ROBERT KUBICA is making a "remarkable return" to the Formula 1 paddock as reserve driver for Williams, eight years after partially severing his right arm. He had been in contention for the main race seat vacated by FELIPE MASSA at the end of last year, but that was taken by rookie SERGEY SIROTKIN, the team announced. Kubica will be the reserve and development driver for the team but will have a "particularly active role," the team said (LONDON TIMES, 1/16). ... Pro14 side Ulster and Ireland int'l rugby player TOMMY BOWE announced the '17-18 season will be his last, following a 15-year career. He revealed the decision with a poem on Twitter on Monday (London TELEGRAPH, 1/16). ... IOC honorary member VLADIMÍR ČERNUŠÁK died, aged 86. He led the integration of the Slovak sports organizations into the Olympic Movement after the Czechoslovak separation in '93 (IOC). ... An investigation into Liverpool Mayor JOE ANDERSON's claims that there "may have been fraud involved" in ROSS BARKLEY's transfer from Everton to Chelsea "has found no evidence of criminal activity." Anderson wrote to the FA and Premier League after the 24-year-old England midfielder's £15M ($20.7M) move. Merseyside Police said that officers "had found no evidence of a crime" (BBC, 1/16).
END OF THE ROAD?: CRISTIANO RONALDO is reportedly "tired of" Real Madrid President FLORENTINO PÉREZ's "procrastination over a new contract and wants out" of the club. Ronaldo is under contract at Real Madrid until June '21, but a source said that the five-time Ballon D'Or winner "feels he deserves another pay rise," having seen Barcelona's LIONEL MESSI and Paris St. Germain's NEYMAR sign deals paying "far more" (ESPN.com, 1/16).
