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Gymnastics: Double Olympic silver medallist Louis Smith (picture) has apologised for a leaked video in which he and fellow gymnast Luke Carson appeared to mock Islam. “I am not defending myself, what I did was wrong,” the Briton said on his Twitter page (@louissmith1989). “I want to say sorry for the deep offence I have caused and to my family who have also been affected by my thoughtless actions.” The Sun newspaper had published a clip from the video, taken at a hotel wedding reception, showing the two gymnasts pretending to pray while shouting “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest).
Motorcycling: Ducati MotoGP rider Andrea Iannone will miss this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi on medical advice and will not be replaced, the factory team said in a statement, yesterday. The Italian, eighth overall in the championship, has missed the last two races after suffering a fractured vertebra when he fell in practice for the San Marino Grand Prix in September. Ducati said in a statement that Iannone, who won in Austria in August and is joining Suzuki next season, had checks last week that showed his recovery was going well. There are three MotoGP races re-maining after Japan.
Golf: Tiger Woods has withdrawn from this week’s Safeway Open, delaying his comeback after 14 months out following back surgery. Woods announced on his website yesterday that his game was not sharp enough for him to compete in the PGA Tour event that starts in Napa, California, on Thursday. The 14-times major champion also will not play in next month’s European Tour Turkish Airlines Open event, where he was scheduled to make his second start on the comeback trail. “After a lot of soul searching and honest reflection, I know that I am not yet ready to play on the PGA Tour or compete in Turkey,” he said.
Boxing: Matchroom recruit Luis Ortiz is to fight Malik Scott in Monte Carlo on November 12 in his first fight since joining the British promoters, it was revealed yesterday. The Cuban heavyweight, 37, became Eddie Hearn’s first overseas fighter when recently agreeing to join his stable and will fight for the first time in Europe at Salle des Etoiles. WBA bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell will make the fifth defence of his title there against Venezuela’s former super-flyweight world champion Liborio Solis.
Cricket: England captain Jos Buttler has been given an official reprimand by the International Cricket Council following his reaction to provocation from Bangladesh fielders during the ill-tempered second one-day international in Dhaka. Buttler reacted to what he thought were over-exuberant celebrations from several Bangladesh players on Sunday and a heated confrontation ensued, with umpires forced to intervene by sending the Englishman on his way. Buttler is standing in as captain for Eoin Morgan for the three-match series.