three Chargers records, three NFL records, two nominations for man of the year, four All-Pro honors and one each of the courage and block of granite awards. He wants to collect enough patches to reach down to his ribs.

“At the end of the day, we’re all professionals, this is a professional league, but [the patches] kind of keep us connected and get a little bragging rights in the locker room,” James said. “Guys want to compete for their jersey to look like that too.”

At Michigan, Harbaugh used helmet stickers to symbolize each player’s accomplishments. The jersey patches remind the coach of the stripes on a general’s uniform.

“Some day, they’ll be able to put that jersey up in a frame, put it on a wall, say something really good about themselves,” Harbaugh said. “It’ll be what they accomplished as a pro football player.”

The patches are Harbaugh’s latest culture-setting innovation. He outfitted the locker room with personalized locker name tags that list each player’s hometown, college, high school and recruiting ranking to promote team bonding. The coach handed out metal lunch pails and blue-collar work shirts customized with embroidered name tags to symbolize the team’s hard-working mentality. Hoodies celebrated major victories such as the team’s thriller against the Cincinnati Bengals, a late-season Thursday night victory over the Denver Broncos and the playoff-clinching win over the New England Patriots.

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“He wants it to be close-knit, in house,” Henley said. “Everything is love and football and family, and that’s how we go about our business. Now that we have another year under our belt, we’ve had bad games and good games and we’ve gone the distance and also didn’t accomplish what we wanted to, all of that wrapped into one, is what’s motivating us and pushing us forward.”

After going 11-6 in Harbaugh’s first regular season, the Chargers won’t be a sleeper playoff contender again. With momentum from a successful start to the Harbaugh era, the team hopes to make consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since 2009.

“We’re far ahead of where we were last year, but there’s still a lot of work to do,” quarterback Justin Herbert said during minicamp. “I think guys have done a great job this offseason of showing up mentally prepared and being focused day in and day out.”

Herbert’s jersey patches require multiple rows of lightning bolt tally marks to display his numerous NFL and Chargers records. Yet the quarterback is missing a playoff win mark.

Not only is he 0-2 in the postseason, both losses came in spectacular disasters. The Chargers blew a 27-point lead against Jacksonville in a 2022 wild-card game. He threw four interceptions against the Houston Texans last year.

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Despite Herbert’s elite athleticism and arm talent, the 27-year-old will remain an afterthought in the quarterback hierarchy until he finds the playoff success that follows contemporaries Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson.

The prize they’re all chasing is worth much more than a new jersey patch.

Etc.

The Chargers placed five players on the physically unable to perform list before training camp: S Elijah Molden, WR Mike Williams, WR Jaylen Johnson, LB Del’Shawn Phillips and T Savion Washington. Molden, who signed a three-year extension in February, underwent offseason knee surgery and missed all of the offseason program. He said in April that he expected to be ready for training camp.

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PGA Tour golfer Wyndham Clark banned from Oakmont Country Club after US Open meltdown

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PGA Tour golfer Wyndham Clark banned from Oakmont Country Club after US Open meltdown

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Oakmont Country Club confirmed numerous reports on Wednesday that Wyndham Clark has been banned from the golf course property.

After missing the cut at last month’s U.S. Open, a tournament he won two years ago at Los Angeles Country Club, Clark took his anger out on lockers at the prestigious club.

One alleged photo of the damage made its way around social media, as two bottom portions of lockers were completely caved in.

 

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Wyndham Clark of the United States plays his shot from the fourth tee during a practice round prior to the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Warren Little/Getty Images)

“Several of you have inquired about the situation involving Wyndham Clark and the steps being taken in response to his recent behavior,” Oakmont Country Club President John Lynch wrote in the letter, via ESPN. “Following multiple discussions with the USGA and the OCC Board, a decision has been made that Mr. Clark will no longer be permitted on OCC property.

“This decision will remain in effect unless formally reconsidered and approved by the Board.”

Lynch added that the ban could be lifted if Clark paid for the damages, made a “meaningful contribution” to charity and underwent counseling.

Wyndham Clark reads putt

Wyndham Clark lines up a putt on the 11th green during the first round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. (Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

PGA STAR’S DAD SKIPPING ‘UNWATCHABLE’ RYDER CUP AT BETHPAGE BLACK: ‘AFRAID OF WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN’

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“Yeah, I mean, I’ve had a lot of highs and lows in my career, especially this year some lows. I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I’m very sorry for what happened,” Clark said the following week. “But I’d also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA, and kind of focus on the rest of the year and things that come up.”

During the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club last month, Clark damaged a T-Mobile sign during his final round with his driver. He ended up apologizing for his actions.

Clark was hardly the only golfer to show frustration with Oakmont – Shane Lowry outwardly proclaimed, “f— this place” after missing a putt. 

Wyndham Clark looks on

Wyndham Clark looks on before teeing off on the 14th hole during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 18, 2025. (Aaron Doster-Imagn Images)

During his first round, after failing to get the golf ball out of the rough, the Irish golfer ended up taking out his frustrations on a microphone. The piece of audio equipment fell to the ground after Lowry knocked it down.

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Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

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