The father of retired Australian tennis player MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS has been "arrested on child abuse charges" in the U.S. NIKOLAOS PHILIPPOUSSIS, 68, "allegedly molested two minors who took tennis lessons from him," authorities in San Diego, Calif., announced (NEWS.com.au, 7/25). ... Int'l Boxing Association (AIBA) President WU CHING-KUO "insisted his position is not under threat" despite reports of a no-confidence motion and claims for outstanding loans which threaten to push Olympic boxing's world governing body "to the brink of bankruptcy." Stressing that AIBA's finances remain "very strong," Wu accused "negative factions" within AIBA's exec committee of "plotting to undermine his leadership by spreading unsubstantiated rumours of unrest" (PA, 7/25). ... Two Pro12 side Ulster and Ireland rugby players "are to be prosecuted for rape." PADDY JACKSON, 25, and STUART OLDING, 24, "strenuously deny" the offense, which was "alleged to have happened in Belfast last June." The Irish Rugby Football Union and Ulster Rugby said that they took the allegations "extremely seriously" and that both players would be "relieved of their duties and obligations" until the conclusion of the court process. It is "likely both will miss the whole season" (London TELEGRAPH, 7/25).
CALLING IT A SEASON: NOVAK DJOKOVIC will miss the rest of this season "because of an injured right elbow." Djokovic will pull out of the US Open and "end his streak of participating in 51 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments." The two-time US Open champion announced the news on Wednesday, saying "This is the decision that had to be made at this moment" (STUFF, 7/27).
'A JOKE': U.K. retailer Sports Direct Owner MIKE ASHLEY won a High Court battle with an investment banker over a £15M ($19.6M) deal "allegedly made in a pub." JEFFREY BLUE told the court EPL side Newcastle United's owner "reneged on a promise to pay him a multimillion-pound sum if he increased the firm's share price." Ruling in Ashley's favor, Justice ANDREW LEGGATT said, "No reasonable person present ... would have thought that the offer to pay Mr. Blue £15M was serious and was intended to create a contract. They all thought it was a joke. The fact that Mr. Blue has since convinced himself that the offer was a serious one, and that a legally binding agreement was made, shows only that the human capacity for wishful thinking knows few bounds" (BBC, 7/26).
