Putin to meet depleted Russian team ahead of Rio Games (Reuters) President Vladimir Putin will give a personal send-off on Wednesday to a diminished Russian Olympic team who travel to the Rio Games even as global sports bodies mull over the eligibility of Russian competitors. The International Olympic Committee threw Russia a lifeline on Sunday, ignoring calls for the national team to be … [Read more...]

Rowing federation: six Russian rowers meet conditions for Rio games, 17 do not (Reuters) The World Rowing Federation said on Tuesday that six Russian rowers met conditions to take part in the Rio Olympics but that 17 entered rowers and two of the cox did not. The rowing organization had said on Monday three other Russian rowers that did not meet conditions to compete in Rio. It said in a … [Read more...]

Horse racing-Paralysed jockey McNamara dies, aged 41 (Reuters) Irish jockey JT McNamara, who was paralysed after a fall three years ago, has died, aged 41, the British Horseracing Authority said on its website on Tuesday. McNamara rode more than 600 winners in his career including Teaforthree in the 2012 National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. "We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing … [Read more...]

Olympics--Rowing federation: six Russian rowers meet conditions for Rio games, 17 do not (Reuters) The World Rowing Federation said on Tuesday that six Russian rowers met conditions to take part in the Rio Olympics but that 17 entered rowers and two of the cox did not. The rowing organisation had said on Monday three other Russian rowers that did not meet conditions to compete in Rio. It … [Read more...]

Olympics-Russian athletes affected by Rio bans (Reuters) Following the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision on Sunday not to issue a blanket ban on Russian athletes despite evidence of systematic doping across the majority of Olympic sports, global sporting federations have been left to decide which Russians can compete at next month's Rio Games. The IOC said any Russian … [Read more...]

Olympic boxers to fight without headgear, worry about cuts (Yahoo Sports) Although Antonio Vargas still thinks about the cut that nearly ended his Olympic dream, his unprotected head will be clear when he steps into the ring in Rio de Janeiro. Vargas grew up sparring and competing in protective headgear, so he had never been cut in a fight before his face split open in that bloody loss at … [Read more...]

Olympics-Sailing federation says 6 Russians can take part in Rio games (Reuters) MOSCOW, July 26 (Reuters) - International sailing federation World Sailing said on Tuesday it had provisionally confirmed that six Russian competitors could compete in the Rio Olympics. World Sailing said in a statement on its website that Pavel Sozykin was denied eligibility for the Rio games because of the … [Read more...]

Injury anxieties grow but Bolt says "sport needs me to win" (Yahoo Sports) LONDON (AP) -- Whatever controversy is raging in the Olympic world there's one constant: Usain Bolt's bravado and self-confidence. … [Read more...]

Sailing federation says six Russians can take part in Rio games (Reuters) MOSCOW (Reuters) - International sailing federation World Sailing said on Tuesday it had provisionally confirmed that six Russian competitors could compete in the Rio Olympics. World Sailing said in a statement on its website that Pavel Sozykin was denied eligibility for the Rio games because of the findings of the … [Read more...]

Irish jockey paralyzed after falling off horse dies aged 41 (The Associated Press) DUBLIN (AP) -- JT McNamara, an Irish jockey who was paralyzed following a fall at the Cheltenham Festival in 2013, has died. He was 41. … [Read more...]