Motor Sport: Police in Delaware said they are investigating an allegation of domestic assault made against star NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, but his lawyer called the accusation a “complete fabrication.” Busch, 36, won the NASCAR championship in 2004 and has won 25 races including one this year. Police in Dover, the state capital, declined to give any details about the alleged incident or the accuser. Busch’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said in a statement that Busch “expects to be vindicated when the entire truth of the situation comes to light.” The National Football League has been rocked by a recent series of domestic violence allegations against star players Ray Rice, Greg Hardy and Adrian Peterson, who was also represented by Hardin.
Basket, NBA: LeBron James contends there was no exchange of words with team-mate Kyrie Irving after Cleveland Cavaliers’ loss to Portland last week. James, who returned to the Cavs in summer after four seasons with Miami Heat, said he is developing a relationship with Irving. “Those reports are untrue,” James said. “We have not had a verbal exchange. But I understand that negativity sells and no one wants to hear a good story. Those reports are not true. They’re very false.”
Badminton: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have confirmed the ‘B’ sample of one of their national team members returned a positive test for a banned substance. Local media reacted with shock to reports in recent weeks that world number one Lee Chong Wei was the player who tested positive for a banned anti-inflammatory drug at the world championships in Copenhagen in August and faced the prospect of a two-year ban. Lee travelled to Norway to witness the follow up test last week but at yesterday’s news conference, BAM exercised their right to withhold the identity of the player involved ahead of a planned appeal.
Snooker: Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Ding Junhui 6-4 to reach the final of the Champion of Champions at the Ricoh Arena, in Coventry, yesterday. The Rocket will face Judd Trump or Neil Robertson over 19 frames today with the winner to take the £100,000 first prize. After sharing the first two frames, O’Sullivan took the next two to lead 3-1 at the interval. China’s Ding knocked in breaks of 88 and 111 to recover to 3-3 before O’Sullivan regained the lead with a 105. Ding won a scrappy eighth for 4-4, but O’Sullivan stepped up a gear at the key moment with 91 and 125 to win the last two frames in style.