SPORTS HEADLINES

Venezuela beats US 3-2 on Suárez’s 9th-inning double to win first World Baseball Classic title

MIAMI (AP) — Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic for the first time, rebounding from a blown eighth-inning lead to beat the United States 3-2 on Eugenio Suárez’s tiebreaking double in the ninth. Maikel Garcia’s third-inning sacrifice fly and Wilyer Abreu’s fifth-inning homer off rookie Nolan McLean built a 2-0 lead before a roaring pro-Latin America crowd in Miami. Eduardo Rodríguez and lights-out relievers limited the Americans to two hits before Bryce Harper’s two-out, two-run homer in the eighth tied it. Daniel Palencia retired the side in order in the ninth, finishing a three-hitter.

Broncos get star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from Dolphins in a blockbuster trade, AP sources say

The Denver Broncos have acquired standout wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in a blockbuster deal that sends three draft picks to the Miami Dolphins, including a first-rounder, according to two people with knowledge of the trade. Both spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced. The Dolphins will receive the 30th-overall pick in next month’s NFL draft along with picks in the third and fourth rounds. Denver will get Miami’s fourth-rounder along with Waddle. Waddle gives Bo Nix another main playmaker along with Courtland Sutton, boosting a passing offense that finished 11th in the NFL last season.

WADA delays decision over potential ban of Trump from major sporting events until after World Cup

The World Anti-Doping Agency has put off a decision about barring government officials from major sporting events if their countries voluntarily withhold dues. Tuesday’s move pushes a potential showdown with President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials until at least after this summer’s World Cup. The WADA executive committee met and said it would consider the new rule in September, two months after the end of the World Cup, which the U.S. is hosting along with Canada and Mexico. If such a rule is adopted later this year, it would presumably go into effect before the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

Iran wants to move its World Cup matches from US to Mexico. FIFA is sticking to its schedule

GENEVA (AP) — Iran’s Embassy in Mexico has suggested the country is negotiating with FIFA to move Iran’s World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico after President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending the tournament, citing safety concerns. FIFA says it is in regular contact with the Iran soccer federation and it is not changing the match schedule announced last December. Iranian officials have previously said it is up to FIFA and the U.S. to keep the team safe during the World Cup. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was asked about it Tuesday. She said “We’ll see what FIFA decides.”

Freshman stars Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and Darius Acuff Jr. picked for AP All-America first team

Duke forward Cameron Boozer is a unanimous first-team All-American in college basketball in voting released by The Associated Press. He was joined on the first team by fellow freshmen AJ Dybantsa of BYU and Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas, Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg and JT Toppin of Texas Tech. Braden Smith of Purdue headlined the second team after he was a first-team choice last season and an honorable mention pick in 2023-24. Graham Ike of Gonzaga was a third-team pick after he was honorable mention two years ago. Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries gave Arizona two honorable mention picks this season.

Howard gets its first March Madness win, holding off UMBC 86-83 in the First Four

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Bryce Harris had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and he sank a turnaround jumper with 13 seconds remaining that sent Howard to its first NCAA Tournament victory in program history, 86-83 over UMBC in the First Four. Ose Okojie scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Bison, who entered with an 0-4 record in March Madness and had to hold off a late rally by the Retrievers. Howard heads to Buffalo, New York, to play top-seeded Michigan as the No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region. Jah’Likah King scored 19 points and DJ Armstrong Jr. had 17 for UMBC.

Aden Holloway, Alabama’s No. 2 scorer, had 2.1 pounds of marijuana when arrested, authorities say

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Authorities found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in Alabama basketball star Aden Holloway’s apartment when they arrested him Monday on a felony drug charge. That’s according to court records released Tuesday. The Crimson Tide’s No. 2 scorer has been suspended indefinitely and is away from the team as it prepares to face Hofstra on Friday in the NCAA Tournament. Holloway’s attorney, Jason Neff, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. But Neff told ESPN that it could take 18 months for the case to make its way through the Alabama courts. That would jeopardize Holloway’s college and possible NBA career.

Ruling overturns Senegal’s title at Africa Cup of Nations and declares Morocco the champion

GENEVA (AP) — Morocco was stunningly awarded the Africa Cup of Nations title by appeals judges who overturned Senegal’s victory in a chaotic final in January. The Confederation of African Football says its appeals board ruled Senegal is “declared to have forfeited the Final” and its 1-0 win in extra time becomes a 3-0 default win for host nation Morocco. In the Jan. 18 final in Rabat, Senegal left the field in protest during stoppage time for 15 minutes, and fans tried to storm the field when Morocco was awarded a penalty.

Shohei Ohtani will return to mound for Dodgers in spring training game Wednesday against Giants

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to make his first pitching appearance in spring training on Wednesday for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Francisco Giants. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also said Ohtani will be the designated hitter Friday against the San Diego Padres, as the two-way Japanese star works to get ready for opening day on March 26. Ohtani recently returned to Dodgers camp at Camelback Ranch after Japan was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. The four-time Most Valuable Player didn’t pitch for Japan at the WBC, but did throw off the mound in bullpen sessions.

Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl out for the rest of the regular season because of injury

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Standout Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl is expected to miss the rest of the NHL regular season because of what the team called a lower-body injury. Draisaitl left a game Sunday against Nashville after getting bumped hard by the Predators’ Ozzy Wiesblatt and did not return. It was not immediately clear what the injury was or whether Draisaitl will miss any time once the playoffs begin. The 30-year-old from Germany ranks fourth in the league in scoring with 97 points in 65 games. Draisaitl won the Hart Trophy as MVP in 2020 and was the runner-up last season.