Sports governance
FILE - Lamine Diack adjusts his headphones during a joint IOC and IAAF news conference on the site of the World Athletic Championships in Beijing on Aug. 21, 2015. Lamine Diack, the controversial former president of the International Athletics Federation, has died, his family said Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. He was 88. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)
Lamine Diack, ex IAAF chief convicted of corruption, dies

By Babacar Dione And Graham Dunbar 11 hrs ago

FILE - WTA CEO Steve Simon appears during a retirement ceremony for Martina Hingis in Singapore. The suspension of all WTA tournaments in China because of concerns about the safety of Peng Shuai, a Grand Slam doubles champion who accused a former government official there of sexual assault, could result in cancellations of those events beyond 2022, Simon told The Associated Press on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim, File)
Column: Women's tennis leads lonely fight for human rights

By Paul Newberry 23 hrs ago

FILE - China's Peng Shuai serves to Japan's Nao Hibino during their first round singles match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 21, 2020. The stand the women's professional tennis tour is taking in China over concern about Grand Slam doubles champion Peng Shuai's well-being could cost the WTA millions of dollars and end up being unique among sports bodies. The International Olympic Committee is preparing to host the Winter Games in Beijing in two months and has held calls with Peng to show she is doing well — but never raised the matter of the sexual assault allegations she made against a former Chinese government official. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill, File)
Women's tennis' China stance could be unique, cost millions

By Stephen Wade And Howard Fendrich Dec. 02, 2021 03:23 PM EST

FILE - Peng Shuai of China reacts after scoring a point against Monica Niculescu of Romania during their women's singles match of the China Open tennis tournament at the Diamond Court in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. The head of the women’s professional tennis tour announced Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, that all WTA tournaments would be suspended in China because of concerns about the safety of Peng Shuai, a Grand Slam doubles champion who accused a former high-ranking government official in that country of sexual assault.(AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
IOC says it had 2nd video call with tennis player Peng Shuai

Dec. 02, 2021 01:19 PM EST

Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai reacts during a tennis match in Beijing, China on Oct. 6, 2009. When Peng disappeared from public view this month after accusing a senior Chinese politician of sexual assault, it caused an international uproar. But back in China, Peng is just one of several people, activists and accusers alike, who have been hustled out of view, charged with crimes or trolled and silenced online for speaking out about the harassment, violence and discrimination women face every day. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Women's tennis tour suspends China events over Peng concerns

By Howard Fendrich Dec. 01, 2021 02:49 PM EST

FILE - Mike Lafferty, Eugene, Ore. in Sapporo non-stop training run of Olympic men?s downhill on Mt. Eniwa track in which he finished fifth, Feb. 6, 1972. The northern Japanese city of Sapporo is set to announce on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, what it says will be a reduction in costs that will make it an attractive venue for the 2030 Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Michel Lipchitz, File)
Sapporo says it can hold 2030 Olympics and also save money

By Stephen Wade And Yuri Kageyama Nov. 29, 2021 05:05 AM EST

FILE - Mike Lafferty, Eugene, Ore. in Sapporo non-stop training run of Olympic men?s downhill on Mt. Eniwa track in which he finished fifth, Feb. 6, 1972. The northern Japanese city of Sapporo is set to announce on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, what it says will be a reduction in costs that will make it an attractive venue for the 2030 Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Michel Lipchitz, File)
Sapporo expected to announce cost cuts to land 2030 Olympics

By Stephen Wade And Yuri Kageyama Nov. 28, 2021 04:29 AM EST

Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai reacts during a tennis match in Beijing, China on Oct. 6, 2009. When Peng disappeared from public view this month after accusing a senior Chinese politician of sexual assault, it caused an international uproar. But back in China, Peng is just one of several people, activists and accusers alike, who have been hustled out of view, charged with crimes or trolled and silenced online for speaking out about the harassment, violence and discrimination women face every day. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
WTA remains "concerned' about Peng's ability to speak freely

By Stephen Wade Nov. 27, 2021 10:37 PM EST

FILE - President of Brazil's Olympic Committee Carlos Arthur Nuzman, left, and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, right, visit Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Jan. 22, 2014. Nuzman, the head of the Brazilian Olympic Committee for more than two decades, was sentenced to 30 years and 11 months in jail for allegedly buying votes for Rio de Janeiro to host the 2016 Olympics. The ruling by Judge Marcelo Bretas became public Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)
Former Brazil Olympic boss sentenced to jail for corruption

By Mauricio Savarese Nov. 25, 2021 10:03 PM EST

WADA approves reforms; athlete groups say they're not enough

By Eddie Pells Nov. 25, 2021 01:41 PM EST
The World Anti-Doping Agency approved a series of reforms designed to give athletes a bigger voice in decision-making, though the changes were roundly...

FILE - Saeid Mollaei of Mongolia celebrates with his silver medal during the award ceremony for the men -81kg judo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, on July 27, 2021. The Iran judo federation’s appeal against a four-year ban from international events for refusing to let its athletes face opponents from Israel has been heard, and a verdict should take at least several weeks. The IJF acted against Iran after former world champion Saeid Mollaei left the team in 2019. He claimed he was ordered to lose matches at the 2019 world championships to avoid facing Israelis. Mollaei won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics competing for Mongolia. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Iran appeals ban from judo for avoiding Israeli opponents

Nov. 23, 2021 11:29 AM EST

FILE - China's Peng Shuai waves after losing to Canada Eugenie Bouchard in their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 15, 2019. Out of public view for almost three weeks, Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai appeared Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in a live video call with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
IOC call with Chinese tennis star Peng raises more questions

By Stephen Wade Nov. 22, 2021 03:39 AM EST

FILE - China's Peng Shuai reacts during her first round singles match against Japan's Nao Hibino at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 21, 2020. The editor of a Communist Party newspaper posted a video online that he said showed missing tennis star Peng Shuai watching a match Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 as the ruling party tried to quell fears abroad while suppressing information in China about Peng after she accused a senior leader of sexual assault. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill, File)
IOC says Peng Shuai has told Olympic officials she is safe

Nov. 21, 2021 12:27 PM EST

A coach teaches children how to serve the tennis ball near the Diamond Court, background, in Beijing, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. According to photos released by the organizer, missing tennis star Peng Shuai reappeared in public Sunday at a youth tournament in the court compound in Beijing, as the ruling Communist Party tried to quell fears abroad while suppressing information in China about Peng after she accused a senior leader of sexual assault. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Olympic officials: Chinese tennis star Peng says she is safe

By Joe Mcdonald Nov. 20, 2021 10:38 PM EST

FILE - China's Peng Shuai serves to France's Caroline Garcia during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on May 31, 2018 in Paris. China's Foreign Ministry is sticking to its line that it isn't aware of the controversy surrounding tennis professional Peng Shuai, who disappeared after accusing a former top official of sexually assaulting her. A ministry spokesperson said Friday that the matter was not a diplomatic question and that he was not aware of the situation. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
Tennis players take on Communist Party: Where is Peng Shuai?

By Stephen Wade Nov. 20, 2021 02:14 AM EST

Peng Shuai of China wipes her face during the women's singles match against Samantha Stosur of Australia on the second day at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, on July 3, 2018. China's Foreign Ministry is sticking to its line that it isn't aware of the controversy surrounding tennis professional Peng Shuai, who disappeared after accusing a former top official of sexually assaulting her. A ministry spokesperson said Friday that the matter was not a diplomatic question and that he was not aware of the situation. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland, File)
Column: Where is Peng Shuai? Why isn't the IOC speaking out?

By Paul Newberry Nov. 19, 2021 03:27 PM EST

Global sports organizer tells members it wants to shut down

Nov. 19, 2021 08:35 AM EST
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — An organization of more than 100 Olympic and non-Olympic sports bodies has told members it is preparing to shut itself down within...

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian responds during the daily media presser in Beijing, China, Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. China's Foreign Ministry on Friday stuck to its line that it wasn't aware of the controversy surrounding tennis professional Peng Shuai, who disappeared after accusing a former top official of sexually assaulting her. (AP Photo/Liu Zheng)
China says 'not aware' of tennis player Peng Shuai issue

Nov. 19, 2021 05:54 AM EST

Washington Spirit forward Ashley Hatch, left, heads the ball in front of OL Reign midfielder Quinn in the second half in the semifinals of the NWSL soccer playoffs Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Tacoma, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
IOC transgender guidelines hailed but questions remain

By Steve Mcmorran Nov. 19, 2021 12:32 AM EST

IOC hails progress at meeting with Afghan sports officials

Nov. 18, 2021 01:02 PM EST
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Sports leaders appointed by the Taliban have promised Olympic officials that Afghanistan will continue to allow its athletes and...