WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump pardoned former New York Mets star Darryl Strawberry Friday on past tax evasion and drug charges.

Strawberry, an eight-time All-Star, struggled with legal and personal issues after his baseball career. He pleaded guilty to tax evasion in 1995 and went to prison on drug-related charges. A White House official said Trump approved the pardon, highlighting Strawberry’s Christian faith and longtime, post-career sobriety. Strawberry expressed gratitude on Instagram.

He emphasized that it wasn’t about politics. Strawberry played for the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants from 1983 to 1999. He was 1983 National League Rookie of the Year and was on four World Series-winning teams with the Mets and Yankees.

Six collegians lose eligibility

The NCAA revoked the eligibility of six men’s college basketball players on Friday as a result of three separate sports-betting cases that involved a power-conference school and allegations of players throwing games to lose by more points than the spread.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions released findings from an investigation that concluded Chatton “BJ” Freeman at Arizona State; Cedquavious Hunter, Dyquavian Short and Jamond Vincent at New Orleans and Donovan Sanders and Alvin Stredic at Mississippi Valley State either manipulated their performances to lose games, not cover bet lines or ensure certain prop bets were reached, or provided information that enabled others to do so during the 2024-25 regular season.

The development comes as the sporting world contends with mounting scrutiny over betting. Nearly three dozen people were arrested last month, including an NBA player and coach, for what federal law enforcement officials described as their involvement in various illicit gambling activities. Just this week, UFC President and CEO Dana White said he was in touch with the FBI regarding a match that involved unusual betting patterns.

Sabalenka finds herself in finals

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka reached the title match at the WTA Finals for the first time in three years after overcoming Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the semifinals in Riyadh.

Sabalenka will play first-time finalist Elena Rybakina on Saturday. Rybakina beat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 on the back of 15 aces. Sabalenka was pushed to the brink by Anisimova, who matched Sabalenka’s power and aggression for more than two hours in a rematch of the U.S. Open final.

Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion from Kazakhstan, has won all four of her matches this week and clinched the win over Pegula on her first match point.

Fleetwood tied with Rai after 2

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Aaron Rai holed out from 214 yards for an albatross in his 8-under 64 that leaves him tied for the lead with fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood after the second round of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Rai’s second shot at the par-5 No. 2 pitched a few yards onto the green then rolled down into the cup at Yas Links Golf Club. Fleetwood was the winner in 2017 and ’18.

He was one of five players in a share of the lead after an opening-round 64 and the FedEx Cup champion added a 66 to move to 14 under for the week alongside Rai. Rory McIlroy shot 68 and was six strokes back.

McIlroy leads the Race to Dubai standings and is attempting to win the season-long points race on the European tour for a seventh time, which would put him just one behind Colin Montgomerie’s record haul.

The Associated Press