Lawsuit challenges NCAA rules capping the value of athletic scholarships

Lawyers representing a former West Virginia running back have filed a proposed class-action suit against the NCAA and its five most powerful conferences, alleging they violated antitrust laws by agreeing to cap the value of athletic scholarships below the actual cost of attending school and “far below” what the free market would produce.

The suit by former West Virginia football player Shawne Alston names, the NCAA, SEC, ACC, Big 12, Pac-12 and Big Ten as defendants. The case seeks to represent former Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship football players who have played within those conferences since February 2010.

Peace and Sport targeting refugee camps for new projects

Peace and Sport, the global initiative set up in 2007 by Olympian Joël Bouzou, will soon be operating within refugee camps around the world.

The former modern pentathlon world champion told insidethegames that projects already running in troubled countries such as Haiti, East Timor and Colombia would soon be supplemented by sporting initiatives in refugee camps intended to bring young people together through sport.

Sam, Collins, and the “Further Coarsening of America”

Michael Sam showed his wares in the NFL meat market, rather the National Football League Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Jason Collins played basketball for the Brooklyn Nets and the sun still rose in the east and set in the west and the earth still orbits the Sun. Life for the average person hasn’t changed at all because two gay athletes are working at their chosen careers.

But having Sam and Collins at work was supposed to upset the balance of the universe. At least that was the thought of some people. Sam’s Indianapolis appearance has caused one K Street lobbyist to find Congressional members to come up with a bill that would make sure Sam would never play in the NFL.

WADA set to investigate claims Russians used performance enhancing gas at Sochi 2014

Claims Russian athletes used xenon gas during the Sochi 2014 Olympics, which is said to increase the levels of erythropoietin (EPO) in the body, is to be investigated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Academic studies suggest using the gas artificially increases EPO in the blood, which is forbidden under WADA rules.

Sebastian Coe: Success of Winter Games can only be judged over next decade

The plane home from the Winter Olympics arcs out over the coast of Sochi, framed by snow-covered mountains on a cloudless, 15-degree day, I guess those characteristics alone meant these Games were always going to be different.
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Laureus World Sports Academy

I am extremely excited to hear that the United Nations has approved an official day to celebrate the power of sport to promote peace and unity.
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United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace

Sport is irrefutably one of the world’s most popular activities. It is often described as a universal language that can connect and unite groups and communities. Sport has the capacity to empower individuals, and bring one’s moral values to the forefront. In addition, sport has the power to draw large audiences. This enables sport to play a strategic role in transferring life skills and communicating useful and encouraging messages on important issues, thus driving social change.
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The Sport Digest

Published by the United States Sports Academy