The race for the presidency of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB), which will hold its elections on July 9, "will be affected by the entrance" of ALFONSO CABEZA, "who said that his intention is to look with optimism toward the future." Currently, the other two candidates to take over the FEB are JORGE GARBAJOSA and GERMÁN MONGE (EL MUNDO, 6/12). ... Williams F1 announced that Deputy Team Principal CLAIRE WILLIAMS has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s 2016 Birthday Honours List. She was awarded the honor in recognition of her services to F1. Since stepping into her deputy team principal role, Williams has used her position as a female in a traditionally male dominated industry to encourage more women to consider careers in engineering and technology (Williams F1). ... ANDY MURRAY has reunited with former coach IVAN LENDL before the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club. Murray, 29, has been without a coach since splitting with AMELIE MAURESMO shortly before the French Open last month. The Scot won Wimbledon, the US Open and Olympic Gold during two years with Lendl from '12-14 (BBC, 6/12). ... Spanish footballer DAVID DE GEA "has denied any involvement in a sexual assault case" after the ManU goalkeeper was "named by a protected witness as the person who arranged and paid for an encounter" between two Spain U21 players and two women in a Madrid hotel in '12. He said, "I am surprised by this. I deny it, and that’s it. It’s a lie, false." Police have described the witness as "highly credible and ruled out financial gain as a reason for her coming forward" (London GUARDIAN, 6/10).
THREAT OF EXPULSION: MARIA SHARAPOVA "has avoided the threat of immediate expulsion from the All England Club" following her two-year ban for doping offenses. However, she is expected "to have her status discussed following this year’s tournament," having been "automatically made an honorary member" after her singles win in '04. There was "no official comment" from the All England Club on Wednesday but a "highly placed source indicated that the matter will be debated only once The Championships are out of the way" (London DAILY MAIL, 6/9).
FACING THE MUSIC: USAIN BOLT said that he would have "no problem giving back" one of his six Olympic Gold Medals if a Jamaica relay teammate "is confirmed to have failed a drugs test." NESTA CARTER, who helped the 4x100 team to win Olympic and world championship titles, "is understood to have returned a doping violation" for the banned stimulant methylhexanamine. His B sample "is also understood to have been positive." Bolt: "It’s heartbreaking [the positive test] because over the years you’ve worked hard to accumulate gold medals and work hard to be a champion ... but it’s just one of those things. Things happen in life, so when it’s confirmed or whatever, if I need to give back my gold medal I’d have to give it back, it’s not a problem for me" (REUTERS, 6/12).
