20 Jan 2021

Today's sports news: What you need to know

8:10 am on 20 January 2021

Latest - Major League Baseball club the New York Mets fired general manager Jared Porter for explicit text messages he sent to a female reporter in 2016, owner Steve Cohen announced.

Philadelphia Phillies players celebrate.

Philadelphia Phillies players celebrate. Photo: ©Icon Sportswire (A Division of XML Team Solutions) All Rights Reserved

"We have terminated Jared Porter this morning," Cohen tweeted. "There should be zero tolerance for this type of behavior."

According to the report, Porter, at the time serving as the Chicago Cubs' director of professional scouting, sent the reporter more than 60 texts, some of which included compliments and offers to meet her in person in different cities. Another text included a photo of pants with a bulging groin area.

The woman, who is not from the United States, ignored his texts after that, per the report, but he later sent the same photo as well as one with an erect, naked penis.

-Reuters

Olympic champion Rahimov charged in weightlifting doping case

Kazakhstan weightlifter Nijat Rahimov, a gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, has been charged with a doping offence for swapping urine samples, the International Testing Agency (ITA) has said.

The ITA also charged Dumitru Captari of Romania -- who competed alongside Rahimov in the under-77 kg event in Rio de Janeiro - with offences that took place "over a period of time in 2016".

Both athletes have been provisionally suspended but it is unclear if the allegations span the 2016 Rio Games where Rahimov claimed gold with a world record lift.

Romania's weightlifting federation (FRH) did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The ITA also announced that it is intending to prosecute Rattikan (Siripuch) Gulnoi of Thailand, a bronze medallist at London 2012, for "use of prohibited substance throughout her career".

-Reuters

Another big night for new Net James Harden

James Harden collected 34 points and 12 assists, Kevin Durant added 30 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 36.8 seconds left, and the Brooklyn Nets outlasted the Milwaukee Bucks for a 125-123 victory Monday night in New York.

Harden became the first Net to score at least 30 points in each of his first two games with the team. He also grabbed a key rebound with 38 seconds left when he missed a 3-pointer and got the offensive board. He quickly found Durant, who calmly knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give Brooklyn the lead for good at 125-123.

Durant surpassed 30 points for the fourth time in five games since returning from missing three games due to health and safety protocols. His trey helped Brooklyn win its fourth straight and end an eight-game home losing streak to Milwaukee.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 points for Milwaukee, which saw a four-game winning streak stopped. He also grabbed 12 rebounds while shooting 13 of 26 from the floor. Khris Middleton added 25 and Jrue Holiday contributed 22 as Milwaukee shot 43.8 percent and misfired on 26 of 37 3-point tries.

Benfica report 17 COVID-19 cases, discuss postponing games

Portuguese football club Benfica have reported a mass COVID-19 outbreak, announcing that 17 people from their playing squad, coaching staff and general staff had tested positive.

The Lisbon side said in a statement on its official website that it would consult the national department of health over whether it should play matches within the next two weeks in the interests of public safety and the health of its players.

Benfica, who are third in the Portuguese top flight, are due to play a league cup semi-final against Braga on Thursday.

-Reuters