Cycling

Froome cleared of doping by UCI — Chris Froome was cleared of doping by the International Cycling Union on Monday in a decision that will allow him to pursue a record-tying fifth Tour de France title beginning later this week. Froome had been racing under the cloud of a potential ban after a urine sample provided during his victory at the Spanish Vuelta in September showed a concentration of the asthma drug salbutamol that was twice the permitted level. “Froome’s sample results do not constitute an AAF (Adverse Analytical Finding),” a UCI statement said, adding that it had decided “to close the proceedings against Mr Froome.” The Tour begins Saturday and — before the UCI statement was provided — race organizers were reportedly denying him entry. Froome’s use of asthma medication has been well-documented, and the Kenyan-born rider has often been spotted using inhalers during races.

Basketball

Brawl mars FIBA World Cup qualifier game — It was not quite “The Malice at the Palace,” but a brawl at a FIBA World Cup qualifier game Monday was one of the crazier scenes in recent basketball history, with haymaker punches and folding chairs thrown, wild kicks attempted, and 13 players eventually being ejected. Unlike the “Malice” game — the infamous fight in 2004 involving the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons — there was no apparent violence directed at fans, but there were several NBA players mixed up in the brawl during a 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifier between Australia and the Philippines. Thon Maker of the Milwaukee Bucks and Andray Blatche, formerly of the Brooklyn Nets, were among the ejected players, and the Bucks’ Matthew Dellavedova was playing for Australia. The events unfolded at the Philippine Arena in Santa Maria in front of a crowd estimated at more than 22,000 people. The game was already a blowout in Australia’s favor when, with about four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Roger Pogoy of the Philippines collided with Australia’s Christopher Goulding. Apparently unsatisfied with the message he sent with his first elbow, Pogoy sought out contact again, knocking Goulding to the ground. Australia’s Daniel Kickert then stepped in, shoving Pogoy down, at which point chaos ensued.

— From wire reports