Formula One: The Lotus Formula One team announced that a consortium of private investors, including an American hedge fund manager and an Abu Dhabi-based multinational business group, had acquired a 35 per cent stake. The British-based team said that Infinity Racing Partners Limited had joined Luxembourg-based Genii Capital, who retain the remaining 65 per cent through an investment vehicle, as shareholders. Genii’s head Gerard Lopez will continue as chairman of what was formerly the championship-winning Renault team before it changed its name.
Athletics: Olympic double sprint silver medallist Yohan Blake will only run in the 100 metres at the World Athletics Cham-pionships in Moscow after he withdrew from this weekend’s Jamaican national championships. Blake suffered a hamstring injury in April and due to fitness issues was withdrawn from the Jamaican championships, his manager Cubie Seegobin told reporters. “Yohan’s coach is not satisfied with the progress of his injury and hence his level of fitness will not allow him to compete at (the nationals) this time,” Seegobin was quoted as saying.
Rugby Union: Hulking Welsh winger George North has been declared fit for the British and Irish Lions’ first test against Australia, providing a welcome boost for the tourists after Tuesday’s shock loss to the ACT Brumbies. North, who was nursing a hamstring strain, passed a fitness test to make himself available for the first test at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. “I’ve never seen him in better shape and he’s available for selection, which is a huge fillip for us,” Lions assistant coach Rob Howley told reporters in Brisbane.
American Football: Massachusetts State Police searched the home of New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez this week as part of a probe into a suspected homicide, according to ABC News. Hernandez was initially uncooperative with police after the body of a 27-year-old man was found in an industrial park near his home in North Attleborough on Monday. A police spokesman confirmed there was a homicide investigation under way but declined to give further details.
Golf: Spanish golfer Jose Maria Olazabal has won the Iberian nation’s most prestigious sports award, the Prince of Asturias prize, after he captained Europe’s Ryder Cup team to a stunning win against United States last year. “One of the best golfers in history, with two Masters titles at Augusta and four Ryder Cup wins, a competition in which he also showed his leadership qualities, as captain helping the Europe team to an epic comeback in 2012,” the jury said in announcing their decision. The 47-year-old Olazabal was a “worthy successor” to his great friend and com-patriot Seve Ballesteros, who won the award in 1989, they added.
Snooker: Stephen Lee will face a disciplinary hearing into allegations of match-fixing in September after facing criticism from snooker’s world governing body for holding up the case. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) said former world number five Lee had caused “significant delays” to the hearing, which will be undertaken by the London-based body Sport Resolutions. Lee, who has protested his innocence, was told he had a “case to answer” in February after he was alleged to have breached WPBSA rules in matches at four tournaments, including the 2009 World Championship.