National Sports

PARIS — After weeks of holding out hope that the Tour de France would be able to go ahead as planned, the world’s most famous cycling race was finally added to the list of sporting events postponed by the coronavirus pandemic.

TORONTO — Major League Soccer conceded Tuesday that a return to play in mid-May is "extremely unlikely," as is fitting in the entire season. And when play does resume, it will likely do so at empty stadiums.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As sponsor after sponsor dropped Kyle Larson after he used a racial slur during a live-streamed virtual race, his NASCAR team owner was backed into a corner.

A list of Canadian international and domestic sporting events impacted by COVID-19: OLYMPICS — 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics postponed until 2021.

Melissa Humana-Paredes finds comfort on the eight-by-eight-metre half of a beach volleyball court. Feeling the soft sand underfoot, the world champion begins to mentally decompress.

Canadian international Janine Beckie has signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester City. The 25-year-old's current deal was to expire at the end of June.

Edmonton Oilers chairman Bob Nicholson remembers Colby Cave as a tireless worker on the ice and in the community.

At 24, Ashley Lawrence is the reigning Canada Soccer female player of the year — an influential fullback/midfielder who has already won 91 caps for her country. But the Paris Saint-Germain player has other things on her mind these days.

TORONTO — Two-time Stanley Cup champion Kris Versteeg has retired after 11 NHL seasons. The 33-year-old forward from Lethbridge, Alta.

MINNEAPOLIS — Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, the mother of Minnesota Timberwolves centre Karl-Anthony Towns, died Monday due to complications from COVID-19 after more than a month of fighting the virus. She was 58.