Testi is no longer with the Clippers
Matias Testi, who was punched in the face by Clippers forward Blake Griffin in January, is no longer the team’s assistant equipment manager, the team confirmed Wednesday.
A team spokesman said the Clippers would have no further comments on why Testi doesn’t work there anymore. Testi was seen at the team’s practice facility by media members July 11 when the Clippers introduced their rookies.
Testi, a longtime employee with the Clippers, got into an altercation with Griffin at a restaurant in Toronto when the team was there to play the Raptors in January. Griffin broke his hand and was suspended four games.
— Broderick Turner
Russian President Vladimir Putin hit out at “discrimination” against the country’s banned track and field athletes at a Kremlin send-off ceremony Wednesday for its depleted Olympic team. More than 100 Russians from the 387-strong Olympic team have been banned so far from going to Rio de Janeiro.
“We can’t accept indiscriminate disqualification of our athletes with an absolutely clean doping history,” Putin said. “We cannot and will not accept what in fact is pure discrimination.”
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic survived a scare to beat Gilles Muller, 7-5, 7-6 (3), in the Rogers Cup at Toronto, his final event before the Rio Olympics. Ryan Harrison upset fellow American John Isner, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (4), 6-4, and seventh-seeded David Goffin of Belgium defeated Sam Querrey, who retired in the second set . ... Venus Williams opened play in the Rogers Cup in Montreal with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Barbora Strycova, finishing off the overmatched Czech player in 58 minutes.
Almost seven months after quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick ended his breakout 2015 season, he and the New York Jets agreed to a one-year deal worth $12 million, according to multiple reports . ... The Kansas City Chiefs placed running back Jamaal Charles on the physically unable to perform list, though Coach Andy Reid said it should not be considered a setback in his return from a knee injury.
Preakness winner Exaggerator has joined the field for Sunday’s $1-million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, setting up another matchup against Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist.
The women’s Championship Tour event wrapped up the third round at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. The men’s Qualifying Series event, a step below the Championship Tour, inched closer to the end of the third.
Reaching the women’s quarterfinals were Santa Ana native Courtney Conlogue, Santa Barbara’s Lakey Peterson, and Australians Tyler Wright and Stephanie Gilmore.
The other eight surfers will compete in head-tohead matchups in the fourth round, probably Thursday, and the winner of each will advance to the quarterfinals.
— Jesse Dougherty
Tina Charles scored 17 points and Maya Moore added 13 to help the U.S. women’s basketball team beat France, 84-62, in an exhibition at Newark, Del.
The Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed forward Vladislav Namestnikov to a two-year, $3.875-million contract.