Bruins’ Rinaldo draws five-game suspension
Boston Bruins forward Zac Rinaldo has been suspended for five games without pay due to an illegal check to the head, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday.
The incident occurred in Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning when Rinaldo delivered the check to the head of Tampa Bay forward Cedric Paquette.
Rinaldo received a minor penalty for the first-period incident.
He drew the suspension for being a repeat offender and will forfeit $51,829. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Boston also recalled forward Noel Acciari from the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League. Acciari, 24, had 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 42 games for Providence.
Minnesota suspends three players
Three Minnesota players were suspended Tuesday for the remainder of the season after a video with sexual content was posted to freshman guard Kevin Dorsey’s social media accounts.
Dorsey, sophomore guard Nate Mason and freshman guard Dupree McBrayer will not rejoin the team this season, coach Richard Pitino announced in a statement, saying the decision was made after careful consideration.
At 18.8 points per game, Mason is Minnesota’s leading scorer this season. Dorsey and McBrayer were contributors off the bench.
“I believe this is the best thing for the basketball program as we strive to build a strong and respectful culture each and every day,” Pitino said.
According to reports, none of the players face criminal charges.
Interim athletic director Beth Goetz backed Pitino’s decision.
“The privilege of representing the University of Minnesota comes with great responsibility, and we hold all of our student-athletes accountable,” Goetz said.
Male boxers to abandon headgear at Rio Games after 32 years
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — For the first time in 32 years male boxers will be able trade punches without any headgear at this year’s Rio Games after the International Olympic Committee sanctioned a change introduced by world boxing federation AIBA.
AIBA adopted the change for amateur fighters some three years ago but needed to bring it to the IOC Executive Board, which noted it without objection on Tuesday, essentially rubber-stamping the decision and clearing the way for Rio.
The IOC said AIBA had presented medical research that showed concussions were less likely to occur without headgear than with.
“AIBA provided medical and technical data that showed the number of concussions is lower without headgear,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. “They have done a lot of research in the last three years. The rule will go ahead for Rio.”
Women boxers, who first competed at the 2012 Olympics, will continue wearing their protective gear.
FIU suspends coach after player alleges sexual misconduct
Florida International women’s basketball coach Marlin Chinn was suspended by the school on Tuesday after team captain Destini Feagin accused him of sexual misconduct.
Feagin was recently suspended for four games by Chinn and she claims she was suspended for spurning the coach’s sexual advances.
Florida International issued a statement that said an investigation is underway.
“FIU is conducting an investigation into allegations made against coach Marlin Chinn,” the statement said. “Based on the allegations, the university has suspended coach Chinn, pending the outcome of the investigation. Because this is an ongoing investigation, the university will not provide additional comments at this time.”
Chinn, 45, is in his first season as coach.