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sports Diabierna 19 augustus 2022

How a pair of Hollywood stars powered a Welsh soccer team

(AP) — In February 2021, with two of Hollywood's more obsessed with Wrex-
actors Ryan Reynolds biggest stars hoping to bring ham and its possible promo-
and Rob McElhenney footballing success back to tion than I am."
took over Wrexham As- the town.
sociation Football Club, a The decision to document
small team from the north Reynolds has fallen head- their journey as owners of a
of Wales, and now they're over-heels in love with the football club was a no-brain-
releasing a documentary beautiful game — so much er.
about their journey. so that he schedules his life "It's Always Sunny in Phila-
around Wrexham matches. delphia" star McElhenney
"Welcome to Wrexham," "I am so obsessed with this sees "sports as storytelling,"
which premieres on FX on sport now that I actually and the pair wanted to put
Aug. 24, begins with the ini- hate this sport. Like, I wish Wrexham on the world stage,
tial late-night conversation it didn't occupy my every aiming to help broaden the
between the actors where the thought," jokes the "Dead- club's horizons thanks to
idea was formed, and fast for- pool" actor. their collective fame.
wards to them standing with incredibly helpful." and its owners? Saturday's
the club's fans in the terraces Luckily, his wife, Blake Live- Initially Reynolds and McEl- match and a chance to move
cheering on the team they ly, shares his new interest henney had very little experi- The pair join other celebrities up from the bottom third of
now co-own. — despite her initial worries ence and knowledge of foot- who have invested or lend the table.
about Reynold's purchase. ball but, with a little bit of their fame to soccer teams, a
Wrexham are the third old- help from their friend David list that includes Elton John, "I'm scheduling the time so
est football team in the world Reynolds said when he pur- Beckham, they are now ex- Robert Plant, Will Ferrell, I can make sure I'm uninter-
and play in the English Na- chased the club, his wife's perts on the sport. Reynolds Kate Upton, Eva Longoria, rupted and I can just focus on
tional League, the fifth tier reaction was "Wait? What?!" describes the former football Matthew McConaughey and Wrexham," says Reynolds. "I
of professional soccer. The — but now she's as a bigger star as the "nicest man in the Natalie Portman. am living for our match on
show hops from Hollywood fan than he is. "She's obsessed world," who gave them both Saturday."
to Wales, from pitch to pub, with Wrexham, she may be "a lot of tips that have been Next up for Wrexham AFC

Nairo Quintana withdraws from Vuelta to prepare his defense

Grand Tour race was sched- defense." ing the substance during his
uled to start. Quintana was career. Quintana said he and
already in the Netherlands The 32-year-old Quintana, his lawyers would do every-
for Friday's first stage. He the 2016 Vuelta champion, thing possible to show his in-
had initially said he would was set to lose the sixth-place nocence. They would be ap-
still compete in the Vuelta finish he achieved last month pealing the case to the Court
despite Wednesday's notifica- at the Tour de France, though of Arbitration for Sport.
tion from the International he was not banned from oth-
Cycling Union about his dis- er races. The UCI said it was Quintana's case is among the
qualification from the Tour not a doping violation. first in world sports to rely on
de France. the dried blood spot method
Traces of the synthetic pain- of collecting samples which
"A few hours have passed killer tramadol were found in the World Anti-Doping
and I've been able to reflect," two dried blood spot samples Agency approved last year.
Quintana said on his social taken from Quintana during
media accounts. "Right now the Tour on July 8 and 13, the Tramadol was banned in
I don't have the mind or the UCI said. 2019 from use during cycling
(AP) — Colombian cyclist Tour de France for misuse body to compete even though competitions because of the
Nairo Quintana withdrew of an opioid banned dur- I had said that I would be Quintana said he would re- potential side effects.
from the Spanish Vuelta ing races. participating in the Spanish turn to competition at the Quintana finished second at
on Thursday to defend Vuelta. I'm still not in condi- end of the season. He had said the Tour de France in 2013
himself against his dis- The announcement came a tion. I prefer to return home he was surprised with the test and 2015. He also won the
qualification from the day before the three-week to organize and prepare my results and denied ever us- 2014 Giro d'Italia.

Chelsea investigates incident

of alleged racist abuse

(AP) — Chelsea has start- from the club," Chelsea said
ed an investigation into an of the supporter.
incident of alleged racist
abuse during its Premier Chelsea said it finds any form
League match against of discriminatory behavior
Tottenham last weekend, "totally abhorrent."
the club said Thursday. "Chelsea has consistently
made its zero-tolerance po-
Tottenham forward Son sition on discriminatory be-
Heung-min was reportedly havior very clear," the club
abused by a supporter while said, "yet there are still idiots
he took a corner during the like this that attach them-
second half of the 2-2 draw selves to this club as so-called
on Sunday. 'fans,' which shames Chelsea,
"If identified, this individual our coaches, players, staff
will face the strongest action and our true supporters."