Die Allianz T-D-P » Games.Stepanova and

CONCORD, N.C. -- John Force won the Countdown-opening NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway for his 146th career victory and third of the season.The 67-year-old Force, a 16-time season champion, powered his Chevy Camaro Funny Car to a 3.946-second run at 324.05 mph to beat No. 1 qualifier Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final.Force also beat Dave Richards, Tim Wilkerson and Ron Capps.Antron Brown won the Top Fuel final for his 59th career victory and fifth of the season. He had a 3.763 at 319.29 to beat Doug Kalitta. Brown also won last year in Concord en route to the season title.Jason Line won in Pro Stock, and Chip Ellis in Pro Stock Motorcycle.Line raced to his eighth victory of the season, topping teammate Greg Anderson with a 6.621 at 209.39 in a Camaro. Ellis had a 6.879 at 194.88 in a Buell to beat Andrew Hines.Arizona Diamondbacks Pro Shop . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. Fake Diamondbacks Jerseys . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. https://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.us/ . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Custom Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less. Arizona Diamondbacks Shirts . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford.One of the most high-profile whistleblowers on the international anti-doping front believes cyclings problems could linger for another decade or more and isnt sure sports will ever reach a point where clean competition is guaranteed.Frankie Andreu, who blew the whistle on teammate Lance Armstrong years before Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, said cheating goes on in every corner of society and that sports should hope for continued strengthening of anti-doping programs to keep cheating at a minimum.In an interview with the World Anti-Doping Agency, Andreu lauded both WADA and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for trying to provide safe haven for whistleblowers to speak out when they see cheating.If theyre going to point something out, they dont want to feel like theyre out there by themselves and theyre thrown to the wolves and theyre going to start getting attacked every individual way, Andreu said.Andreus interview was released Thursday, the same day that Sebastian Coe, president of tracks world governing body, the IAAF, called now a golden opportunity for whistleblowers to step up.Yulia Stepanova, the Russian middle-distance runner who exposed secrets about the deep-rooted culture of doping in her home country, received assistance from anti-doping agencies in moving to an undisclosed home in the United States for her protection.dddddddddddd The IAAF allowed her to race in Europe this week as a neutral competitor and the International Olympic Committee is looking at clearing the way for her to do the same at the Rio Games.Stepanova and her husband, Vitaly, gave information that led to the IAAFs ban of the Russian track team from the Rio Olympics. They are portrayed as courageous heroes, and also examples of the impact whistleblowers can have on international sports.Andreu and his wife, Betsy, received much different treatment when they started speaking out against Armstrong in 2005, in part because of the cyclists worldwide popularity and the sway he held over his sport. They were ostracized by Armstrong, his team and others. It took years for USADA to get other cyclists to corroborate their stories.Andreu, who said making the Olympics was one of his greatest accomplishments, believes cycling has made positive changes, but has far to go before it can be considered a truly clean sport.Its just a shame that everything that went on in the 1990s is going to cast its spell for another 10 or 15 years, he said. ' ' '