OLYMPICS roundup

Golf

Spieth is latest top pro to say ‘No’ to Rio

Troon, Scotland

Jordan Spieth withdrew from the Olympics on Monday, leaving golf without its top four players when the sport returns to the games for the first time since 1904.

The decision was announced by International Golf Federation President Peter Dawson.

Spieth was the last player to say he was not going to Rio, telling the IGF it was for “health reasons.” Spieth was practicing at Royal Troon during the IGF news conference and was not expected to speak until Tuesday.

Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy previously withdrew, all citing the Zika virus. Day and Johnson have said they plan on having more children, while McIlroy is engaged and said he would soon be starting a family.

Track and Field

Despite injuries, Bolt makes Jamaican team

Kingston, Jamaica

Usain Bolt’s quest for more Olympic gold is back on, as expected.

The Jamaican Olympic Committee released its delegation for next month’s Rio Games on Monday, and Bolt is among the selections even though an injury kept him from formally qualifying at his country’s national championships.

Bolt is listed as a qualifier in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay. He has six Olympic gold medals, sweeping those events at the Beijing Games in 2008 and the London Games in 2012.

Bolt withdrew from Jamaica’s national meet on July 1 with a slight tear in his left hamstring, doing so just before the 100-meter final.

Olympic village

Brazil wants African religions represented

RIO DE JANEIRO

Brazilian public defenders have recommended to Rio de Janeiro’s city hall and Olympic organizers that religions of African origin be represented in the ecumenical center of the Athletes Village.

Public defender Edison Santana told The Associated Press on Monday that his recommendation is based on the fact that only Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism are currently included.

Rio Games organizers said other services could be provided.

Santana said the recommendation is a way to settle the issue without a lawsuit and that organizers have 10 days to respond.

Track and Field

Gay gets chance to recapture relay medal

Eugene, ORE.

Sprinter Tyson Gay will be going to the Olympics, where he’ll have a chance to help the U.S. win a relay medal more than two years after his doping case cost the team its silver from the 2012 Games.

The 33-year-old Gay, who dominated sprints for a time before Usain Bolt came onto the scene, struggled at Olympic trials, finishing fifth in the 100 and sixth in the 200.

But U.S. coaches chose him Monday for the relay team, meaning he could run in the Olympic preliminaries or the final.

Gay tested positive for a banned substance in 2013, and accepted a one-year ban that also cost the U.S. its relay silver from London.

Others added to the relay pool included 2009 U.S. champion Mike Rodgers and Francena McCorory, the 2014 world indoor champion at 400 meters.

Associated Press