Brazil men suffer draw in disappointing opener

Brazil started its quest for an Olympic gold medal in men’s soccer with a disappointing 0-0 draw against South Africa, a result that prompted loud jeers by some of the home fans in Brasilia.

Despite an attack led by Barcelona striker Neymar and talented youngsters Gabriel Jesus and Gabigol, Brazil was not able to find the net at the packed Mane Garrincha Stadium.

Gabriel Jesus, newly signed by Manchester City, had the game’s best chance in the 69th minute but missed an open net with a close-range shot that struck the post.

Pair of doping suspensions

Italian beach volleyball player Viktoria Orsi Toth is out of the Olympics after failing a doping test.

The international volleyball federation confirmed the result on Thursday, a day before the opening ceremony.

Laura Giombini will replace Orsi Toth when play begins Saturday. She will play with Marta Menegatti.

Meanwhile, the Olympic Council of Ireland says a boxer has been provisionally suspended after finding an “adverse analytical finding” in a sample provided to anti-doping officers.

The athlete was not named.

Rio subway overbilled

A $3 billion subway expansion built as one of the main Olympic legacy projects for Rio de Janeiro was overbilled by 25 percent, a report said Thursday.

The financially battered government also ended up paying twice as much of what was agreed to in a partnership with private companies, according to a state auditor’s document cited in O Globo newspaper.