Sports round-up

Athletics: Controversial 400 metres runner John Steffensen will be investigated for bringing the sport into disrepute after having his claim of racial vilification against Athletics Australia thrown out by the body yesterday. The former Commonwealth champion, born in Perth to South African parents, made the accusation prior to the 2012 London Olympics after Steve Solomon earned selection ahead of Steffensen, who had beaten his teenage opponent in the trials.

Baseball: Ichiro Suzuki signed a two-year contract with the New York Yankees on Wednesday , giving the Japanese outfielder a chance to crack 3,000 career Major League Baseball hits while wearing Yankee pinstripes. The deal allows the Yankees to keep a 39-year-old standout who has been a 10-time All-Star in 12 seasons.

Cycling: Russian cyclist Denis Galimzyanov, who won the Paris-Brussels race in 2011, has been suspended for two years for doping yesterday. The UCI said the ban for the Katusha team sprinter would be backdated to April 13 this year. Galimzyanov tested positive for the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) in March and was suspended by the world body.

Basketball, NBA: Carmelo Anthony returned from a two-game absence with a sprained left ankle by scoring 31 points to power the New York Knicks over the Brooklyn Nets 100-86. Anthony injured his ankle in a fall last week in a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers and sat out last Saturday’s victory over Cleveland and a 109-96 home loss on Monday to Houston Rockets.