MONACO, Monaco - Defending world rally champion Sebastien Ogier of France began his title defence with a victory at the season-opening Monte Carlo rally Sunday, finishing ahead of Finlands Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen of Norway as Volkswagen swept the podium places.Ogier led Latvala by 42.8 seconds overnight and increased his lead after Sundays three stages to finish 58 seconds ahead of Latvala and more than two minutes clear of Mikkelsen.Winning Monte Carlo means a lot for every driver, but especially for me, Ogier said after clinching it for the third time. This event had the best atmosphere I have experienced on a rally. When I drove the stage close to my home village, the atmosphere was magical.The 31-year-old Ogier was only interested in protecting his lead and drove cautiously, failing to win a stage Saturday or Sunday.The important thing is to try to win the rally, not todays stages, he said. Its the most important rally of the season. The weather makes it a huge challenge but the satisfaction is great when you make it.Citroen driver Mads Ostberg of Norway finished fourth.Retired nine-time champion Sebastien Loeb of France — driving as a guest at the race — won Sundays penultimate stage and finished eighth overall.Britains Kris Meeke won Sundays opener — a short 10-kilometre (6-mile) trek — with Ogier finishing sixth and gaining a further five seconds on Latvala, who was ninth.Ogier again placed fifth on the next special — stage 14 from La Bollene Vesubie to Sospel — and finished more than 10 seconds clear of Latvala.Stage 14 featured the races famed hairpin ascent up Col de Turini, and Polish driver Robert Kubica, the winner of four stages, had to pull out as he went off the road at the finish.Latvala also had problems negotiating Turinis flying finish.The brakes are horrible, he said. I had no bite on them and it was very, very scary to drive.Loeb, a seven-time winner at Monaco, won the stage ahead of Ostberg.Meeke clinched stage 15 — a special power stage — to take maximum bonus points, with Loeb taking two bonus points for second spot and Latvala taking one for third.The next event is at Rally Sweden next month. Wholesale NHL Jerseys Online . The Senators return from a lengthy layoff caused by Wednesdays attack on Parliament Hill to host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . Moors, from Cambridge Ont., landed a double-twisting, double somersault in the layout position, en route to a score of 14.600 points in the womens floor exercise, more than a full point ahead of runner-up Pia Tolle of Germany. http://www.cheapnhlcustomjerseys.com/.com) - The Memphis Grizzlies signed guard Seth Curry on Tuesday. Wholesale NHL Jerseys Authentic . The Marlies centre set up three goals, including the game-winner, as Toronto cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons in American Hockey League action. Stitched NHL Jerseys . Bowditch, the 30-year-old Australian seeking his first PGA Tour title, shot a 4-under 68 to reach 12 under at TPC San Antonio. Matt Kuchar and Andrew Loupe were tied for second. Kuchar shot 65, and Loupe had a 70.SOCHI, Russia -- Swedish centre Nicklas Backstrom watched from the athletes village as his teammates lost 3-0 to Canada in the Olympic mens hockey final because he failed a doping test for a substance found in an allergy medication. "I was ready to play the biggest game of my career," Backstrom said Sunday following the game. "And two-and-a-half hours before the game, I got pulled aside." Backstrom paused, choked with emotion and appeared to be on the verge of tears. "Its sad," he said. The Swedish hockey team, meanwhile, was simply mad at the International Olympic Committee. "We are all very upset," said Tommy Boustedt, the teams general manager. "Our opinion is that IOC has destroyed one of the greatest hockey days in Swedish history." Boustedt lashed out at the IOC about the timing of its decision, saying it was "political" because it would make news. The governing body refused to fire back. "We will not comment on any potential process until it has concluded," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. The International Ice Hockey Federation is taking the silver medal that would have been given to Backstrom in the post-game ceremony to its offices in Zurich while it waits for the IOC to decide whether it can be sent to Backstrom, according to IIHF spokesman Adam Steiss. Backstrom was punished more than another player was in the same situation four years ago. While playing for Slovakia at the 2010 Olympics, defenceman Lubomir Visnovsky tested positive for the same banned substance -- pseudoephedrine -- and was only reprimanded by the IOC because it said he declared on his doping control form that he was taking the medication. Backstrom, likewise, said he hasnt hid the fact that he takes the substance that is banned by the IOC during competition and was told by his Olympic team doctor he could take one pill a day without possible penalty. He was tested Wednesday after helping the Swedes beat Slovenia in the quarter-finals. He wwas pulled out of Swedens locker room four days later, just two-plus hours before the Sochi Games finale, and was informed he couldnt play.dddddddddddd The Washington Capitals standout was supported by his Olympic team, NHL franchise, NHL Players Association and the IIHF. "I am convinced that Nicklas and the NHLPA will take this further," Boustedt said in Swedish during a news conference that lasted about 40 minutes. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Day issued a statement saying the substance Backstrom tested positive for is not on the leagues list of banned substances. "We do not anticipate there being any consequences relative to Nicklas eligibility," Daly said. The Capitals sent out a statement saying Backstrom has been taking the allergy medication intermittently for seven years, including this season, to cope with severe allergies. "The test was done on Wednesday and he was pulled out two hours before a game on Sunday, I think thats certainly flawed," NHLPA special assistant Mathieu Schneider said. Dr. Mark Aubry, chief medical officer of the IIHF, said Backstrom provided information correctly to the IOC about the medication he was taking. "He is the innocent victim of circumstances," Aubry said. Backstroms suspension from the gold-medal game may be a point of contention when the NHL and NHLPA negotiate with IOC about whether to let their players participate in the 2018 Olympics. He was listed in the team lineups distributed before the game, and his teammates later found out he wouldnt be with them on the ice. "Its too bad he couldnt play," Sweden winger Carl Hagelin said. "We lost a really good player." Backstrom is the sixth athlete to fail a doping test at the games. Five of the six, including Backstrom, tested positive for minor stimulants that are often found in food supplements. "They need examples to scare cheaters with, Nick is not one of them," Boustedt said. "And, thats why its awful." ' ' '