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The Kansas Jayhawks scored on every possession in the first half on Senior Day against the Colorado Buffaloes, but some end-of-drive mistakes have left too much on the table. The home team leads at the half 23-14 after holding the ball for 21 of 30 first half minutes. Here are three things that stood out to me from first half play: No Backing Down The Jayhawks came into this game feeling good about themselves with the improvement in the back half of the schedule, but they are facing a supremely talented Colorado team. But it's clear in this one that Kansas isn't intimidated, and they are wanting to make sure the Buffaloes know it. There was no better example in the first quarter than when Doug Emilien stood his ground against Dominiq Ponder after running route. Colorado has looked flustered quite a bit already in this game, and the physicality and attitude of the Jayhawks has a lot to do with that. Ball Control, Need to Finish Kansas is absolutely destroying the Colorado defense, but a few missteps in the red zone has cost them a total of 12 points already. Some poor running on a first quarter trip and then two bad incompletions late in the first half both killed excellent touchdown opportunities. The Jayhawks are dominating time of possession and limiting the chances that Shadeur Sanders has to affect the game, but they can't afford to keep leaving points on the table. The final drive of the first half was very Kansas-esque for the Colorado defense, but three poor plays on 1st and goal fro the 3 to end the half destroyed another Kansas chance for a touchdown. Travis Hunter Deserves the Heisman Much like Devin Neal is the guy that can break one at whatever moment that is needed for the Jayhawks, Hunter has absolutely been the catalyst for basically everything the Buffaloes have done here. He weaved his way through the Kansas defense for a 51 yard score, and he has been able to get open all over the field. On defense, he hasn't had as big of an impact, but the only really big play that went against him specifically was a 15-yard Jalon Daniels run late where he collided with the referee. He has absolutely put on a show and it's easy to see in person why he should be the runaway favorite for the Heisman trophy.The ‘vibecession’ could end next year, BMO forecastsWASHINGTON, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Buried deep within an 887-page document referred to as Trump’s “Second Term Playbook” , economist and former CIA advisor Jim Rickards, a Paradigm Press author, has uncovered a transformative energy strategy designed to rebuild America’s infrastructure and economic strength. This comprehensive plan, known as “Project Independence” , could position the United States as the global leader in energy innovation while addressing critical national security concerns tied to energy reliance. Rickards, whose career spans advising the Pentagon, CIA, and multiple U.S. administrations, obtained the document during a private meeting with Trump’s Chief Strategist and several other DC insiders. What he found inside goes far beyond a typical policy proposal —it outlines a vision to restore American strength through advanced nuclear technology, bolster national security, and reduce economic vulnerability to foreign energy markets. Rebuilding Energy Independence as a National Security Imperative At the heart of the plan lies Nuclear 2.0 , a groundbreaking strategy centered around Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Unlike traditional nuclear plants, SMRs are: Compact and scalable, making them ideal for distributed energy grids. Designed for enhanced safety, shutting down automatically during malfunctions. Capable of producing decades of power with near-zero emissions, providing a clean and sustainable energy source. For Rickards, the implications of Nuclear 2.0 are not just economic but strategic. “Energy is the backbone of national security,” Rickards stated. “Trump’s vision for ‘Project Independence’ could ensure America is no longer vulnerable to foreign energy manipulation while driving economic innovation at home.” A Strategic Blueprint for a Stronger America Rickards argues that “Project Independence” has the potential to echo the transformative policies of past administrations. Drawing parallels to the Reagan-era Mandate for Leadership , he notes that Trump’s plan leverages cutting-edge technology to solve 21st-century challenges. Beyond energy, the playbook outlines: A Shift in Regulatory Power: Streamlining the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to accelerate innovation and private-sector growth. Infrastructure Modernization: Integrating nuclear technology into a national grid capable of supporting emerging technologies like AI. Economic Revitalization: Creating jobs and boosting domestic industries by prioritizing American-made energy solutions. Image by Jim Rickards Why Jim Rickards’ Insights Matte r Known for his unparalleled ability to connect economic trends with geopolitical shifts, Rickards has a track record of identifying pivotal moments. His predictions of the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID pandemic, and the 2024 electoral outcome (Trump’s victory with a 312–226 margin) demonstrate his expertise in recognizing game-changing developments before they become widely apparent. Now, with Trump’s “Second Term Playbook” in hand, Rickards is sounding the alarm that “Project Independence” represents a rare opportunity to strengthen the nation’s security and rebuild its energy future. About Jim Rickards Jim Rickards is a former CIA advisor, economist, and global financial strategist with over four decades of experience. Known for his accurate forecasts and access to high-level information, Rickards is a trusted voice in connecting economic insights to national and global events. Take action NOW. Jim has released a comprehensive brief detailing everything found in Trump’s “Second Term Playbook” To follow new stories and updates from Jim, please visit Paradigm Press Group . Media Contact: Derek Warren Public Relations Manager Paradigm Press Group Email: dwarren@paradigmpressgroup.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/37d7a1fd-8908-4dfe-a6d4-ecf7624877e5super ace game download 。

To The New York Times, it was a standard journalistic practice done in the name of fairness — asking someone involved in a story for comment. To the mother of the nominee for secretary of defense, it constituted a threat. On Wednesday, Pete Hegseth's mother accused the Times of making “threats” by calling about its story on an email she had sent to her son six years earlier that criticized his treatment of women. Penelope Hegseth sought and received an interview on Fox News Channel to support her son, whose confirmation chances are threatened by a series of damaging stories about his personal conduct. At one point, she said she wanted to directly tell President-elect Trump that her son “is not that man he was seven years ago.” She also called the Times “despicable” and attacked a basic tenet of journalism: giving someone the chance to speak for a story about actions that could be seen in a negative light. The Times' story, published Saturday , quoted from a private email that Penelope Hegseth sent to her son in 2018 while he was in the midst of divorcing his second wife. She criticized his character and treatment of women, suggesting that he get some help. “I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses women for his own power and ego,” she wrote to her offspring. “You are that man (and have been for many years).” She told the Times for its story that she had sent the email in a moment of anger and followed it up two hours later with an apology. She disavows its content now. When the Times called her for comment on the story, Hegseth told Fox News that, at first, she did not respond. She said she perceived the calls as a threat — “they say unless you make a statement we will publish it as is and I think that's a despicable way to treat anyone,” she said. “I don't think a lot of people know that's the way they operate,” she said, speaking about the story. She accused the newspaper of being in it "for the money. And they don't care who they hurt, families, children. I don't believe that's the right way to do things.” Charles Stadtlander, a spokesman for the Times, said Hegseth's claim “is flatly untrue,” and she was in no way threatened. “The Times did what it always does in reporting out a story, simply reaching out and asking for a comment, which we included,” he said. Such a call is the opposite of a threat — it's an attempt to be fair, said Tom Rosenstiel, a University of Maryland professor and co-author of “Elements of Journalism: What News People Should Know and What the Public Should Expect.” “She's basically saying that brake lights are a threat because they alert you that the car ahead of you is about to stop," he said. But many Americans would perceive that call as a threat, or certainly as rude and a violation of privacy, said Tim Graham, director of media analysis at the conservative Media Research Center. “She didn't write that email to be on the front page of The New York Times,” he said. A secondary question is the newsworthiness of publishing the content of the private email, one that Hegseth said she almost immediately regretted sending and doesn't reflect how she perceives her son. Graham suggested that the newspaper wouldn't do the same for the nominee of a Democratic president-elect. “The New York Times is out to destroy these nominees,” he said. In its initial story, the Times wrote that it had obtained a copy of the email “from another person with ties to the Hegseth family.” “This was a piece of independently reported journalism published in the name of public awareness of the nominee to lead the largest department in the federal government,” Stadtlander said. “We stand behind it completely.” In many circumstances, an email from a mother to her son would be considered a private matter and out of bounds to a news organization, Rosenstiel said. But in this case, Hegseth, a former Fox News weekend host chosen by Trump to lead the Pentagon, has built himself into a public figure and is up for a very important job — and one that leads the military, which involves waging war and in which character is considered a fundamental trait. “It makes this news, honestly,” Stadtlander said. The Times wrote about Penelope Hegseth's Fox interview on Wednesday, leading with her saying her son “was not the same man he was in 2018 when she fired off an email accusing him of routinely abusing women and lacking decency and character.” There was some question about whether Hegseth would appear for an interview at his former network on Wednesday, after CNN's Kaitlan Collins posted on X the night before that “multiple people” said that was expected. A Fox News representative said that no such interview had been scheduled, and the nominee was on Capitol Hill meeting with senators. He has faced a flurry of other damaging reports, including stories about a sexual assault allegation reported to police in 2017. No charges were filed then, and Hegseth said the relationship was consensual. The New Yorker magazine wrote about reports of financial mismanagement , sexist behavior and excessive drinking when Hegseth ran a veterans' organization, and NBC News wrote about people at Fox News concerned about his alcohol use. David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

LAS VEGAS — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. "As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It's an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world's premier racing series, and we're committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM's engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level." The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. "We're excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. "Together, we're assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world." Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. "The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team," Michael Andretti posted on social media. "I'm very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!" The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti's dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA. The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they've already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti's application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1's current grid. "General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. "Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024," F1 said in a statement. "Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. "With Formula 1's continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1."King Charles hailed as 'visionary' who 'wants action' on climate

No. 22 St. John's, Georgia pack busy schedule with game on SundayThree football fans have been arrested in Spain over the racist abuse of Barcelona players Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde during last month’s Clasico against Real Madrid, Spanish police said Saturday. The two adults and a minor are accused of having “made xenophobic statements that harmed the dignity and moral integrity of the two footballers” during the match, which Barcelona won 4-0 in Madrid, police said. The trio were identified using a mobile phone and television footage. Videos emerged on social media after the game of racial abuse aimed at the Barcelona players, with 17-year-old Spain star Yamal targeted during a goal celebration after becoming the youngest Clasico scorer. Spanish football is struggling to combat racism in stadiums across the country. Related News FULL LIST: 2024/25 UEFA Nations League knockout, play-off draw unveiled Spain slams $187m fine on five airlines Tinubu set to name envoys as ministry posts consular officers Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior has become a figurehead in the fight against racism and has been targeted on numerous occasions since arriving in Spain in 2018. The Brazilian winger earned worldwide support in May 2023 when he squared off with Valencia supporters after suffering abuse at their Mestalla stadium. In June three Valencia supporters were sentenced to eight months in prison as a result. In January 2023, an effigy in a Vinicius shirt was found hanging from a bridge near the club’s training ground alongside a banner saying: “Madrid hates Real.” AFPThis week the news cycle has been dominated by Donald Trump’s cabinet picks, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza as well as the weather bomb on the west coast. The COP29 conference taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan seems to have fallen off the radar and yet our future is more dependent on a consensus of world leaders to fight climate change than Trump’s ephemeral cabinet picks. COP29 refers to the Conference of the Parties to the UN convention on . This marks the annual gathering’s 29th year. Past years have seen targets set and serious commitments made and supported by the group. Now it appears that authoritarian governments and oil companies are setting the agenda. The host country, Azerbaijan, is a petro-state with a third of its GDP from oil and gas, which also account for 90 per cent of its exports. Last year, COP28 was held in Dubai, another petro-state. The petro-states want the publicity that gives the impression they actually care about the environment and it’s an excellent opportunity to showcase their nation and, in the case of Azerbaijan, an opportunity to make oil deals. Before the conference got underway, the BBC reported that a senior COP29 official from the host nation was trying to negotiate a fossil fuel deal with an oil and gas investment group. That a petro-state should host a COP gathering is a conflict of interest. They are selling the products that are the root cause of the climate crises that COP was set up to address. Opportunists and climate change deniers aren’t limited to the petro-states. considers climate change a hoax and has urged the oil companies to drill and drill. He has appointed science deniers to his cabinet and he will most likely remove the restrictions and environmental controls on oil and gas exploration. In Canada, Conservative Leader and repeats ad nauseam his mantra to “axe the tax.” He and his party are at war with reality in the search for victory in the next election. Instead, we need to reconsider carbon taxing. It’s a proven fair way to address a serious issue. Most of the tax is returned to middle-class and low-income families in the form of a rebate, which has become an inflation fighter for them. and 2024 is on track to be the hottest. Every year we experience and droughts. The cost of insurance is rising rapidly and in some places, such as rural Northern California, it’s very hard or impossible to insure a home from fire. The same thing is happening in hurricane-prone Florida and on various flood plains. The politicians may try to ignore it, but the reality is obvious in commerce. In Canada, rather than axing the carbon tax, we should seriously consider phasing out the oil extraction in the Alberta tarsands. They are creating an environmental mess with no plans to reclaim the land. Downstream Indigenous communities are experiencing rare cancers that are traced back to the effluent in the Athabasca River from the oil extraction plants. Right-wing and authoritarian leaders are doing serious harm by seeking short-term gain, while ignoring the long-term pain of global warming. We need to get serious as the world warms, sea levels rise and the forests disappear. Inside this crisis exists opportunity. We need to listen to Indigenous elders and traditional people who have a world view that doesn’t place humankind at the top of the heap and seeking to inherit a world made for them. Instead, we are a part of the ecosystem, and we live alongside the other beings. Also, opportunity exists in the creation and use of new technologies. As we move toward a post-carbon society, those nations that adapt to change will be best situated in the future. Eventually, the internal combustion engine will disappear and be remembered much like the steam engine — romantic, but inefficient and a danger to the environment. It might be a cliché, but we are at a crossroads. Either we of global warming, or we inhabit a world of climate chaos and rising temperatures.

Stewart cooked critics with Superwoman strengthFantasy Sports Market to Grow by USD 9.72 Billion (2024-2028), Driven by Launch of Fantasy Sports Apps, AI Driving Market Transformation - TechnavioBlowout loss to Packers leaves the 49ers on the playoff brinkLegendary ESPN "College GameDay" analyst Lee Corso won't be on the show forever, but president Burke Magnus made it clear the network plans to keep him on the show through the playoffs and then reassess. “I think we’re going to do what we’ve done now for a couple years running, which is we’re gonna have a conversation with him after the season and see where things are,” Magnus said . “You know, he’s a special guy," the ESPN boss continued. "I mean, he’s one of the nicest men you or any of your listeners or anybody on Earth could ever come across. And he’s been absolutely iconic on the show. So we’re going to get through the playoff this year, let everybody decompress, and then we’ll have some time to figure out what we’re going to do for next season.” Sara Diggins/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images On Saturday Corso and the rest of the "College GameDay" crew took to Columbus, Ohio ahead of a top five showdown between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Indiana. The former Hoosiers coach received a shout out from former NFL coach Jon Gruden, whose father coached with Corso. In the shout out, Gruden admitted Corso lost five straight....oops. "My dad coached running backs for Lee Corso at Indiana from 1973 to 1977. Willie Jones was my favorite player. Ohio State beat us five years in a row! Go Hoosiers!!!" Gruden said on social media . My dad coached running backs for Lee Corso at Indiana from 1973 to 1977. Willie Jones was my favorite player. Ohio State beat us five years in a row! Go Hoosiers!!! pic.twitter.com/Zd2HBuT8qa Gruden's message had fans ready for today's game. "Let’s go," one person said . "Knock on wood if you’re with me!" added another . "So cool to have that memory with your dad and Coach Corso. My dad and I have alot of memories together for when I played college football in the 90s. Hopefully Indiana upsets Ohio state today," offered a third. Gruden will be rooting for the Hoosiers today as the team enters this afternoon's game as a 13.5-point underdog. Indiana sits at 10-0 on the season but hasn't faced a ranked team until today. Can Curt Cignetti and company pull off the upset?

49ers’ Isaac Guerendo gets his shot at lead runner in decimated backfield

Irish women open up on their horrific experiences of being spiked in bars

NHL Predictions Canadian Edition: Calgary Flames at Ottawa Senators | November 25th

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save NEW YORK — Stoli Group USA, the owner of the namesake vodka , has filed for bankruptcy as it struggled to contend with slowing demand for spirits, a major cyberattack that has snarled its operations and several years of fighting Russia in court. The company in its bankruptcy filing said it is “experiencing financial difficulties” and lists between $50 million and $100 million in liabilities. Stoli vodka and Kentucky Owl bourbon will continue to be available on store shelves while the company navigates the Chapter 11 process, which only pertains to its U.S. business. Until 2022, Stoli was sold as Stolichnaya in the United States, which loosely translates to “capital city” in Russian. The company shortened its title following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and boycotts against Russian-branded vodkas . Stoli Group’s founder, Russian-born billionaire Yuri Shefler, was exiled from that nation in 2000 because of his opposition to President Vladimir Putin. Hammonton police sergeant accused of failing drug test, stealing drugs from evidence room Mays Landing man charged in hit-and-run that injured man, killed dog in Absecon $680,000 Atlantic City charter bus purchase mostly covered by state, Small says Atlantic County Sheriff's Office warns of new scam Mainland Regional falls to Old Tappan in state final 19 arrested following street operations in Atlantic City Everything you need to know about Mainland Regional's state title game Holy Spirit overcomes rain, mud, Atlantic City to win Thanksgiving rivalry, clinch WJFL division Mays Landing man busted for meth Biden pardons his son Hunter despite previous pledges not to Atlantic City mayor waives first appearance on witness tampering charge Ocean City residents speak against Bible study on school time Longport administrator and former police chief Scott Porter dies Holy Spirit and Millville win Thanksgiving rivalry games Memories of special season will last for Mainland players, families, fans Intel announced on December 2 that CEO Pat Gelsinger has resigned after a difficult stint at the company. The once-dominant chipmaker’s stock cratered as it missed the AI boom and was surpassed by most of its rivals. The liquor has long been marketed as a Russian vodka, but its production facilities have been in Latvia for several decades. Stoli Group is a unit of Luxembourg-based SPI Group, which owns other spirit and wine brands. “The Stoli Group has been targeted by the Russian Federation since it was formed nearly 25 years ago,” said Stoli Group CEO Chris Caldwell in a statement. “Earlier this year the company and our owner were both named by the Russian state as ‘extremist groups working against Russia’s interests.’” Its ongoing legal battle with the Russia government has forced Stoli to “spend dozens of millions of dollars on this long-term court battle across the globe with the Russian authorities,” according to its court filing. Caldwell also said that Stoli’s global operations has been a “victim of a malicious cyber attack” that has forced the company to operate “entirely manually while the systems are rebuilt.” A slowdown in demand for alcohol has crushed several company’s bottom lines following the pandemic when people were stuck at home and stocked up. Stoli’s filings said that it has seen a “decline and softening of demand for alcohol and spirits products post-Covid and especially beginning in 2023 and continuing into 2024.” Stoli Group USA, maker of Stoli vodka, has filed for bankruptcy due to slowing demand for spirits, a major cyberattack, and ongoing legal battles with Russia. The-CNN-WireTM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.

Pardons for tūpuna, return of sacred sites in historic step for Ngāti HāuaNoneIt looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. "The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more," Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. "There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie," said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction." Something in the kitchen was contaminated In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation, did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the "no-fault findings," as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report, Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist "saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities." But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's "decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable." But how did the drugs get into the kitchen? A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug "then entered the market through illegal channels," he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles," Li said. "The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice." New information sent to WADA ... eventually This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. "Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated," he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. "It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. "Which clearly it has not."