Just days ahead of the Olympic Games, the waterways of Rio de Janeiro are as filthy as ever, contaminated with raw human sewage teeming with dangerous viruses and bacteria, according to a 16-month-long study commissioned by the Associated Press. Not only are some 1,400 athletes at risk of getting violently ill in water competitions, but the tests indicate that tourists also face potentially serious health risks on the golden beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana. The survey of the aquatic Olympic and Paralympic venues has revealed consistent and dangerously high levels of viruses from the pollution, a major black eye on Rio’s Olympic project that has set off alarm bells among sailors, rowers and open-water swimmers. In light of the findings, biomedical expert Valerie Harwood had one piece of advice for travelers to Rio: ‘‘Don’t put your head under water.’’ . . . A launching ramp that collapsed at the Olympic sailing venue is scheduled to be back in service Friday — the day the Games open and three days before sailing begins. The head of World Sailing, the sport’s governing body, knows he’s cutting it close. The ramp partially collapsed Saturday. Local organizers blamed high tides and acknowledged design flaws.
WADA doping rift widens
The split between Olympic leaders and global antidoping officials over the Russian doping scandal continues to escalate. A day after IOC president Thomas Bach suggested the World Anti-Doping Agency was to blame for the last-minute chaos over the participation of Russian athletes in the Rio Games, the agency fired back. Bach had said the agency should have acted sooner on evidence of state-sponsored doping rather than release the damning report by Canadian investigator Richard McLaren so close to the Games. But WADA president Craig Reedie begged to differ: ‘‘While it is destabilizing in the lead-up to the games, it is obvious, given the seriousness of the revelations that [McLaren] uncovered, that they had to be published and acted upon without delay.’’ . . . The Palestinian Olympic committee said that its delegation’s uniforms are being held up by Israeli authorities. Munther Masalmeh, the secretary-general of the Palestinian Olympic committee, said clothes and equipment purchased for the team have yet to clear customs. He said that the team of six was forced to leave for Rio de Janeiro without them. The Israel Tax Authority, which oversees customs, says it has heard nothing of the matter but would be happy to assist if approached by the Palestinians . . . Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points and the US Olympic basketball team wrapped up its unbeaten exhibition tour with a 110-66 victory over Nigeria in Houston. The Americans forced the African champions to miss their first 22 3-point shots and held them to 4 for 29 behind the arc. Klay Thompson had 17 points and Kevin Durant added 14 for Team USA, which went 5-0 and wasn’t tested during its easy pre-Olympic schedule.
AUTO RACING
Buescher takes rainy Pocono
Chris Buescher waited out a foul-weathered end on pit road to become a stunning winner in the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway. Buescher, who drives for underfunded Front Row Motorsports and hadn’t finished better than 14th all season, was the beneficiary of bad weather on a rare Monday race that had been postponed a day by rain. Officials called the red flag with 22 laps left and parked the cars on pit road. Buescher could only sit and wait in the No. 34 Ford for the chance to maintain his lead. But there was no need. He was declared the winner after 80 minutes.Brad Keselowski was second, followed by Regan Smith, Kevin Harvick, and Tony Stewart. Jeff Gordon, driving for the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished 28th.
MISCELLANY
Kane accused of harassment
Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane is making headlines off the ice again, after pleading not guilty to charges alleging he grabbed three women during an altercation at a downtown bar in June. Kane didn’t speak as his lawyer entered the plea for him in Buffalo City Court during the brief appearance. The star player, who turns 25 Tuesday, was arrested July 22 after turning himself in to police. He was charged with noncriminal harassment, disorderly conduct, and trespass. The charges stem from an alleged incident that occurred early on June 24 at Bottoms Up, a nightclub in Buffalo’s popular Chippewa Street entertainment district. Three women said they were grabbed by Kane inside the bar. A male bar employee said he also had a run-in with the player . . . The Arizona Coyotes parted ways with Antoine Vermette to give themselves payroll flexibility for next season, making the 34-year-old center a free agent. Instead of counting $3.75 million against the salary cap, Vermette will count $1.25 million each of the next two seasons as Arizona looks to get younger. He had 17 goals and 21 assists in 76 games last season . . . Declaring his surgically repaired left knee 100 percent, running back Reggie Bush signed a one-year contract. ‘‘I'm in shape,’’ Bush said at the Bills’ training camp in Rochester, N.Y. Bush, 31, tore his meniscus ligament last season . . . The family of Bill McCartney says the former University of Colorado football coaching great was recently diagnosed with late-onset dementia and Alzheimer's. McCartney, who turns 76 later this month, led the Buffaloes to their only national championship in 1990. He’s the winningest coach in Colorado history at 93-55-5 and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
. . . A milestone season has produced strong numbers for the WNBA. The league has amassed more than 24 million video views across its social media platforms, nearly five times more than at this point last season. It also has seen a record number of subscriptions to WNBA League Pass, up more than 20 percent from last year. ‘‘This is a historic season, and all the metrics are trending in a positive direction, and we’re thrilled about that,’’ WNBA president Lisa Borders said.
