Sports: Paralympics reverses course

Plus the N.F.L. has suspended all Covid protocols, and what next for the M.L.B.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story March 3, 2022 Paralympics Reverses Course and Bans Athletes From Russia and Belarus Biathletes from Russia and Ukraine training side by side on Thursday.Chang W. Lee/The New York Times Paralympics organizers citied athlete discontent, boycott threats and a fear of violence in ejecting the athletes on the eve of the opening ceremony. Read the full article here. ON RUSSIA AND GLOBAL SPORTS Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted outrage and backlash in many parts of the world — including in sports. Francois Nel/Getty Images Tennis Suspends Russia and Belarus but Will Allow Their Players to Compete The move will allow stars like Daniil Medvedev of Russia and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus to participate in tournaments but as neutral players with no national identification. By Matthew Futterman James Hill for The New York Times Russia Faces Global Sports Crackdown After Invasion of Ukraine The International Olympic Committee recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes be barred from competitions. By Alan Blinder and Tariq Panja Antonio Bronic/Reuters FIFA Suspends Russia, Ejecting It From World Cup Qualifying The decision to bar Russian clubs and national teams came a day after FIFA was criticized for not going far enough to punish Russia for invading Ukraine. By Tariq Panja Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ON BASEBALL As the labor dispute continues, more regular season games are in jeopardy. Steve Nesius/Associated Press M.L.B. Canceled Games. What Happens Now? Both sides left Florida frustrated, and no one knows when the season may start. This could take a while. By James Wagner Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press On Baseball An Offer That Was Engineered to Be Rejected Commissioner Rob Manfred boasted of his streak of successful labor negotiations, but by effectively creating a salary cap he had to know this deal would fail. By Tyler Kepner Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press M.L.B. Cancels Games, Delaying Start of Season After the league and the players' union failed to reach a new collective bargaining agreement by M.L.B.'s self-imposed deadline Tuesday evening, the league said the season would not start on March 31. By James Wagner ON TENNIS Novak Djokovic appears poised to defend his title at Roland Garros. Pete Kiehart for The New York Times A Covid Ruling Opens the French Open Door to Novak Djokovic With France set to end its vaccine requirements later this month, the unvaccinated Serbian champion appears poised to defend his title at Roland Garros. By Matthew Futterman Noam Galai/Getty Images for Hologic Strong Stance on China and Peng Shuai Helps Land WTA a New Title Sponsor The women's tennis tour has been without a title sponsor since 2010, but the medical diagnostics company Hologic has agreed to a multiyear deal with the WTA. By Christopher Clarey Eduardo Verdugo/Associated Press On Tennis Daniil Medvedev Intrudes on the Big Four's No. 1 Perch After nearly two decades of four men trading places at tennis's top slot, Russia's Medvedev put an end to their reign on Monday. By Christopher Clarey Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ON FOOTBALL The N.F.L. and the N.F.L. Players Association agreed to suspend all Covid-19 protocols, effective immediately. Harry How/Getty Images N.F.L. Becomes First Major American Sports League to Drop Covid-19 Protocols The league and the players' union announced they would lift policies that had governed testing, masking and social distancing since March 2020. By Jenny Vrentas Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Without the Wonderlic, the N.F.L. Finds Other Ways to Test Football I.Q. The league will not administer the test, which has been criticized for racial bias, to draft prospects at this year's scouting combine. Instead, teams are deploying other assessments of football acumen. By Robert O'Connell Butch Dill/Associated Press Jets' Rebuilding Plans Do Not Include Extended Combine Stay Coach Robert Saleh said Jets assistants and scouts would bypass the first days of the combine. The team's G.M. said it would entertain trades involving its nine picks in the 2022 N.F.L. draft. By Emmanuel Morgan Brian Spurlock/USA Today Sports, via Reuters At the N.F.L. Combine, Players (and Agents) Question Its Relevance The league's annual talent evaluation has become prime time viewing, but disputes over protocols and the rise of other scouting forums have prompted some to call for an overhaul. By Ken Belson and Jenny Vrentas ON BASKETBALL Tony Bland still hopes he can return to the college level. Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports, via Reuters On College Basketball Across Town, Tony Bland Is Adjusting to a Different World Bland, a former U.S.C. assistant coach arrested in 2017 as part of an F.B.I. investigation, is now coaching at a Los Angeles-area high school. He still hopes he can return to the college level. By Billy Witz Jason Henry for The New York Times Wilt Chamberlain's 100-Point Game Changed the N.B.A. For the game's 60th anniversary, two of Chamberlain's teammates relived the night that was a touchstone for a transcendent athlete and the white-by-design N.B.A. By Scott Cacciola Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press Star-Studded Lakers Are Fighting Just to Make the Playoffs LeBron James is defiant, but the fans are booing, and the season might be lost. By Tania Ganguli Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Articles you may have missed. David J. Phillip/Associated Press Phil Mickelson's Setbacks Keep Coming, and Tiger Woods Gets a Bonus Mickelson previously boasted that he won the PGA Tour's new program that pays the most popular pros, but the embattled golfer finished behind his rival once again. By Bill Pennington Martin Meissner/Associated Press Chelsea Is for Sale, Its Russian Owner Says As British lawmakers take aim at wealthy Russians, Roman Abramovich confirmed he was seeking to sell the Premier League team he has owned since 2003. By Rory Smith and Tariq Panja James Hill for The New York Times Figure Skating Federation Bars Russians With World Championships Weeks Away Skaters like Anna Shcherbakova, the Olympic women's singles champion, and Kamila Valieva, who was embroiled in a doping dispute, will not be able to compete under the ban. By Jeré Longman GET MORE SPORTS IN YOUR INBOX Sign up for the Running Newsletter Get the biggest news in the running world and tips to help you run your best, too. Get it in your inbox Sign up for the On Soccer With Rory Smith newsletter, for Times subscribers only. Chief soccer correspondent Rory Smith takes you from the biggest matches to the smallest leagues, covering the tactics, history and personalities of the world's most popular sport. Get it in your inbox Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Sports from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018