KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Kim Clijsters is planning to avoid Japan because of radiation fears since an earthquake and a tsunami crippled a nuclear plant there.
Clijsters told Belgian media on Tuesday that she wouldn’t go to the WTA tournament in Tokyo in September nor to one in Beijing the following month. The WTA released a statement from Clijsters on Wednesday.
“Most important, my thoughts and sympathies are with the people in Japan,” she said in the statement. “It’s heart-wrenching to see what they’re going through right now. Of course the health and safety of anyone traveling to a potentially impacted area is my top priority as well as the WTA’s, and I know that the WTA will continue to monitor the situation.”
Radiation has seeped into vegetables, raw milk, the water supply and seawater since a magnitude-9 quake and resultant tsunami hit the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant nearly two weeks ago.
The World Health Organization said last week that the radiation was unlikely to spread internationally.
• Japan is still considering a bid to host the 2020 Olympics despite the triple blow caused by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear radiation crisis, a senior national Olympic committee official said.
The Japanese Olympic Committee said it was “very surprised” at the recent comments made by Italian IOC member Mario Pescante, who said he was told by Japan’s ambassador in Rome that Japan had decided not to pursue a bid because of the disasters.
“The JOC is considering the 2020 bid. We (have) not changed our policy,” Yasuhiro Nakamori, the JOC’s international relations director, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
Wings put Osgood on injured list
DETROIT — Detroit has placed Chris Osgood on the injured list, but the goalie could return from a nagging groin injury before the end of the regular season.
Osgood had surgery in January for a hernia and was expected to be out six to eight weeks. He was hoping to play on March 12, but had a setback.
Footnotes.
Longtime former NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer has been hired as head coach and general manager of the Virginia Destroyers of the UFL. . . . Usain Bolt will race Asafa Powell at the Golden Gala meet in Rome in a matchup of the 100-meter world record holder against his Jamaican teammate. Meet organizers announced Powell’s participation for the race on May 26. Bolt had confirmed in January. . . . A new NCAA rule will require all Division I schools to designate a staff member who can answer questions about dietary supplements and banned drugs. The new rule takes effect Aug. 1. . . . The Utah Jazz played without starting point guard Devin Harris (right hamstring) on Wednesday night, then lost forward Andrei Kirilenko to a left knee injury in the second quarter. The Jazz said X-rays on Kirilenko’s knee were negative but he would not play in the second half because of a bruised peroneal nerve. . . . Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love will not make the team’s upcoming two-game road trip because of an injured left groin.
The Associated Press
