Tiote's agent scolds speculation

LONDON - The agent of the late Cheick Tiote on Wednesday called for the media to cease making unsubstantiated claims about the cause of the Cote d'Ivoire midfielder's death.

The 52-time capped star - a member of the Cote d'Ivoire squad that ended a 23-year drought in winning the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations - died after fainting during training with second division side Beijing Enterprises on June 5. He was 30 years of age.

His death shocked the soccer world, reverberating in England, where he played for seven years at Newcastle United before joining the Chinese club in February.