Rome backs out of 2024 Games bid
Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi has rejected the city’s bid for the 2024 Olympics, effectively dooming the capital’s candidacy. After campaigning for office on a No vote, Raggi made it official on Wednesday. Raggi said it would be “irresponsible” to pursue the bid any further, saying “in light of the data we have, these Olympics are not sustainable. They will bring only debt.” Raggi reportedly skipped a meeting with Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malago, who complained about what he called Raggi’s ignorance of the bidding process and costs.
Wrestling coaches suspended 3 years
Two Mongolian wrestling coaches who stripped to protest an officiating call at the Rio Olympics have been suspended for three years. Coaches Tserenbaatar Tsogbayar and Byambarinchen Bayaraa have been banned from all international competition until August 2019. Mongolia’s national federation also has been fined about $51,000 US. The protest came moments after referees awarded a late point to Uzbekistan’s Ikhtiyor Navruzov after a Mongolian wrestler fled a hold and celebrated too early, with less than 10 seconds left. The point gave the Uzbek the win.
Lightning kills soccer player
Russian authorities say a young soccer player has been killed and three others injured after lightning struck the goalposts during a game. The 18-yearold died during a game in a local competition involving teams of students in the Siberian town of Rubtsovsk. Players from both teams were crowded in the penalty area when lightning hit a set of metal goalposts. Investigators say the 18-year-old “died at the scene” and three other players needed medical treatment, without giving further details of their condition.
French tennis player banned
The Tennis Integrity Unit says French player Constant Lestienne has been banned for seven months for gambling on matches, with half of the sentence suspended. The 24-year-old has also been fined $10,000 after admitting to the charges of betting on tennis. The TIU says the 164th-ranked player placed bets on 220 matches through online accounts between February 2012 and June 2015. The TIU says none of the bets were related to matches Lestienne played.
Strome, Islanders reach new deal
The New York Islanders have agreed to terms on a two-year, $5-million deal with restricted free-agent forward Ryan Strome. The 23-year-old is coming off a season in which he had eight goals and 20 assists in 71 games.