ABSENCE OF RUSSIA, IRAN MARS U.S.-HELD WRESTLING EVENT

IOWA» This year’s freestyle IOWA CITY,

World Cup could have been one of the most intriguing wrestling tournaments outside of the Olympics in years.

The powerhouse Russian and Iranian teams were looking to topple the Americans — last year’s team winner at the world championships — in Iowa’s fabled Carver-hawkeye Arena.

Unfortunately for fans, the Russians and Iranians failed to show up and the U.S., fresh off its first world team championship in 22 years, appears to be in position for a crown that likely would ring a bit hollow.

The U.S. beat India 10-0 and Japan 7-3 in Saturday’s opening rounds.

Iran, the six-time defending World Cup champions, withdrew in March without citing a reason. But according to Bender, the Iranian federation is dealing with “significant issues” after president Rasoul Khadem’s recent departure.

Khadem left his post a few weeks after United World Wrestling ruled that an Iranian wrestler threw a match at the U-23 world championships in November to avoid having to face an Israeli opponent, disciplining both the athlete and his coach.

Russia dropped out a week ago, saying it didn’t have enough time for the visa interviews needed to get the team cleared for the trip to Iowa City.

Justify beats Bolt d’oro by 3 lengths.

CALIF.» Justify vaulted into

ARCADIA, the role of probable Kentucky Derby favorite with a three-length victory over Bolt d’oro in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby.

Trained by Bob Baffert and winner of his three career starts by a combined 19 lengths, Justify had to finish first or second to earn enough qualifying points to run in the Derby on May 5.

It wasn’t a problem.

Justify led all the way under Mike Smith to claim the 100 points toward qualifying for the Run for the Roses. The colt ran 1k miles in 1:49.72 and paid $3.80, $2.20 and $2.10 as the 3-5 favorite in the field of seven.

Bolt d’oro returned $2.20 and $2.10, while Core Beliefs was another 6½ lengths back in third and paid $4 to show.

Spurrier hired as Alliance coach.

FLA.» Steve Spurrier plans

ORLANDO, to be back on the sideline if a proposed new professional league gets off the ground.

The Orlando Alliance said it hired Spurrier as its first head coach. Spurrier will coach in the planned Alliance of American Football.

The Alliance is the creation of Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Polian and longtime TV and film producer Charlie Ebersol. The league plans to have eight teams and will play a 12week season starting Feb. 9 and will be broadcast on CBS.

Doubles win puts U.S. in semifinals.

TENN.» Jack Sock and Ryan

NASHVILLE,

Harrison put the United States in the Davis Cup semifinals for the first time since 2012 by beating Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 5-7, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (3), 6-4 to finish off an American sweep.

The United States now will play either Croatia or Kazakhstan in the semifinals Sept. 14-16.

The U.S. is 5-0 all-time in the Davis Cup against Belgium.

• It will be a jam-packed finish for the Volvo Car Open on Sunday after Saturday’s semifinals were postponed because of rain.

Julia Goerges of Germany and Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia were tied at 4-all in the first set when the match was postponed.

The schedule Sunday calls for American Madison Keys to play Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands at 8:30 a.m. Mountain, followed by the conclusion of the Goerges-sevastova match.

After a doubles finals, the semifinal winners will compete for the title at the WTA’S first clay-court event of the season.

All four of the semifinalists are playing for their first Volvo Car Open title. — The Associated Press