Reuters Sports News Summary

Major League Baseball (MLB) will remove marijuana from its list of banned substances and players who test positive for opioids, fentanyl, cocaine and synthetic THC under random drug tests will be referred for treatment before being disciplined, the league's updated drug policy announced on Thursday. The sweeping changes, which take effect from Spring Training in 2020, "favor a treatment-based approach to Drugs of Abuse," according to the joint announcement from the MLB and its players' union. MLB notebook: Mets reportedly to sign RHP Porcello

The New York Mets signed right-hander Rick Porcello to a one-year, $10 million deal, multiple outlets reported. The former American League Cy Young Award winner had multiyear offers but preferred to sign a one-year contract, according to ESPN. Portis, Horn among 10 former NFL players facing U.S. fraud charges

Federal authorities on Thursday charged 10 former National Football League players with allegedly defrauding a healthcare program of more than $3.4 million by filing false claims for hyperbaric oxygen chambers and other expensive medical equipment. Former Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis, 38, and former Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers, 38, were among those charged by the U.S. Justice Department. Soccer: Bradley signs new deal with Toronto FC

Midfielder Michael Bradley has signed a new deal with Toronto FC, the Major League Soccer (MLS) side announced on Thursday, extending the team captain's six-season reign in the North. While the details of the contract were not immediately clear, the 32-year-old United States international could be set to end his career in Canada. Former NBA commissioner Stern suffers brain hemorrhage

Former NBA commissioner David Stern underwent surgery Thursday after suffering a brain hemorrhage, the league announced. Stern, 77, was NBA commissioner from 1984-2014. He was succeeded by current commissioner Adam Silver. NBA roundup: Clippers' Leonard wins in return to Toronto

Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points and added six assists and five rebounds on his return to Toronto, and the visiting Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Raptors 112-92 Wednesday night. Leonard, who led the Raptors to the NBA title last season before leaving as a free agent, was presented with his championship ring in a ceremony before the game. There also was a video tribute. He was greeted with a loud, prolonged ovation. Britain's Aggar quits WADA role over Russia scandal

Former British Paralympian Victoria Aggar has resigned from the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Athlete Committee over the organization's handling of the Russian doping scandal. WADA has banned Russia from all major sporting events for four years for tampering with doping tests, but left the door open for its athletes to compete at next year's Tokyo Games as neutrals under the Olympic flag. NFL notebook: Retired players charged with health care fraud

Former running back Clinton Portis is one of 10 retired players facing federal charges for allegedly filing fraudulent claims against the NFL's health care program. The Justice Department filed charges Thursday morning in the Eastern District of Kentucky, accusing the players of filing $3.9 million in false claims. The health plan paid out more than $3.4 million on those claims from June 2017 to December 2018, according to court records. Keeping digging: Reed fires up crowd with shovel gesture

Patrick Reed played up to his role as pantomime villain at the Presidents Cup on Friday when he made a shoveling gesture during his foursomes match in a defiant reference to his controversial bunker penalty in the Bahamas last week. The American, who was given a two-shot penalty for improving his lie at the Hero World Challenge, has been regularly heckled at Royal Melbourne. At the first hole on Thursday, a spectator yelled out: "Your caddie carrying 14 clubs and a shovel?"