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sports Tuesday 26 July 2022
MLB players' union rejects international draft proposal

By RONALD BLUM better educational oppor-
NEW YORK (AP) — The play- tunities, while enhancing
ers' association rejected transparency to best ad-
what Major League Base- dress the root causes of
ball called its final offer for corruption in the current
an international draft, a system," MLB said in a state-
move that will keep direct ment.
draft-pick compensation in An amateur draft was es-
place for free agents and tablished for residents of
likely limit the market for the United States and Can-
some older players. ada in 1965 and extended
The union announced its to residents of U.S. territories
decision about eight hours such as Puerto Rico in 1990.
before Monday's midnight MLB has pushed for a simi-
EDT deadline for an agree- lar international amateur
ment, timing specified in draft, saying part of its ra-
the March 10 lockout set- tionale was to combat illicit
tlement. agreements made before
"Each of our proposals was players are age eligible —
focused on protecting either 16 or 15 if the player
against the scenario that turns 16 later in the signing
all players fear the most — MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during the 2022 MLB baseball draft, Sunday, July 17, 2022, period.
the erosion of our game on in Los Angeles. MLB proposed last July 28
the world stage, with inter- Associated Press that a 2024 international
national players becoming draft include spending of
the latest victim in base- the World Series to a free tional signing bonus pool Rizzo, J.D. Martinez, Chris $181 million for the top 600
ball's prioritization of effi- agent who has been with allotment. Sale and Charlie Morton. players and $190 million in
ciency over fundamental the team since opening Some older players have Top players have found total, up from $166 million in
fairness," the union said in day, a one-year contract found their market less- robust markets. This year's the 2021 signing period.
a statement. "The league's for the average of the top ened because of the com- group is headed by Aaron Players waited until early
responses fell well short 125 deals by average an- pensation. Craig Kimbrel Judge, Jacob deGrom this July to make a coun-
of anything players could nual value. Last year's fig- and Dallas Keuchel de- and Trea Turner . teroffer. They proposed a
consider a fair deal." ure was $18.4 million. layed signing in 2019 until "We are disappointed the draft be allocated $260
The decision keeps in place If a player rejects a quali- June, after the draft pick MLBPA chose the status million for the 2024 signing
until December 2026 a sys- fying offer and signs else- compensation no longer quo over transitioning to period, with teams having
tem of qualifying offers for where, the signing team is was attached. an international draft that to guarantee slot values
free agents that began in subject to a loss of one or Among the older players would have guaranteed while having the flexibility
2012. A club can make a two amateur draft picks eligible for free agency af- future international players to exceed them within bo-
qualifying offer following and a reduction in interna- ter this season are Anthony larger signing bonuses and nus pools.q

Nigerian Amusan gets world record on wild night in hurdles

By EDDIE PELLS now has a place in history gest race. Florence Griffith-
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — First as a champion, record- Joyner ran her still-standing
she set the record. Then she holder and main character record 10.49 in the 100 me-
won the medal. in a most unusual night. ters in a prelim at the 1988
Even if the order was awk- The mark surpassed the Olympic trials.
ward, Sunday night at six-year-old record held by "I believe in my abilities but
world championships was American Keni Harrison by I was not expecting a world
beautiful for Nigerian hur- .08. record at these champion-
dler Tobi Amusan. "Unbelievable," said Swit- ships," Amusan said. "The
She won the 100-meter hur- zerland's Noemi Zbaren, goal is always just to exe-
dles title about 90 minutes who watched the record cute well and get the win."
after she opened the final while she was waiting for Amusan went to college at
session of the champion- her own semifinal. "I had Texas El-Paso. A person fa-
ships by breaking the world goosebumps when I saw it miliar with her career told
record in her semifinal heat in the call room." The Associated Press she
with a time of 12.12 sec- Back on the track for the fi- had been training partners
onds. nal, Amusan won the gold with another Nigerian UTEP Gold medalist Tobi Amusan, of Nigeria, poses during a medal
ceremony for the women's 100-meter hurdles at the World Ath-
"When I watched the re- medal in an even faster alum, Blessing Okagbare. letics Championships on Sunday, July 24, 2022, in Eugene, Ore.
cord, I was like 'Whoa, who time — 12.06 seconds, but Okagbare is currently serv- Associated Press
did that?'" Amusan said of the wind was too strong, so ing an 11-year ban for
her reaction upon seeing that didn't go down as yet multiple doping violations, on condition of anonym- through over the years.
her time pop up on the another record. stemming from a federal in- ity because Amusan is not She's been fourth twice,"
scoreboard. For the earlier race, she vestigation into an El Paso connected to that case. said Jamaica's Danielle
It was a strange sequence received a $100,000 bo- doctor who is accused After her history-making Williams. "I know it's not an
of events for the 25-year- nus for setting the mark at of distributing human- night, there was nothing easy position. She's been
old, who finished fourth at worlds. growth hormone and other but appreciation for the close to throwing (in) the
the Tokyo Games last year It's rare, but not unheard banned substances. new record holder and towel. To see her come out
and fourth at the last world of, for a track athlete to set The person providing the in- new world champion. here and do this right now,
championships in 2019, and a record before the big- formation to the AP spoke "I know what Tobi has gone it's amazing."q