National Sports

Auburn’s Scheffler signs with Seattle Mariners

  AUBURN, Ala. – Senior catcher Matt Scheffler agreed to a free agent deal with the Seattle Mariners Tuesday. Scheffler is the fourth member of the 2020 team to pursue his goal of playing professional baseball, joining Tanner Burns and Bailey Horn, who were drafted last week, and Ryan Watson, who also signed a free agent contract Sunday. “It’s hard to put…

The Latest: Russian anti-doping agency to resume testing

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The Russian anti-doping agency says it is resuming the testing of athletes after a break of nearly three months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The agency says its staff has been equipped with protective equipment and will have to test negative for the virus before working with any athletes.

It has also offered athletes advice on how to register their status if they have to isolate themselves because they have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

The agency initially suspended testing on March 27

MLB Draft Rounds 2-5: Troy, Auburn, Alabama represented

TROY, Ala. – Junior Levi Thomas was selected by the San Diego Padres with the 109th pick in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft, Thursday evening. Thomas becomes the sixth Trojan in program history to be selected in the top five rounds of the draft. Thomas finished with a career 2.98 ERA and 185 strikeouts compared to just 53 walks,…

The Latest: Premier League clubs approve match protocols

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Premier League soccer clubs have approved the match protocols for when the competition resumes on Wednesday after a 100-day shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The procedures cover matchday operations and include splitting stadiums into red, amber and green zones to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Restrictions also have been placed on the number of people allowed into stadiums.

The season is scheduled to resume on Wednesday with Aston Villa hosting Sheffield United and Arsenal playing

MLB Draft Round 1: Auburn’s Burns goes 36th overall

Auburn’s Tanner Burns was selected 36th overall in the Competitive Balance Round A by the Cleveland Indians. Burns was previously drafted by the New York Yankees in the 37th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. Last year he struck out 101 batters in 79 2/3 innings. Burns struck out 210 batters in his career, a 2.86 ERA with 14 wins…

NASCAR Bans Confederate Flag from Events and Properties

NASCAR has banned the Confederate flag from all events and properties. NASCAR says the Confederate flag “runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and our industry.” Former chairman Brian France in 2015 tried to ban the flying of Confederate flags at race tracks, a proposal too broad to enforce and…

The Latest: Everton allowed to play Liverpool at home

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Everton will be allowed to host city rival Liverpool at Goodison Park instead of playing at a neutral venue when the rivals meet on June 21.

Police had initially believed the Merseyside derby could not be staged in Liverpool because of fears that fans would congregate outside.

Premier League games will take place without fans for the rest of the season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ground Safety Advisory Group in Liverpool says Anfield and Goodison Park can now be used for Liverpool and

The Latest: Stoke says manager O’Neill positive for virus

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English soccer club Stoke says manager Michael O’Neill has tested positive for COVID-19.

The second-division club says the 50-year-old O’Neill had tested negative in five previous rounds of testing but the positive result came from a test administered on Monday.

Stoke says O’Neill will “follow the relevant guidance and undergo a period of isolation.” Assistant manager Billy McKinlay will take charge of training.

Stoke is scheduled to play Reading when the Championship resumes on June 20.

The Premier

The Latest: French court upholds end of soccer season

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France’s highest administrative court has upheld the decision to cancel the rest of the soccer season amid the coronavirus pandemic and suspended the relegations of Amiens and Toulouse to the second division.

The Conseil d’Etat issued its ruling after Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas and the two demoted clubs took the case to court last month in a bid to force the league to play the remaining 10 matches of the aborted season.

The league was canceled with Paris Saint-Germain declared champion. Lyon