Sports
WADA refutes report it is mulling rule that could bar US officials from LA Olympics
Feb 6, 2026; Milan, ITALY; United States Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance wave American flags during the Opening Ceremony for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Alban/Pool via Imagn Images The World Anti-Doping Agency strongly denied a published report from Friday that said it was considering action to prevent President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other U.S. government officials from attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The Associated Press reported Friday that WADA was seeking to take steps against governments that aren’t up to date on dues payments, topped by a ban of officials from those countries from sporting events. The United States hasn’t paid annual dues since at least 2024 over a dispute regarding the organization’s effectiveness in keeping athletic competition drug-free.
Per the initial report, WADA was scheduled to discuss the topic at its meeting on Tuesday.
WADA published its rebuttal on its website later Friday and didn’t deny that such a rule one day could be implemented. But, the agency said, the “FIFA World Cup, LA and Salt Lake City Games [2034] would not be covered given that the rules would not apply retroactively.”
It added that any such decision would be made by WADA’s Foundation Board, but that group does not meet until November.
The issue first arose under the administration of then-U.S. President Joe Biden and continues under the Trump administration, with government officials of both the Democratic and Republican parties siding against WADA.
The United States has withheld its dues, in part, in protest of WADA’s handling of a group of 23 swimmers from China who tested positive for a banned substance in 2021 but were allowed to compete in the Tokyo Summer Olympics that same year.
“Discussions related to the issue of governments unilaterally withholding funding from WADA have been ongoing since early 2020 and have nothing specifically to do with the U.S.,” WADA said in its statement. “A working group involving representatives of governments, the Sport Movement and WADA was set up in 2022, a period when the U.S. was still paying its annual contribution.”
According to the AP, the United States owes more than $7 million for the past two years alone.
Vance and his wife, Usha, led the U.S. contingent at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games and attended the Opening Ceremony and a variety of competitions to support American athletes.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mathieu Choiniere's brace propels LAFC past St. Louis City SC
Aug 16, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles FC midfielder Mathieu Choiniere (66) reacts after scoring a goal against the New England Revolution during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Mathieu Choiniere’s second-half brace lifted Los Angeles FC to a 2-0 victory over visiting St. Louis City SC on Saturday night.
Hugo Lloris made four saves for his fourth clean sheet as LAFC (4-0-0, 12 points) improved to 5-0-2 in seven all-time MLS matches against St. Louis.
Roman Burki made three saves for St. Louis (0-3-1, 1 point), which has gone three matches without a goal.
Choiniere put LAFC up 1-0 in the 73rd minute, putting his strike between the legs of a St. Louis defender and past a diving Burki.
The Canadian midfielder struck again eight minutes later, putting his curling, right-footed strike past an outstretched Burki.
Prior to Choiniere’s brace, St. Louis had a couple of glorious chances to get on the board.
In the 60th minute, off a LAFC turnover, Marcel Hartel put his right-footed strike over the bar.
Then, four minutes later, off a Hartel corner, Sergio Cordova’s header missed just right of the goal.
The two sides split the first half possession time, and each had a shot on target in a scoreless opening 45 minutes of action.
LAFC’s first quality chance came early as Denis Bouanga, in the area, sailed his strike over the bar in the opening minute.
St. Louis thought it opened the scoring in the 14th minute off a Hartel free kick, which found the back of the net, but a foul on Chris Durkin negated the goal.
Lloris delivered a key save in the 35th minute off Cedric Teuchert’s right-footed strike from just left of the goal.
With five minutes remaining in the opening 45, Nathan Ordaz hit the right post from the middle of the area.
Saturday was the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. LAFC visits St. Louis on May 13.
Both clubs return to MLS action next Saturday — LAFC visits Austin, while St. Louis entertains New England.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Knights dominate Blackhawks behind efforts from Pavel Dorofeyev, Adin Hill
Mar 14, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) celebrates with right wing Mark Stone (61) after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Pavel Dorofeyev scored two goals and had an assist, and Adin Hill made 21 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Vegas Golden Knights moved into first place in the Pacific Division with a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
It was the second straight game of two goals and three points for Dorofeyev. Mark Stone and Mitch Marner each had two assists, and Rasmus Andersson and Keegan Kolesar also scored goals for Vegas, which leapfrogged Anaheim, a 2-0 loser at Ottawa earlier Saturday, into the top spot in the Pacific Division.
It was the 12th career shutout for Hill as the Golden Knights improved to 10-2-1 all-time against Chicago at T-Mobile Arena.
Spencer Knight finished with 28 saves for the Blackhawks, who had a four-game road point streak (2-0-2) snapped.
Vegas scored three times on four shots in the span of 3:27 midway through the first period to take a 3-0 lead.
Dorofeyev started the scoring with a power-play goal at the 8:33 mark, roofing a one-timer from the middle of the right circle past Knight’s glove side.
Andersson made it 2-0 with his 12th goal, a career high. Noah Hanifin picked up the primary assist, zipping a pass from the left corner to Andersson alone in the right circle, where he snapped a wrist shot inside the right post.
Kolesar, stationed in front of the crease, followed 25 seconds later, deflecting Jeremy Lauzon’s shot from the left point over Knight’s left pad.
Vegas increased the lead to 4-0 midway through the second period on another power-play goal by Dorofeyev, who swept in a rebound of a Stone shot into a wide-open right side of the net for his 34th goal this season.
Chicago appeared to get on the board 37 seconds into the third period on a long slap shot by Artyom Levshunov from the right point. But Vegas successfully challenged that the score came after a missed stoppage on a hand pass from Ryan Greene to Connor Bedard.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bobby McMann collects 3 points in delayed debut, Kraken beat Canucks
Mar 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Seattle Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans (41) stick checks Vancouver Canucks forward Drew O’Connor (18) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images Bobby McMann scored twice and had an assist in his debut for his new team as the Seattle Kraken snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory against the host Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.
Matty Beniers had a goal and two assists and Jordan Eberle added three assists with McMann on the No. 1 line.
Jared McCann and Jamie Oleksiak also scored and Brandon Montour had two assists for the Kraken, who remained a point behind San Jose in the chase for the Western Conference’s second and final wild-card playoff berth. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer made 32 saves.
Evander Kane and Marco Rossi scored for the league-worst Canucks, who dropped to 7-21-5 at home this season. Nikita Tolopilo stopped 28 of 33 shots.
McMann, acquired from Toronto at the March 6 trade deadline, had to sit out three straight games while awaiting approval of his visa paperwork.
McMann broke a 1-1 tie on the power play at 19:10 of the first period. His wrist shot from just below the left faceoff dot snuck between Tolopilo’s pads and trickled over the goal line.
McMann scored his 21st goal of the season, surpassing his career high set in 2024-25, on a 3-on-2 rush at 4:14 of the third. Beniers sent the puck to Eberle on the right wing and his cross-slot pass found McMann for a tip-in at the far post to make it 4-1.
The Kraken opened the scoring at 4:12 of the first as McCann snapped a 10-game goalless drought. Montour skated the puck down the right wing and attempted a shot from the corner. Tolopilo made the save, but the rebound kicked right back to Montour, who went behind the net and spotted McCann alone in the slot for a one-timer.
Kane tied the score at 11:42 of the period on a breakaway. Kane deked Grubauer and lifted a backhander into the roof of the net.
Oleksiak tallied the lone goal of the second period at 5:06, joining the rush and taking a pass from Beniers in the high slot before beating Tolopilo with a wrist shot high to the glove side.
Beniers scored at 9:58 of the third, beating Tolopilo from the low slot after taking Eberle’s pass from behind the net.
Rossi capped the scoring at 19:40 of the third on a rebound after Grubauer stopped a breakaway.
The Kraken flew into Vancouver on Saturday morning after a snowstorm prevented them from traveling the previous day.
–Field Level Media
