Former three-time skiing world champion ADRIEN DUVILLARD died Tuesday, aged 82. The Frenchman fell while skiing in Megève, France (AFP, 2/15). ... Ethiopian runner FEYISA LILESA, "famous for his protest at the Rio Olympics, has been reunited with his family for the first time since going into exile." He "crossed his wrists over his head" as he took Silver in the marathon in a gesture against the Ethiopian government's treatment of Oromo people. Afterward he "refused to go home, saying his life might be in danger." Now in the U.S., it is the "first time he has seen his wife and two young children for at least six months" (BBC, 2/15). ... Spanish police confirmed they were "called to a hotel in Madrid on Wednesday morning because of an argument between DIEGO MARADONA and his girlfriend." No charges were brought against either Maradona or his girlfriend (ESPN.com, 2/15). ... ManU "failed with a bid" of more than €100M ($106M) for THOMAS MÜLLER last summer, according to Bayern Munich Exec Vice-Chair JAN-CHRISTIAN DREESEN. Dreesen claimed the German club turned down a bid from ManU "soon after JOSE MOURINHO had taken over from LOUIS VAN GAAL as manager" in May (London TELEGRAPH, 2/15). ... Cycling Australia "will not stand in the way" of Olympic Medalist SHANE PERKINS, who has switched his allegiance to Russia in a bid to extend his int'l career through the 2020 Tokyo Games. Perkins missed selection in the Australian team for the Rio Olympics. He is now in the process of gaining Russian citizenship (AAP, 2/14). ... Former Sunderland striker ASAMOAH GYAN has been found to have "unethical hair" under "strict" UAE FA rules -- one of 46 players to "fall foul of the law." Gyan is "currently on loan at the Arabian Gulf League side Al Ahli, from Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai SIPG" (London INDEPENDENT, 2/15).
CROSSING THE POND: Women's Super League One club Man City Women signed World Cup winner and FIFA World Player of the Year CARLI LLOYD on a short-term deal. She joins the club for the 2017 Spring Series, which begins in April and ends on June 3. Her deal also includes Man City Women's Champions League and FA Cup campaigns. She becomes the third American player to move to an English club this winter, "after winger CRYSTAL DUNN's move to Chelsea Ladies and midfielder HEATHER O'REILLY's switch to Arsenal" (BBC, 2/15).
