Sport MLB updates COVID protocols for vaccinated players, staff

07:30 17 june 2021

07:30 17 june 2021 Source: mlbtraderumors.com

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Major League Baseball has updated its COVID-19 protocols for vaccinated Tiers 1 and 2 personnel (including players and coaches), reports Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic. Most notably, fully vaccinated individuals will no longer be tested for COVID-19 unless they have symptoms or have been exposed to the virus.

The handling of fully vaccinated individuals drew some attention last month after Nationals starter Erick Fedde tested positive for the coronavirus. Fedde, who had been fully vaccinated and was asymptomatic, was forced to go on the injured list. (Between his initial isolation period and subsequent rehab, he ultimately missed just more than three weeks of action.) Teammate Max Scherzer, the Nationals MLBPA representative and a member of the union’s executive board, called for the league to update the protocols in light of Fedde’s situation.

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“We got to update the rules here,” Scherzer said at the time. “We got to start following the science, listening to what the CDC says, whether this is union or MLB, the people above us. We got to update the protocols here. Vaccinated players are testing positive, they are asymptomatic and should be allowed to play. Plain and simple.”

Without regular testing for asymptomatic, vaccinated individuals, MLB is leaving open the possibility of players who have breakthrough (post-vaccine) infections remaining in clubhouses and on the field. The CDC cautions that “vaccinated people could potentially still become infected and spread the virus to others” but also notes that studies have shown early evidence of “reduced viral load in vaccinated people who develop COVID-19,” which could reduce the likelihood of transmission to others even if a vaccinated person does contract the virus.

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The league relaxed various on-field protocols for vaccinated individuals, Ghiroli reports. Fully vaccinated individuals are now exempt from wearing masks in dugouts and bullpens. (Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated players are still required to wear masks unless their teams reach the 85% vaccination threshold among Tier 1 personnel to reduce restrictions teamwide.) Fully vaccinated players are also now permitted to dine indoors and work out at club facilities without receiving advance permission.

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Do fans, media have the right to know about players’ vaccination status?

Sam Darnold met with the media for one of the first times as a member of the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, and it didn’t take long for the quarterback to make league-wide waves. Darnold revealed that he has not been vaccinated, despite the on-the-books consequences of testing positive for COVID-19 in the NFL. A few hours earlier, Washington defensive end Montez Sweat had offered up a similar I’m-still-waiting-on-the-facts rationale, saying he “probably won’t get vaccinated until I got more facts and that type of stuff, but I’m not a fan of it at all.” He then went a step further than Darnold, adding, “I haven’t caught COVID yet.

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COVID-19 and sports: Latest updates across all leagues

It's been nearly a year since sports in the United States came to a screeching halt amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, and the NBA, MLB and NHL seasons suddenly were put on hiatus.The NHL, NBA and MLB resumed and completed their seasons, but outbreaks complicated baseball's return. The NBA's 2020-21 tipped off, but the league has been forced to postponement many games.The NFL was able to complete its 2020-21 season — despite COVID-19 outbreaks causing schedule reshuffling throughout the campaign. Over in the college ranks, the NCAA was able complete its college football season. On January 11, the Alabama Crimson Tide won the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. However, college basketball programs continue to experience issues.With news breaking so often, we’ve gathered the latest stories fans need to know.
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NBA

Here is what has happened over the last couple of weeks in the NBA:JUNE 16It was reported Wednesday that Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul was placed in the NBA's health and safety protocols. At the time, it was unknown whether or not he tested positive for the coronavirus. Later in the day, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reported that Paul did test positive for COVID-19. The 36-year-old received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in February, per Gambadoro. Paul will be sidelined indefinitely, and his status for the Western Conference Finals is unclear. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the isolation period for a vaccinated individual could be shorter than an unvaccinated individual. Read more here.JUNE 12This year’s condensed season offered little time to rest between games and was played under the threat of pandemic postponements, but the consensus among players and coaches is that it was much easier than the resumption last summer in Orlando, writes Mark Medina of USA Today. Read more here.JUNE 10The NBA’s 2021-22 regular season will tip off on Oct. 19, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. In addition, training camps begin Sept. 28, the playoffs start April 16, 2022, the NBA Finals tip off Jun 2 and the 2022 draft will take place June 23. Read more here.JUNE 3The Jazz announced Thursday morning that they’ll increase attendance at Vivint Arena to its full 18,306 person capacity for round two of the playoffs, the largest NBA crowd of any game this season, writes Ryan McDonald of the Deseret News. The arena will limit some lower-bowl attendance around the team benches but will make up for it with increased standing room only capacity. Masks will still be mandatory. Read more here.JUNE 2The NBA and NBPA announced Wednesday in a press release that out of the 278 players tested for COVID-19 since May 26, none returned a new positive confirmed test. Read more here..MAY 26Of the 337 NBA players who have been tested for COVID-19 since May 19, none have returned a new positive confirmed test, the league and the players’ union announced Wednesday in a press release. Read more here.MAY 24On Saturday, it was reported that LeBron James violated protocols by attending a promotional event last week. However, James was not suspended or required to isolate. Still, some felt that the NBA had gone easy on James by not placing him in protocols with the playoffs looming. In an apparent effort to respond to that skepticism, the NBA issued a statement stating that medical experts determined that the event James attended did not create a risk of spreading COVID-19. In addition, the league said that a number of similar violations during the season were handled the same way, a clear rebuttal to the theory that James received preferential treatment. Read more here.MAY 22According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, an NBA spokesperson said that James violated the league's health and safety protocols earlier this week. The four-time NBA champion attended a promotional event for a tequila he has invested in. The event took place before the Lakers played the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament. Read more here.Furthermore, despite LeBron violating protocols, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that there would be no suspension forthcoming. Read more here.As the CDC continues to loosen restrictions for those who are fully vaccinated, the NBA is following in its footsteps. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, coaches who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear facemasks while coaching games. Read more here.MAY 21During last year's playoffs in the Orlando bubble, Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George admitted he battled bouts of depression. This season, his mental health is in a much better place. As George and the Clippers prepare to face the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs, he says his mental health is better than it was entering the playoffs last season. Read more here.Many NBA teams are announcing loosened restrictions on fan attendance, with some even moving toward near-capacity crowds by the end of the first round of the playoffs. That has CJ McCollum quite jealous. The Portland Trail Blazers were among the last to lift restrictions, and Moda Center remains limited to 10 percent capacity as of Friday. That’s frustrating for McCollum, who prodded the Blazers to loosen restrictions in response to Boston doing so. Read more here.MAY 19There has been talk for the past year that the NBA could expand to new cities in order to help recoup some of the revenue that was lost during the pandemic, and it sounds like that is going to happen. Michael Grange of Sportsnet reported this week that it is “widely believed” that the NBA is planning to expand to 32 teams. The league has not added a franchise since the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004, but expansion talks seem to have accelerated in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Grange added that it is “almost a given” that Seattle would be the home of one of the teams, as the arena issues that forced the SuperSonics to leave for Oklahoma City in 2008 have since been resolved. Las Vegas has been mentioned as a potential spot for the second team. Read more here.Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri is hopeful the team will be back home next season after playing the entire 2020-21 season in Tampa due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ujiri also said that the Raptors were at a significant disadvantage this season, according to The Athletic's Eric Koreen, due to relocation and a COVID-19 outbreak that halted the team's momentum prior to the All-Star break. Ujiri added "there's a lot of work" to be done to strengthen the NBA's relationship with the Raptors, which is the only Canadian team in the league. Read more here.The NBA and NBPA announced Wednesday in a press release that one player registered a new confirmed positive COVID-19 test in the week since May 12. A total of 496 players were tested during that time, according to the league and players’ union. After three straight weeks of multiple positive coronavirus tests around the league, this is the second consecutive week the NBA has reported just one positive test among players. Read more here.After being canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA Las Vegas Summer League will be held from August 8-17 this year, a source tells Sam Gordon of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Read more here.MAY 18Pacers guard Caris LeVert is out vs. the Hornets in the play-in tournament due to landing in the health and safety protocols, and he is expected to be sidelined for multiple games if Indiana advances. Read more here.MAY 15Hornets forward Miles Bridges has been cleared to return from health and safety protocols, the team announced. Read more here.MAY 14The NBA and its players union are considering changes to the league’s health and safety protocols after an announcement this week from the Centers for Disease Control, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. The CDC issued a statement Thursday that “fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.” Read more here.Lakers guard Dennis Schröder has cleared the NBA’s health and safety protocols, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Schröder will be eligible to play in the final two games of L.A.’s regular season — Saturday at Indiana and Sunday at New Orleans — but coach Frank Vogel hasn’t decided whether to use him. Read more here.APRIL 19The NBA has not permitted personnel to travel internationally to scout players since October due to COVID-19 concerns. ESPN's Jonathan Givony reports the league office will be eliminating such travel restrictions for individuals who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Personnel who do travel internationally for scouting purposes must "comply with all applicable government regulations" and adhere to NBA health and safety protocols. Read more here.On Monday, the NBA confirmed that free agency will begin on Aug. 2 at 6 p.m. ET, when clubs can first start negotiating with out-of-contract players. Teams will be permitted to officially sign free agents on Aug. 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET. Read more here.APRIL 18The Los Angeles Lakers will not visit the White House to celebrate their 2020 NBA title when the team travels to Washington D.C. for a game against the Wizards later this month, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. Scheduling conflicts and COVID-19 protocols will prevent the Lakers from visiting President Joe Biden in the nation's capital. Read more here.APRIL 16After having to cancel it in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA will once again hold its G League Elite Camp prior to the draft combine this year, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who says the event will take place from June 19-21. The combine will follow, in the same location, from June 21-27. Read more here.
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MLB

Here is the latest MLB news from the past couple of weeks:JUNE 15The Blue Jays announced Monday that left-hander Steven Matz tested positive for COVID-19. Fortunately, he is asymptomatic, although he’ll still need to isolate for 10 days from the date of the test. The team conducted follow-up testing in the wake of Matz’s result, but no other players turned up positive. Read more here.JUNE 13The Toronto Blue Jays have placed left-hander Steven Matz on the COVID-related injured list, the team announced prior to Sunday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Read more here.JUNE 11MLB and the MLBPA announced Friday that 22 clubs have now reached the 85% coronavirus vaccination threshold among Tier 1 individuals that include players, managers, coaches, trainers and other essential employees who have direct contact with players. Additionally, 83.7% of all Tier 1 employees are now considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Only one new MLB player and one staff member tested positive for the virus over the past week. Read more here.JUNE 7The Blue Jays announced that Buffalo's Sahlen Field will continue to be their home park through at least July 21. Read more here.JUNE 4MLB and the MLBPA announced that only one new MLB player and one Triple-A player tested positive for COVID-19 over the past week. MLB also confirmed that 20 clubs have now reached the 85% COVID-19 vaccination threshold among Tier 1 employees that include players, managers, coaches, trainers and other essential members of traveling parties. Additionally, 85.2% of all Tier 1 individuals are currently considered either partially or fully vaccinated, while 82.9% of those employees are fully vaccinated. Read more here.MLB announced its "Vaccinate At The Plate" program, which involves all 30 teams hosting at least one event in June where fans not yet vaccinated against the coronavirus can receive a free ticket to a game by getting a vaccine shot at that event. Individual clubs will determine specifics for such events, including locations and dates, and those interested are encouraged to visit MLB.com/vaccine for more information. Read more here.JUNE 3The Chicago White Sox will be without rookie outfielder Andrew Vaughn for an unknown amount of time. Ahead of Thursday's game versus the Detroit Tigers, the White Sox placed Vaughn on the injured list because of the league's COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Read more here.MAY 28In a joint statement, MLB and the MLB Players Association confirmed Friday that 16 clubs have at least 85% of Tier 1 employees — including players, managers, coaches, trainers and other essential personnel — fully vaccinated against COVID-19, up from 14 teams from the previous week. Additionally, 84.5% of all Tier 1 individuals are fully or partially vaccinated, with 81.2% of Tier 1 employees now considered fully vaccinated ahead of the Memorial Day holiday. Last week, nearly 79% of those individuals were deemed fully vaccinated per MLB rules. One new MLB player, a Triple-A player and a staff member all tested positive for the coronavirus over the past week. MLB and the MLBPA are not mandating players be vaccinated to participate in the season. Read more here.MAY 21Nationals right-handers Erick Fedde and Tanner Rainey were placed on the team’s COVID-related injured list Wednesday after Fedde tested positive for the coronavirus and Rainey was quarantined as a close-contact to Fedde. Since Fedde is asymptomatic and had already received a vaccine, teammate Max Scherzer told reporters, including Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post, that he feels Fedde’s trip to the IL was unnecessary. “We got to update the rules here,” Scherzer said. Read more here.The Mariners are dealing with a COVID-19 situation, as reported by both The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and ESPN.com’s Jeff Passan. The Mariners announced a series of roster moves related to the positive test. Right-handers Robert Dugger, Drew Steckenrider and Will Vest were all placed on the IL, as was lefty Anthony Misiewicz. The Mariners did not indicate that a player tested positive. Read more here.Furthermore, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports the Mariners are allegedly "among the least-vaccinated teams in MLB" and have "a significant portion of players" who haven't received shots. Read more here.Fourteen of Major League Baseball's 30 teams have at least 85% of their players and other on-field personnel completely vaccinated, according to the Associated Press (h/t Sportsnet). Read more here.MAY 20Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told reporters on Thursday it looks like the Chicago traveling party will fall short of the required percentage of vaccinated personnel. Read more here.Additionally, Chicago Cubs Hoyer publicly vented about the team’s failure to reach the 85 percent vaccination threshold that would allow them to eliminate many health and safety protocols. Read more here.MAY 19Ahead of Wednesday's game against the Colorado Rockies, San Diego activated star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and first baseman Eric Hosmer from the injured list. Both landed on the IL last week due to MLB's health and safety protocols, and Tatis tested positive for COVID-19. Hosmer, meanwhile, was deemed a high-risk close contact. Right fielder Wil Myers also tested positive for COVID-19 during the club's coronavirus-related issues and remains unavailable. Read more here.The Yankees announced they reinstated shortstop Gleyber Torres from the injured list. Torres has been out of action since May 11 after testing positive for COVID-19. Read more here.The Nationals announced they’ve placed right-handers Erick Fedde and Tanner Rainey on the COVID-19 injured list. One of the two players has tested positive for COVID-19, while the other was deemed a close contact, according to Maria Torres of The Athletic. Read more here.MAY 14The Major League Baseball Players Association has filed a grievance against the league, claiming that MLB did not negotiate in good faith to play as many games as possible in the shortened 2020 season, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. The MLBPA grievance seeks as much as $500M, which Sherman suggests is the equivalent of roughly 20 games of additional pay. Evan Drellich and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report that the grievance was actually filed two weeks ago, adding that the league has argued in response that 60 games was the maximum possible due to health and safety reasons. Of course, the league itself submitted proposals for larger numbers of games, although it did so with additional salary cuts which MLB knew to be a nonstarter in talks with the union. Read more here.Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto was not on the COVID-19 injured list for long, as he was activated off the list. Read more here.MAY 13ESPN's Marly Rivera had reported Yankees SS Gleyber Torres would miss Thursday's series finale at the Rays, and the Yankees have since confirmed Torres also tested positive for the coronavirus. The Yankees added that all eight individuals who tested positive, including Torres, are vaccinated and, thus, are considered "breakthrough" positives. Read more here.MAY 12The New York Mets announced this week that the Tom Seaver statue dedication will be pushed back to Opening Day of the 2022 MLB season. The team originally planned on formally unveiling the late Mets icon’s statue sometime this season, but the coronavirus pandemic has caused unavoidable delays and logistical issues. Read more here.San Diego added right fielder Wil Myers and first baseman Eric Hosmer to the IL. Padres manager Jayce Tingler confirmed Myers tested positive for the coronavirus, while Hosmer was deemed a high-risk close contact. Read more here.According to ESPN's Marly Rivera, Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed ahead of Wednesday's game at the Tampa Bay Rays that at least seven coaches and support staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus. Read more here.Before taking on the Athletics on Wednesday night, the Red Sox placed right-hander Nick Pivetta on the COVID-19-related injured list. Read more here.MAY 5The Blue Jays have spent the first month-plus of the 2021 season playing their home games at their spring training facility in Dunedin, Fla., but they announced Wednesday that beginning June 1, they’ll move their home games to Buffalo’s Sahlen Field — the home of their Triple-A affiliate and the site of last summer’s home games. Read more here.
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NHL

Here is what the NHL has been doing over the past couple of weeks to prepare for he league's resumption:JUNE 10Avalanche coach Jared Bednar was absent from the morning skate ahead of Game 6 vs. the Golden Knights thanks to “irregularity in his COVID-19 test results” the team tells Peter Baugh of The Athletic. Read more here.JUNE 6The Canadian government has approved a travel exemption for the final two rounds of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs that will allow teams to cross the Canada-USA border without having to quarantine, according to the CBC. Read more here.The NHL released a blank COVID Protocol Related Absences list Sunday as the lone remaining member, Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb, has been removed. McNabb had been in the protocol and in isolation since May 26 following a positive test. Read more here.MAY 8With more players getting vaccinated, the NHL plans to relax its COVID-19 protocols for playoff teams once 85% of a club's traveling party has been fully vaccinated for two weeks, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. Read more here.APRIL 29There will not be a traditional Calder Cup playoffs in 2021, but that doesn’t mean the AHL will forgo postseason contests. Each of the four divisions was given the opportunity to decide a postseason format, and while the Atlantic, North, Canadian and Central will all simply award the divisional champion based on regular-season points percentage, the Pacific Division is going to have a playoff tournament. Also in the announcement comes news on the 2021-22 season, which is set to begin on Oct. 15, 2021, and conclude on April 24, 2022. The divisions will likely be put back to normal, but an announcement will come later this summer. Read more here.APRIL 27As per a report by Elliotte Friedman, the NHL is going to hold teams accountable to their actions when it comes to the COVID virus and doing their part to stop the spread. Specifically, if players break protocols that lead to multiple illnesses during the playoffs, there could be huge consequences. Essentially, if a player(s) breaks the rules when it comes to COVID protocols and it costs their team a number of players because the virus spreads, the NHL won’t first look to reschedule games. Instead, they’ll look at why the breakout and spread of the virus occurred and the team could be penalized by having to pull out of the NHL postseason. Read more here.APRIL 21According to TSN and RDS hockey insider Pierre LeBrun, the tentative date for the start of the 2021-22 NHL season is currently set for Oct. 12, with training camps hopefully able to open Sept. 22. Read more here.APRIL 20Though it had been clear for the last few weeks, Tuesday brought the death knell for the 2020-21 OHL season. The junior league announced the end of its return-to-play plans, stating that the recent extended stay-at-home order in Ontario along with the increasing cases of COVID-19 has made it impossible to hold a season. Read more here.APRIL 19The Western Hockey League, whose teams did not begin regular season play until late February at the earliest, will play no more than their shortened 24-game season this year. The league has announced that there will be no 2021 WHL Playoffs due to “the ongoing challenges with COVID-19.” Read more here.
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NFL

The NFL season started without issues, but the Titans suffered a COVID outbreak, and several big-name Patriots tested positive. As the NFL hopes to continue the season, we'll bring you the latest updates from the league:JUNE 15Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported Tuesday that over half of the players on rosters have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot. In addition, he relays that 30 teams have at least 95% of Tier 1 and 2 staff vaccinated, while the other two are at at least 90%, and 16 teams have at least 51 players fully vaccinated or in the process of being fully vaccinated. Read more here.JUNE 10The NFL has been strongly incentivizing players and all other team personnel to get their COVID-19 vaccines, and Washington defensive lineman Montez Sweat does not appreciate the way the league has handled the situation. Sweat said on Wednesday that he is “not a fan” of the team and NFL trying to persuade players to get vaccinated. He said he does not feel enough information is known yet about the vaccines. Read more here.Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians told players, "If you want to get back to normal, get vaccinated." Arians also said the Buccaneers are holding a coronavirus vaccine drive for players and their family members, and he expects to see "a long line" of individuals getting their shots. Read more here.Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy said he enjoys seeing expressions on the faces of maskless individuals during interactions. "At the same point in time, there are the safety measures. And if you’re not vaccinated, then you need to wear your mask," Nagy said. "So for us, we would love for everybody to get their vaccinations. And we encourage that and educate them on it … We all have our own opinions on what we want to do and not do. But if you understand the education of it, if we encourage it — which is what we’re doing — then we can all make our own decisions and decide to get it." Read more here.JUNE 9Nearly 4 million people in North Carolina are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Sam Darnold is not one of them. The Carolina Panthers quarterback said Wednesday that he has not been vaccinated and is still evaluating the situation, according to ESPN's David Newton. Panthers head coach Matt Rhule added that he isn't pressuring players to get vaccinated, allowing them to make their own informed decision. Read more here.JUNE 8NFL assistants who aren't vaccinated by the end of this week could be prohibited from having any face-to-face contact with players and kept off of practice fields and out of meeting rooms. According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer told reporters Tuesday that multiple assistants received their shots following last week's warning. Read more here.Per Katherine Terrell of The Athletic, Saints head coach Sean Payton told reporters Tuesday that all Saints coaches, staff members, and other essential personnel considered either Tier 1 or Tier 2 have been vaccinated. Payton added he's "confident" that at least 85% of players will eventually be vaccinated. Read more here.JUNE 7The Buffalo Bills held training camp sessions at St. John Fisher College in Rochester every year from 2000 through 2019 but couldn't last summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Per a statement on their website, the Bills confirmed Monday they are holding camp at their club facility starting next month. Read more here.JUNE 5Although there are no official numbers from the NFL, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe hears that the league is generally struggling to get its players vaccinated against COVID-19. Two agents that represent several dozen players between them believe less than half of the league has gotten a vaccine. Read more here.JUNE 4The Chiefs have been one of a few teams to have high attendance at OTAs. The NFLPA advised players to skip in-person workouts this spring, arguing that a virtual approach is smarter and safer, but the Chiefs see OTAs as an opportunity they couldn't pass up. Patrick Mahomes said players are showing up to OTAs so the Chiefs can try new things and build chemistry after a disappointing Super Bowl. Read more here.NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports assistant coaches from at least four teams could lose their Tier 1 status because of their continued refusal to get COVID-19 vaccine shots. Unless they receive jabs by the end of next week, they will be banned from having direct interactions with players and also from meeting rooms and fields. Read more here.JUNE 2Myles Garrett slowed down in a big way at the end of 2020, and he admitted that he dealt with significant physical effects from his bout with COVID-19 long after he was cleared to return to play. Garrett said Wednesday that he felt like he was operating at half his normal conditioning, and his asthma worsened his symptoms and his endurance even after he’d recovered enough to play. The good news is Garrett said he has shaken off all remaining effects of the virus and expects to be at full strength all season. Read more here.The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement calls for a 12-man practice squad in 2021, but the league’s 2020 COVID-19-induced expansion is expected to remain in place this coming season. Sixteen-man practice squads are likely to stay for 2021, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. In addition, the 2020 modification that allowed teams more injured reserve flexibility is on track to return as well. Both teams and players supported these tweaks last year, creating momentum for their returns in 2021. The league and union remain in negotiations on the coming season’s COVID protocols. Read more here.MAY 28Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told reporters he'd prefer his players get vaccinated as soon as possible. Carroll was, however, sure to point out a player's vaccination status won't determine if he has a place on the roster come September. Read more here.MAY 26The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to a $208.2M salary cap for the 2022 season. That number could change somewhat based on a few factors. Still, it sounds as though the league is on track for a significant uptick. Read more here.According to NFL Media's Judy Battista and Kevin Seifert of ESPN, the NFL is loosening health and safety protocols for players fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Owners were told during a Wednesday virtual meeting that fully vaccinated players no longer need to participate in daily coronavirus testing, aren't required to wear masks or approved face coverings at team complexes, have no travel restrictions, can eat inside team cafeterias, use sauna and steam rooms, can interact with other vaccinated individuals, utilize weight rooms without following capacity limits, and don't have to quarantine if exposed to an infected person. Read more here.MAY 25Bills head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Tuesday he's "concerned" about the number of players who have and haven't voluntarily received the shots. Read more here.According to multiple media reports, training camps around the NFL are slated to start in about two months on July 27. Fans will also be in attendance with some restrictions due to the still-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The league is also planning for some fan events on July 31. Read more here.MAY 24According to NBC Sports’ Peter King, the NFL has discussed allowing teams to operate with more freedom this season if 85% of the roster is vaccinated. The league has already offered some incentives for personnel who are two weeks removed from receiving their final vaccine shot: Vaccinated personnel are no longer required to wear masks inside the facility; players, staff no longer required to undergo daily testing for COVID-19; NFL no longer requires vaccinated personnel to be quarantined if in contact with an infected person. Read more here.New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced that venues such as MetLife can return to full capacity starting this coming Friday. In a joint statement, the Giants and Jets announced: "We are thrilled by Governor Murphy's announcement today to have MetLife Stadium operate at full capacity for the 2021 season. We can't wait to welcome our fans back, creating the gameday atmosphere we have all been missing. We will continue to work to ensure the return of fans is accomplished in a safe and responsible way." Read more here.MAY 19Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson and two-time Pro Bowler Al Harris will be inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame on Aug. 28, the franchise announced Wednesday. Woodson and Harris were supposed to be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame last year, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused the ceremony to be rescheduled to this summer. Read more here.MAY 18The NFL and NFL Players Association aren't mandating that players get vaccinated to participate in offseason activities or the 2021 season, and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith lashed out at Bills GM Brandon Beane during the annual Sports Lawyers Association conference on Monday for suggesting he would consider cutting an unvaccinated player if doing so helped loosen certain NFL health and safety protocols related to the coronavirus. "When a general manager speaks out and says something that is not only inconsistent with league policy, but just has a rank disregard for the rights of our players, I don't know any other way of characterizing that other than just the stupidity that underlines it," Smith said, according to Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal. NFL executive vice president and general counsel Jeff Pash did not mention Beane directly but added: "Our labor agreement is pretty clear on what grounds you can and can’t release a player for, and there is not a requirement that players be vaccinated." Read more here.MAY 15Offseason minicamps have become a hot-button issue in the NFL this offseason, with the NFLPA urging players to skip many workouts. That advice was even extended to rookies ahead of their minicamps, though early evidence indicated that few followed that advice. The reason for that is pretty simple, and is succinctly summed up by Denver Broncos first-round pick Patrick Surtain II: they felt they couldn’t afford to miss out. Read more here.MAY 14Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t Grant Gordon), the NFL informed teams via a memo sent Friday that fully vaccinated players and staff members no longer need to wear approved face coverings inside or outside at club facilities. Read more here.MAY 13The Chicago Bears won't have head coach Matt Nagy working in-person during this weekend's rookie minicamp sessions. Nagy has to participate in minicamp virtually after he was deemed a high-risk close contact of a family member who tested positive for COVID-19. Rapoport added that Nagy is not yet fully vaccinated against the coronavirus but will receive the necessary shot(s). Read more here.Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has a new role this spring: Star of a public service announcement encouraging all eligible Ohio residents to receive COVID-19 vaccine shots as soon as possible. Read more here.MAY 11Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic reported Tuesday that no NFL games will be held in Mexico City later this year due to coronavirus outbreaks, rates and active cases throughout that country. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars will serve as "home" clubs for games that will occur at the Tottenham stadium and be officially unveiled during Wednesday's full schedule release. Read more here.MAY 7Bills general manager Brandon Beane said Wednesday that he hypothetically would consider cutting players if they did not receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The NFL reportedly spoke with Beane following his comments about releasing unvaccinated players. According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, the league said a team cannot release a player solely due to vaccination status. Read more here.MAY 6The Washington Football Team became the latest NFL team to announce it would have fans at full capacity for home games at FedEx Field for the upcoming 2021 season. The state of Maryland is currently allowing outdoor events at 50 percent capacity, but that number is expected to rise as vaccination rates increase over the next few months. Gov. Larry Hogan voiced his support for the Football Team having fans at full capacity by September and encouraged people to get vaccinated. Read more here.APRIL 27Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday that effective Aug. 1, "industry restrictions will be lifted at that time, and capacity will increase to 100% for all industries, with businesses encouraged to continue following best practices." So the Patriots are one track to have a full stadium once football season begins. Read more here.
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Golf

The latest from the world of golf since competition resumed:JUNE 5Jon Rahm was on his way to what looked like a clear victory at the Memorial before being forced to withdraw Saturday under crushing circumstances. Rahm had a six-stroke lead, and after he finished his round, he spoke with officials before becoming visibly emotional. As it turned out, Rahm had tested positive for COVID-19, and was being informed of that fact. Under PGA Tour protocols, the positive test meant Rahm had to withdraw from the tournament despite his huge lead. Read more here.MAY 19ESPN's Bob Harig reports vaccinated golfers won't have to wear proper face coverings indoors at tournaments starting with next week's Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas. Unvaccinated players must continue to wear masks until further notice. Harig added that the PGA scrapped its original plan to discontinue on-site testing in July and will instead maintain its current testing format through at least the Tour Championship in early September. Following that tournament, those not vaccinated will have to conduct at-home testing on their own to compete. Read more here.MAY 11Jordan Spieth won the Valero Texas Open in early April and seemed to be accumulating momentum when he finished tied for third at the Masters. He then found himself sidelined for a month due to a positive COVID-19 test result. Per Bob Harig of ESPN, Spieth told reporters on Tuesday that he first noticed coronavirus symptoms roughly 10 days after the Masters and ahead of the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. The 27-year-old admitted he endured a bad "day and a half" before dealing with "sinus stuff" and a loss of energy but added that his wife never got sick. Spieth hasn't competed since the Masters finished on April 11. Read more here.APRIL 28England's Paul Casey, 43, told reporters on Thursday he's already received both vaccine shots, in part, because he's "willing to do the things necessary to get through" the pandemic. Read more here.APRIL 20Seamus Power won't play in this week's Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The PGA Tour confirmed on Tuesday that Power has withdrawn from the event after testing positive for COVID-19. Read more here.APRIL 19The PGA the Tour is strongly encouraging players and caddies to receive vaccine shots but is not requiring vaccinations to participate in tournaments. Players and caddies will be considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and also after the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the AstraZeneca shot. The Tour intends to stop on-site testing at the end of June and will permit fully vaccinated personnel to "gather in small groups without face coverings" without facing any restrictions or punishments. Read more here.APRIL 13ESPN's Bob Harig reported on Tuesday that the PGA Tour recently sent a memo saying that players and caddies who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to take coronavirus tests at tournament sites to participate. Players and others who elect against getting vaccine shots must still test negative for COVID-19 to participate in future PGA events per current guidelines. Read more here.MARCH 11More and more states, cities, and communities are opening outdoor and indoor events to paying spectators despite continued COVID-19 concerns. During a Thursday appearance on ESPN's "First Take," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci explained that the existence of at least three coronavirus vaccines should permit growing numbers of fans to safely attend sporting events over the next several months. Read more here.MARCH 9Like other sports leagues and competitions throughout the United States, the PGA Tour is slowly but surely opening events to percentages of paying spectators as COVID-19 vaccine rollouts continue. One hot-button topic likely to be addressed by league executives and ticket brokers is the idea of so-called coronavirus "vaccine passports" that would allow fans to prove they've received COVID-19 vaccines before purchasing tickets to an event such as a golf tournament. According to Bob Harig of ESPN, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan told reporters on Tuesday he's currently not considering opening tournaments only to those who have been vaccinated. Monahan added that the Tour intends to continue to enforce mask decrees at events and tournaments. Read more here.
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NASCAR

What's the latest from the world of NASCAR:APRIL 25NASCAR will not require drivers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, president Steve Phelps said Sunday, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "It is important, in my opinion, that people get vaccinated," Phelps said before the race at Talladega Superspeedway. Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin are among the few NASCAR drivers who have made it known that they received the COVID-19 vaccine. Read more here.MARCH 11More and more states, cities, and communities are opening outdoor and indoor events to paying spectators despite continued COVID-19 concerns. During a Thursday appearance on ESPN's "First Take," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci explained that the existence of at least three coronavirus vaccines should permit growing numbers of fans to safely attend sporting events over the next several months. Read more here.
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NCAA athletics

The NCAA was able complete its college football season. On January 11, the Alabama Crimson Tide won the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. However, college basketball programs experienced issues during the regular season. Teams are competing in a bubble for March Madness. Here is the fallout from the most recent news from the NCAA:JUNE 1Penn State vice president for intercollegiate athletics Sandy Barbour confirmed Tuesday that the lifting of statewide health and safety protocols will allow Beaver Stadium to operate at 100% capacity for the 2021 season. The Penn State announcement added that tailgating and other traditional aspects of football gamedays will also return. PSU is shifting fully to mobile tickets for all sports and reducing physical contact points at venues. Read more here.MAY 19Add the South Carolina Gamecocks to the growing list of football programs returning to normalcy this fall following a season altered by COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. The South Carolina Athletics Department announced Wednesday it is planning for both full capacity and tailgating areas at Williams-Brice Stadium for the 2021 season. Additionally, approved face coverings, such as masks, will no longer be required. Read more here.MAY 7Alabama has one of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the United States. That could all change if Nick Saban's message hits home with fans of the Crimson Tide. Saban taped a public service announcement this week for the Alabama Department of Public Health urging residents to get vaccinated, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read more here.MAY 5Clemson Tigers defensive end Justin Foster, once thought to be a future NFL prospect, shocked the college football world in February when he announced he was retiring due to lingering complications caused by a bout with COVID-19 combined with problems linked with asthma and allergies. However, Clemson confirmed on Wednesday that Foster is returning to the program for the 2021 campaign after he missed last season. Read more here.MARCH 24The Big Ten announced on Wednesday that percentages of fans will be permitted to attend remaining 2020-21 games and other events, including those related to springtime football activities. Read more here.MARCH 11More and more states, cities, and communities are opening outdoor and indoor events to paying spectators despite continued COVID-19 concerns. During a Thursday appearance on ESPN's "First Take," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci explained that the existence of at least three coronavirus vaccines should permit growing numbers of fans to safely attend sporting events over the next several months. Read more here.MARCH 6The NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and NCAA, unsurprisingly, took a massive hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. When the entire country came to a halt about one year ago, Forbes estimated that the four major American sports leagues and the NCAA would lose a combined $5 billion in revenue. According to Forbes' most recent report, the revenue losses for the NCAA and the four major U.S. sports leagues have now hit at least $14.1 billion. Read more here.
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Tennis

Here is what has happened most recently in the world of tennis:JUNE 14When Wimbledon gets underway June 28, attendance will initially be capped at 50% capacity due to concerns related to COVID-19. According to the BBC and the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), however, Centre Court will be cleared to reach its 15,000-person capacity for the men's and women's finals that will occur next month. Read more here.MAY 20The 2021 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells was postponed earlier this year due to COVID-19 concerns and coronavirus-related restrictions in California in March. However, tournament organizers confirmed Thursday the ATP and WTA events will take place this October. Per Tennis.com, exact dates will likely be finalized around mid-June. Read more here.MAY 11On Monday, tennis living legend Serena Williams suggested she may not compete at the Tokyo Olympics rescheduled from 2020 to this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic if travel restrictions and protocols prevent her three-year-old daughter from joining her in Japan. Ahead of his opening match at the Italian Open in Rome on Tuesday, fellow all-time great Rafael Nadal suggested he also may skip the Olympic tournament. "I don't know yet. Honestly, I can't give you a clear answer because I don't know," Nadal said about competing in Tokyo, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). Read more here.APRIL 13World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev won't be competing in this week's Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters as scheduled. The ATP Tour announced on Tuesday that Medvedev tested positive for COVID-19 and has been withdrawn from the event that serves as a warmup for next month's French Open. Tournament officials replaced him for the main draw and withdrew him from the doubles competition. Read more here.APRIL 8The French Open will start almost two weeks later than it was originally scheduled due to the ongoing COIVD-19 pandemic. The tournament was set to begin on May 17 but will not start until May 30 instead, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) announced on Thursday. France has been forced to enter lockdown due to the recent rise in coronavirus cases across the country. On Wednesday, the French Health Ministry reported that 5,729 people were in the ICU due to COVID-19, the highest number since the early days of the pandemic. President Emmanuel Macron said that he hoped the lockdown would help the number of COVID-19 cases to drop, allowing France to re-open by mid-May. Read more here.APRIL 1Organizers for the Rio Open tennis tournament confirmed on Thursday that the event has been canceled due to COVID-19 spikes throughout Brazil. The tournament was originally scheduled to run from Feb. 15-21 but was postponed because of coronavirus-related concerns. Read more here.MARCH 11More and more states, cities, and communities are opening outdoor and indoor events to paying spectators despite continued COVID-19 concerns. During a Thursday appearance on ESPN's "First Take," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci explained that the existence of at least three coronavirus vaccines should permit growing numbers of fans to safely attend sporting events over the next several months. Read more here.
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Pro wrestling

Pro wrestling news over the past few weeks:JANUARY 11WWE champion Drew McIntyre tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in quarantine. As Joseph Currier of the Wrestling Observer noted, this is the first time that WWE confirmed the identity of a roster member who returned a positive coronavirus test since the start of the pandemic. According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com, multiple wrestling brands that have national television deals are currently dealing with COVID-19 issues. Read more here.SEPTEMER 24Back in March, Roman Reigns decided to opt out of WrestleMania 36 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During an appearance on "WWE After the Bell" with "SmackDown" announcer Corey Graves, Reigns explained his choice, saying that it was entirely based on keeping his family safe. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 2Legendary wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson shared on Instagram that he, his wife, and his two baby daughters all tested positive for the coronavirus. The Rock says they got the virus from close family friends. He said overcoming the virus was harder than recovering from injuries he’s dealt with in the past. Read more here.
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UFC

Here's the latest from the MMA world:APRIL 12"Super" Sage Northcutt (11-3-0) won't fight Shinya Aoki (46-9-0) on the April 28 One Championship show airing on TNT after all. ESPN's Marc Raimondi reported Monday that the popular former top-tier UFC prospect is off the card taking place later this month due to the lingering impacts of a COVID-19 infection. Eduard Folayang (22-8-0), who split two previous contests versus Aoki, is replacing the 25-year-old American once seen as a potential future face of mixed martial arts. Read more here.APRIL 5While speaking on Ariel Helwani's MMA Show, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (22-1-0) revealed that he was hospitalized with pneumonia while battling COVID-19 after he tested positive for the virus on March 19. He had been scheduled to defend his title versus Brian Ortega on March 27 but had the fight scrapped due to his positive result. Read more here.FEBRUARY 18While the UFC and Bellator MMA hosted events in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Professional Fighters League canceled its schedule for the year. That won't be the case in 2021. As Brett Okamoto reported for ESPN, the PFL has confirmed that it raised $65 million in new financing for the upcoming season set to get underway on April 23. Read more here.FEBRUARY 11ESPN's Brett Okamoto confirmed on Thursday that the bout between Khamzat Chimaev (9-0-0) and Leon Edwards (18-3-0) scheduled to take place on March 13 is canceled because Chimaev is still dealing with lingering physical effects caused by COVID-19. Read more here.
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Boxing

What's new in boxing:OCTOBER 8The unified welterweight title fight between champion Errol Spence Jr. and challenger Danny Garcia has been moved to Dec. 5 at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. The bout was originally planned for Nov. 21 at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, but promoters had placed holds on other venues with the hope that spectators could attend despite concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic. Seats for the upcoming boxing event will be sold in "pods" to allow for social distancing. Attendees will be required to wear masks or other face coverings when not actively eating or drinking. Read more here.
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Summer Olympics

The latest from the IOC:MAY 17With the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympics set to begin in less than three months, protests began in the streets of Japan on Monday. People held signs reading "Extinguish the Olympic Torch" and "Cancel the Tokyo Olympics," according to TMZ Sports. The protests come as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Japanese cities, including Tokyo. The rise in cases led the government to extend a state of emergency from May 11 to May 31. Read more here.MAY 11On Monday, tennis living legend Serena Williams suggested she may not compete at the Tokyo Olympics rescheduled from 2020 to this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic if travel restrictions and protocols prevent her three-year-old daughter from joining her in Japan. Ahead of his opening match at the Italian Open in Rome on Tuesday, fellow all-time great Rafael Nadal suggested he also may skip the Olympic tournament. "I don't know yet. Honestly, I can't give you a clear answer because I don't know," Nadal said about competing in Tokyo, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). Read more here.APRIL 15After being postponed a year, the Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to begin in July, but one official said that the games could still be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Toshihiro Nikai, who is the Liberal Democratic Party secretary-general, told the Associated Press that if there is another wave or a rise in new cases, the Olympics would likely need to be pushed back or altogether scrapped. Read more here.
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MLS, NWSL

MLS and NWSL most recent developments:APRIL 23On Friday, LAFC announced the establishment of a fully vaccinated-only section where fans can lock arms, sing, chant and not adhere to social distancing guidelines for Saturday's match against Seattle Sounders FC. Read more here.MARCH 11More and more states, cities, and communities are opening outdoor and indoor events to paying spectators despite continued COVID-19 concerns. During a Thursday appearance on ESPN's "First Take," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci explained that the existence of at least three coronavirus vaccines should permit growing numbers of fans to safely attend sporting events over the next several months. Read more here.
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International soccer

Most recent news from international soccer circles:JUNE 14Wembley Stadium will be allowed to host roughly 45,000 fans for the knockout stages of the ongoing UEFA European Championship. Per the BBC, supporters who attend England's group games during Euro 2020 must show proof they've either received COVID-19 vaccine shots or tested negative for the coronavirus before they enter the venue. Read more here.MAY 31CONMEBOL has suspended this summer's Copa America due to COVID-19 concerns in the host country of Argentina. The South American Football Confederation released a statement Sunday saying it's weighing offers from other countries that have shown interest in hosting the tournament. Read more here.MAY 17Real Madrid confirmed Monday that Toni Kroos tested positive for the coronavirus and won't be available through this weekend's fixtures. Read more here.APRIL 22The German Football League confirmed that the Bundesliga and second-tier 2. Bundesliga will adopt quarantine measures starting May 2 after Hertha Berlin were forced into a two-week quarantine due to a coronavirus outbreak. According to Tom Hamilton of ESPN, players and staff members will only be permitted to leave their homes for training sessions and matches from May 2 through May 11. Starting May 12, personnel will be placed into "quarantine training camps" through the final day of the season scheduled for May 23. The German Football League explained that postponing the completion of the season is off the table due to the upcoming UEFA European Championship that was rescheduled from last year because of the health crisis. Read more here.APRIL 2Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo announced Friday that Weston McKennie, Paulo Dybala and Arthur will not play in Saturday's match against Torino after the trio attended a party at McKennie's home, which was broken up by police, according to ESPN's Andrew Cesare Richardson. Parties are currently prohibited under COVID-19 restrictions in Italy. There is also a curfew in place between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Police responded to the party at McKennie's home at around 11:30 p.m. Read more here.MARCH 18Inter Milan has paused all team activities and postponed an upcoming match against Sassuolo, which was scheduled to be played Saturday, following a COVID-19 outbreak. An official announcement from the club identified Stefan de Vrij and Matias Vecino as testing positive, joining goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and defender Danilo D'Ambrosioand, whose positive results were announced on Wednesday. The team said that the four are quarantined in their homes. Read more here.MARCH 2Brazilian soccer living legend Pele announced via social media on Tuesday that he has received what the Associated Press called his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Pele has been staying in Guaruja since the pandemic first struck Brazil in 2020, but it's unclear where he received the shot. Read more here.FEBRUARY 22Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday that sporting events could be opened to spectators on May 17 barring a spike in coronavirus cases and/or infection rates. Clubs will be able to permit either 10,000 fans or 25% of a venue's capacity, whichever is the lowest figure. Assuming venues can open to customers on May 17, Premier League clubs will welcome supporters for the final day of the season on May 23. This could become a controversial topic, however, as home teams either fighting to avoid relegation or competing for European places in the table will receive one-off morale boosts not enjoyed by most clubs throughout the campaign. Read more here.FEBRUARY 15Martyn Ziegler of The Times reported on Monday that the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals are listed as potential test events for permitting socially distanced spectators to return to sporting events in the spring and summer months. Tottenham Hotspur will face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on April 25, while the FA Cup final is set for May 15. Read more here.
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WNBA

WNBA's latest developments:APRIL 13The 25th WNBA season will have a much more normal feel to it than its 24th. On Tuesday, the WNBA announced the upcoming regular season will begin May 14 and feature the league's 12 teams playing at their home venues. The league will temporarily pause from July 15 through Aug. 11 due to the Summer Olympics, and teams will play a total of 32 games through the final day of the regular season scheduled for Sept. 19. The 2020 campaign was shifted to the bubble site at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fan attendance for upcoming games will be determined and announced by individual clubs, and all teams will follow local health and safety recommendations. Read more here.MARCH 8The Associated Press reported late Sunday night that every eligible player must renounce her remaining intercollegiate eligibility and opt in for the 2021 WNBA Draft if she wishes to enter the league this year. According to the WNBA, the draft is set to occur at some point in April. Per Jack Maloney of CBS Sports, there's still no announced date for the player selection process. Typically, players out of college eligibility are automatically entered in the draft. However, the NCAA granted athletes an extra year of eligibility because of hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The AP added that rules for a player entering but then removing herself from draft eligibility this year remain unclear. Players must opt in by emailing the WNBA no later than April 1. Those competing in the Final Four have up to 48 hours after their final games to inform the league of their draft decisions. Read more here.
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International baseball

What has happened in international baseball:JULY 8During a recent game against the Rakuten Eagles, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks employed 20 dancing robots to liven things up. The two kinds of robots, SoftBank’s humanoid robot ‘Pepper’ and others on four legs, engaged in a choreographed dance to the team’s fight song. Read more here.
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eSports

esports carries on:MAY 19Esports’ popularity has experienced an uptick on both sides of the remote, as CNBC’s Bob Woods reported on May 19 that streaming website Twitch experienced a “23% surge in viewership in March,” coinciding with the time frame when much of the country started to stay home.MAY 4While the pandemic is having a negative effect on the sports world, it’s been business as usual for esports and gaming. Participants can easily play while maintaining social distancing guidelines since gaming takes place online. In fact, esports has been flourishing. Texas A&M head esports coach Travis Yang told KSAT.com that there has been a “noticeable increase” in gamers and tournaments as people were forced to stay at home.
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One-off events

Most recent developments among other sports:AUGUST 21After hoping to allow a decreased percentage of spectators to the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced on Friday afternoon that no fans will be welcomed to the event postponed from May 2 to Sept. 5 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.AUGUST 4Indianapolis Motor Speedway has once again reversed course and declared that the Indianapolis 500 held on Aug. 23 will occur without fans in the stands due to the worsening coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.JULY 1The 2020 Mexico City Marathon announced that the race scheduled for Aug. 30 is canceled. According to Mexico News Daily, the event drew roughly 30,000 runners last year. Read more here.JUNE 26The Indianapolis 500, set for Aug. 23, became the latest American sporting event to welcome fans amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles confirmed the news, stating, "We will be limiting attendance to approximately 50 percent of venue capacity." Per Shanna McCarriston of CBS Sports, Indianapolis Motor Speedway carries a capacity of around 235,000. The official announcement also explained that individuals who do not wish to attend, such as those considered high-risk, will receive credits. Safety items such as masks and hand sanitizer will be distributed to all race attendees. Read more here.JUNE 24The world's largest marathon in New York City has officially been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Jackie Salo of the New York Post. The five-borough race, which hosts more than 50,000 runners from across the globe, would've celebrated its 50th anniversary on Nov. 1. It is now set to take place on Nov. 7, 2021. Read more here.JUNE 23The Haspa Marathon Hamburg, which was postponed from April, is set to occur on Sept. 13. The race is expecting 10,000 to 14,000 runners. However, Americans might not be among thm. Action Network's Darren Rovell reported that runners from "higher-risk COVID areas" will not be allowed to participate. A higher-risk area could include the United States. Read more here.JUNE 13Approximately 20,000 rugby fans in New Zealand packed the stands to watch the Otago Highlanders take on the Waikato Chiefs in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition. New Zealand lifted nearly all of its coronavirus restrictions earlier in the week, as no new cases have been reported for more than 20 days and the death toll is at just 22 in the country since the pandemic started. Read more here.MAY 28The Boston Marathon, originally scheduled for April 20 but postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic, was canceled and converted into a virtual experience. It's the first time in 124 years the Marathon won't run. Read more here.
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Jill Biden touts vaccine in poorly inoculated Mississippi .
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — First lady Jill Biden visited one of the states least vaccinated against COVID-19 on Tuesday, encouraging residents of Mississippi to get their shots and telling them, "The White House, our administration — we care about you.” “I’m here today to ask all of the people who can hear my voice, who can see my face, to get their shot," Biden said after visiting a clinic at Jackson State University, one of the largest historically Black universities in the country. Biden later encouraged people who were getting vaccinated in Nashville, Tennessee, with the help of country singer Brad Paisley later Tuesday evening.