49ers’ Bolden gets four-game ban
Return specialist Victor Bolden, already facing tough odds to stick on the 49ers, drew a four-game suspension Friday from the NFL for violating its performanceenhancing drug policy.
Bolden averaged 20.8 yards on 19 punt returns last season as an undrafted rookie out of Oregon State.
“Unknowingly, I used a supplement that was on the NFL’s banned substance list,” Bolden said in a statement. “As a professional athlete, I take full responsibility for not verifying the ingredients of the supplement.”
Bolden added that “it hurts” knowing he will miss the first four games, but there were no assurances he would make the 53-man roster, anyhow. That prospect drew dimmer once the 49ers used draft picks on two other potential returners, Dante Pettis (second round) and D.J. Reed (fourth round), who will compete with second-year receiver/ returner Trent Taylor.
Bolden, a 5-foot-8 speedster, played in nine games last season, was inactive for four and missed the final three games once he went on injured reserve (ankle). BROWNS’ JACKSON TAKES
PLUNGE FOR CHARITY >> Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson made good on his promise and jumped into Lake Erie on Friday, a plunge he hopes will wash away years of losing and frustration for the Browns and fans who haven’t had much to cheer about in years.
Jackson ran into the water along his wife, Michelle, Browns owner Dee Haslam and nearly 150 team employees.
While the Browns were staggering to a 0-16 season, Jackson promised he would jump in if the team duplicated its 1-15 season from his first year. Jackson turned his plunge into 72-degree water into a fundraiser for his foundation and raised $30,000.
Soccer
NORTH AMERICA OUTSCORES MOROCO FOR 2026 WORLD CUP >> FIFA judged Morocco’s 2026 World Cup proposals to be “high risk” in three areas and offered significant praise for the North American bid, which outscored its rival by a wide margin in an inspection evaluation report.
The joint bid from the United States, Canada and Mexico scored 402/500, while Morocco registered 275/500 and had proposals on stadiums, accommodation and transport flagged as high risks. The 2026 World Cup is the first tournament FIFA has confirmed will expand from 32 to 48 teams. IN MLS NEWS >> Cristian Techera scored his fourth goal in two games and Yordy Reyna had a goal and an assist to help the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the host Colorado Rapids 2-1 . ... New England Revolution defender Chris Tierney will miss the remainder of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Motorsports
BLANEY EARNS POCONO 400 POLE >> Ryan Blaney was tops again at the site of his lone NASCAR Cup win, turning a lap of 176.897 mph to win the pole at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.
Blaney won his first career Cup race in the June 2017 race driving for Wood Brothers Racing, which had an alliance with Team Penske. Blaney moved to the No. 12 Ford for Roger Penske this season.
Blaney won his fourth career pole. Kevin Harvick joins Blaney on the front row.
DUCATI’S PIRRO HOSPITALIZED AFTER CRASH >> Ducati factory rider Michele Pirro was taken to a hospital after an accident during practice for the MotoGP Grand Prix of Italy.
Pirro, 31, regained consciousness and was talking and moving but will undergo further tests.
Pirro lost control of his bike when traveling at about 350 kph and was flung into the air. His limp body bounced and rolled several times on the ground before coming to a stop. He was immediately attended to by medical staff and taken to the Mugello circuit’s medical center before being transported by helicopter to a hospital. Doctor Michele Zasa said “Pirro suffered a cranial concussion, he lost consciousness but then regained it. His spinal column seems fine as does the rest of his neurological condition.”
Olympics
DENVER, COLORADO EYE HOSTING GAMES >> Colorado leaders plan to pursue the Winter Olympics but only if voters back the idea. An exploratory committee that has been reviewing whether or not to pursue the Olympics announced that Gov. John Hickenlooper and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock have accepted its recommendation that Denver and Colorado pursue a bid subject to approval of a statewide referendum in 2020 or later. Denver had to back out of hosting the Winter Games in 1976 after voters rejected funding for the event, making it the only city in Olympic history to give up a winning bid.