Digest

BASKETBALL

Serbian loses kidney after World Cup injury

The Serbian Basketball Federation announced on Monday that forward Borisa Simanic has lost one of his kidneys as the result of an injury sustained during a FIBA World Cup game against South Sudan.

Simanic has been operated on twice in Manila, the team said. Additional complications required the second procedure on Sunday when the kidney was removed, team doctor Dragan Radovanovic said.

"It was really tough for us when we heard what happened," Serbian forward Nikola Milutinov told reporters on Monday. "First, we didn't believe it was such a bad thing. It's really affected us. We're really praying for him that he's going to be good as soon as possible."

Simanic was injured with just under two minutes left in Serbia's win over South Sudan last Wednesday. South Sudan's Nuni Omot was trying to score under the basket, elbowing Simanic in the process. Simanic yelled in pain and then fell to his knees. Omot insisted he was not trying to cause an injury.

"We didn't sleep after that game. We were trying to find blood for him, because he was losing a lot of blood," Milutinov added. "It was really a tough moment for everybody."

SWIMMING

Media ban among rules for Russians' return

Individual Russian swimmers will be allowed to compete in international events, including the Paris Olympics, if they meet a set of "strict criteria" that include not talking to the media, the sport's governing body said on Monday.

The World Aquatics governing body published its criteria Monday for Russian and Belarusian athletes, coaches and officials to return to competition as neutrals after being banned because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The criteria follow the International Olympic Committee's guidelines that only individual athletes from Russia and Belarus — no teams — can be allowed to compete in Paris, and that they must not have shown any public support for the war.

World Aquatics said only one Russian and Belarusian athlete will be allowed to enter each swimming and diving event.

They cannot take part in any relays, artistic swimming, synchronized diving, or water polo.

SOCCER

Brazil drops Antony over assault claims

Manchester United winger Antony was dropped from Brazil's squad for upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifying games on Monday following allegations of assault made against him by an ex-girlfriend.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said in a statement that Antony had been stood down in order to "preserve the alleged victim, the player, the Brazil team and the CBF".

Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus will replace Antony in the squad for the games against Bolivia on Sept 8 and Peru on Sept 12.

Antony, 23, on Monday denied physically assaulting ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin in a statement on Instagram, stating he was the "victim of false accusations".

"I can calmly affirm that the accusations are false, and that evidence already produced and that will be produced will show that I am innocent," Antony said.

The denial came after Brazilian media published WhatsApp messages reputedly between Antony and Cavallin in which the player allegedly threatens his ex-partner.

In one of the conversations cited by local media, Cavallin says he must apologize for "kicks and assaults".

Antony then appears to reply "sorry" in response.

United keeper Onana returns for Cameroon

Cameroon keeper Andre Onana on Monday confirmed his return to the squad after a suspension by the Cameroon Football Federation led to his dismissal from the World Cup in Qatar last November.

Onana, Manchester United's new first-choice stopper, has not played for the national team since a dispute with manager Rigobert Song but was named in his squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi.

Cameroon hosts Burundi on Sept 12 needing at least a draw to claim a place at the Nations Cup in the Cote d'Ivoire in January.

"I answer the call of my nation with an unshakable certainty, aware that my return is not only to honor my dream, but also to meet the expectation and support of Cameroonians, who deserve a national team determined to shine," the keeper said in the statement posted on social media.

Qualification could see Onana miss a number of United's fixtures if he is included in Cameroon's squad for the finals.

Spain captain Morata denounces Rubiales

Spain's men's national team on Monday denounced the "unacceptable behavior" of the country's suspended soccer chief Luis Rubiales over his infamous World Cup kiss.

Rubiales, 46, has defied expectations and refused to resign as president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) after forcibly kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain's victory in the Women's World Cup final.

Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata, Spain's captain, read out a statement on behalf of the entire team congratulating their female counterparts on "a historic" achievement.

He said the men's team "expressed their solidarity with the women players and deplored that their success had been tarnished" by Rubiales at the Aug 20 prize-giving ceremony in Sydney.

Morata added: "We want to denounce the unacceptable behavior of Mr. Rubiales who has not lived up to the institution he represents.

"We are firmly on the side of the values enshrined in sport.

"Spanish football should be the source of respect, inspiration, inclusivity and diversity, and should lead by example in its behavior both on and off the pitch."

Hermoso has joined a mass strike of women players, saying she did not consent to the kiss.

Agencies