LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Former steeplechase world champion Norah Jeruto faces a doping case hearing in June, five weeks before the Paris Olympics open.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Wednesday it will hear an appeal by World Athletics on June 17 against a ruling last year that cleared the 2022 world champion of suspected blood doping.
Jeruto had argued that ulcers and a bout of COVID-19 could explain her blood test results in 2020 and 2021 that were later judged to be irregular. She did not test positive for a banned substance.
The Kenya-born Jeruto competed for Kazakhstan when she won gold in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the worlds in Eugene, Oregon, but could not defend her title last year as she was suspended during an investigation.
The Athletics Integrity Unit implicated the 28-year-old Jeruto in banned blood transfusions and taking the endurance-boosting hormone EPO.
An independent tribunal judging the case said a COVID-19 infection in late 2020 raised “sufficient doubt on this part of the case that it would be unfair to convict (Jeruto).”
An expert witness said internal bleeding from Jeruto’s ulcers could explain why some of her samples indicated she had lost blood, and there was no evidence she received any transfusions.
Jeruto became an African champion while representing Kenya and won on the top-tier Diamond League circuit in 2021. She missed the Tokyo Olympics that year while her change of allegiance to Kazakhstan was processed.
An urgent CAS verdict is likely before the women’s steeplechase is raced at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 6-8 at Stade de France.
AP Olympics coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
FILE - Gold medalist Norah Jeruto, of Kazakhstan, poses during a medal ceremony for the women's 3000-meter steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships on July 21, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. Former world champion steeplechase runner Norah Jeruto faces a doping case hearing in June five weeks before the Paris Olympics open. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Willy Adames hit a three-run homer and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-2 on Tuesday night in a game that included a nasty fight between the teams.
The fracas ensued after Jose Siri grounded out against Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe leading off the eighth inning. Uribe and Siri exchanged words near first base and things quickly became heated.
With an umpire standing between them trying to keep the peace, Uribe threw a punch at Siri, who then took a wild swing at the reliever.
Milwaukee first baseman Rhys Hoskins tried to break up the fight but was knocked to the ground as both dugouts and bullpens emptied quickly before order was restored.
“I don’t know who said something first but I saw them talking to each other somewhat discreetly and then off it went,” Hoskins said.
Siri claimed Uribe escalated the exchange with a shoulder bump. Uribe said it began with some “unnecessary” words from Siri.
The animosity between Siri and the Brewers had been building all night, starting when he took a long look at his solo home run off Freddy Peralta in the third.
When Siri came up again in the sixth, Peralta drilled him with a 3-0 fastball, leading to ejections for Peralta and Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy.
It was the second consecutive ejection for Murphy, thrown out of Monday's game against the Rays for arguing an umpire's call.
Adames drove in four runs and Brice Turang had three RBIs as the Brewers snapped their three-game losing streak.
“That was a great win for our club,” Murphy said. “We had some tough ones lately. They came out focused and Freddy was great.”
Peralta (3-0) struck out seven and walked none in 5 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Siri's home run.
Tampa Bay starter Tyler Alexander (1-1) gave up three runs and six hits in four innings.
“I was proud of Tyler,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “I don’t think he had his best stuff — it was pretty apparent early on — but he kind of gutted through four innings.”
Tyler Black made the most of his big league debut for the Brewers by getting hits in each of his first two plate appearances. Then he came within a few feet of his first career home run his third time up.
Black wasn’t in Milwaukee’s starting lineup but he didn’t have to wait long to make his debut. The Brewers’ No. 4 overall prospect entered as a pinch runner in the first inning after designated hitter Gary Sánchez tweaked his hamstring running to first on a fielder’s choice.
“It was just a thrill to be a part of that and see what he does," Murphy said. “He had a great first night.”
TRAINER'S ROOM
Murphy said Sánchez was walking around after the game but will undergo an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of his hamstring injury.
UP NEXT
Brewers RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 3.25 ERA) starts the series finale Wednesday against RHP Zach Eflin (1-3, 4.08).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Siri, left, fights with Milwaukee Brewers' Abner Uribe, middle, during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Siri (22) fights with Milwaukee Brewers' Abner Uribe, middle, during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Siri (22) fights with Milwaukee Brewers' Abner Uribe, middle, during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' Abner Uribe (45) is held back by Quintin Berry (33) as he fights with Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Siri (22) during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' Tyler Black is dunked by Willy Adames after a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' Thyago Vieira reacts to the last out of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' Tyler Black is dunked by Willy Adames after a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' Tyler Black is dunked by Willy Adames after a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
