31.   Banned rugby league player Jamie Bloem escaped with a reprimand Thursday after withdrawing allegations that drug-taking was rife in the sport.

32.   Catcher A.J. Hinch and reliever Cory Lidle were the only other major league players in the deal.

33.   Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids and Portuguese defender Fernando Couto were among the six other Italian league players who tested positive for the banned steroid.

34.   Eight league players have tested positive for banned substances this season, mostly for the steroid nandrolone.

35.   Former Australian rugby league player Peter Jackson, who proved as natural with a microphone as he was with a football, died Friday.

36.   Four Australian rugby league players are reported to be the subject of a police investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl.

37.   Former Leeds star Alan Tait also became the first ex-rugby league player to score for Scotland at rugby union.

38.   French internationals Christophe Dugarry and Zinedine Zidane, chosen by his peers as the top league player in France, are both out for the first leg.

39.   Fullback Matthew Ridge was Saturday named New Zealand rugby league player of the year.

40.   Former professional rugby league player Anthony Mundine remains unbeaten as a boxer after a controversial split points decision over London-based countryman Sam Soliman on Monday.