Sports News Roundup: WADA sure Russia will meet deadline; Big Ben never heard back from Bell

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

New ATP Cup is no 'land grab' says Tour chief Kermode

Men's Tour chief Chris Kermode rejected suggestions of an ATP "land grab" when launching a new $15 million team competition to start in Australia in January 2020. Details of the ATP Cup, as it will be known, were revealed at a news conference at London's O2 Arena on Thursday where Kermode was joined by Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley and world number one Novak Djokovic.

WADA head sure Russia will meet anti-doping deadline

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President Sir Craig Reedie said on Thursday he was confident Russia would not miss a year-end deadline to hand over data from its suspended laboratory, a condition for its anti-doping agency (RUSADA) to stay accredited. RUSADA was suspended in 2015 after a WADA-commissioned report found evidence of widespread, state-sponsored doping in Russian athletics. Moscow has vehemently denied the allegations.

Grappling with taboos, Iraqi women join wrestling squad

The toughest fight that Iraqi freestyle wrestler Alia Hussein ever faced was convincing her family that women should be allowed to grapple. The 26-year-old student was a keen cyclist and basketball player but when she told her family last year that she wanted to try her hand at the physical world of wrestling she was met with abuse.

Biathlon: IBU wants lab data, increased testing to reinstate Russia

The Russian Biathlon Union was on Thursday issued with a set of criteria, including increased drugs tests and granting access to Moscow lab data, which it must fulfil to be reinstated as a full member of the sport's international federation. The RBU, currently a provisional International Biathlon Union member following a major doping scandal, was not given a deadline but a working group will be set up to monitor progress, IBU President Olle Dahlin told a conference call.

Thiem keeps hopes alive with belated ATP Finals win

Dominic Thiem claimed his first win of the week at the ATP Finals as he beat Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-1 6-4 to stay mathematically alive at the O2 Arena on Thursday. The Austrian, beaten by Kevin Anderson and Roger Federer in his opening two round-robin matches, knew only a straight sets victory would suffice and he delivered with a positive display.

NFL notebook: Big Ben never heard back from Bell

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger revealed Wednesday that he texted Le'Veon Bell ahead of the Tuesday deadline for Bell to sign his $14.5 million tenders or sit out the season, but never heard back from the running back. "I was hoping he was going to show up, and if he decided not to I (wished) him nothing but the best," Roethlisberger told reporters at his locker. "He was a great teammate and football player. To each their own on what they want to walk away from."

Golf: Koepka shrugs off poor start at Dunlop Phoenix as Oda leads

World number one Brooks Koepka shrugged off a mediocre start that left him three shots off the first-round lead at the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Japan on Thursday, the American confident he has enough time to make up the deficit. The two-time defending champion of the Japan Golf Tour event was nowhere near his best but nonetheless eked out a reasonable two-under-par 69 at Phoenix Country Club in Miyazaki.

Golf: Molinari retains control in Race to Dubai

Italy's Francesco Molinari kept his grip on the European Tour's season-defining crown despite two late bogeys in a four-under-par 68 that kept him within two shots of the lead on day one of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Thursday. Molinari, who will secure the Race to Dubai title if he finishes in a two-way tie for fifth or better at Jumeirah Golf Estates this week, exuded a sense of calm as he chalked up three birdies on the front nine.

Swimming: Turin meet canceled after pressure from world body

A new professional swimming event scheduled for Turin in December has been cancelled after world body FINA threatened sanctions against those taking part, the Italian federation said on Thursday. The swimswam.com website reported that organizers of the meet had failed to give FINA the required six months notice for international events. There was no immediate response from FINA to a Reuters request for comment.

NBA: King James rules over Chamberlain, set to conquer Jordan next

LeBron James took another milestone in his stride as he passed Wilt Chamberlain to become the fifth most prolific scorer in National Basketball Association (NBA) history on Wednesday. James blew past Chamberlain by scoring 44 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in a 126-117 home victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.