Australian cricketer CHRIS ROGERS "apologised for his company's attempt to sell unauthorised hospitality tickets" to the Ashes Test at Lord's, and revealed he had planned to involve England players STEVE FINN and SAM ROBSON as special guests. Inside Edge Experience, co-founded by Rogers and former Middlesex teammate TOM SCOLLAY, had been "blocked from selling 10 packages" for up to £2,910 ($4,600) each. Rogers "denied intentional wrongdoing, and said that clients who had purchased hospitality packages had been refunded" (London TELEGRAPH, 6/24). ... Former Brazilian national team and Brasileiro side Avaí footballer EDUARDO COSTA announced his "immediate retirement from football" on Tuesday. Costa is "retiring at the age of 32" (ESTADÃO, 6/23). ... The film that "depicts the story" of Brazilian surfer RICO DE SOUZA "will run during seven sessions" this weekend in Rio de Janeiro. The film, which was released in January, "gained an honorable mention at the San Diego Film Festival" (GLOBO ESPORTE, 6/24). ... Super League side St. Helens player PAUL WELLENS announced his immediate retirement from rugby league because of a hip injury. Wellens will "take up a coaching position" at Langtree Park as part of KEIRON CUNNINGHAM's staff. The 35-year-old full-back "spent his entire career with Saints since his debut" in '98 (BBC, 6/24). ... The Spanish government's disciplinary committee for sports has suspended Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) President JOSÉ LUIS ESCAÑUELA for one month for "failing to collaborate in a probe" into the organization's finances. Spain's Superior Sports Council (CSD) said that it is "attempting to track down what happened" to at least €700,000 ($783,300) that the federation, which lists Transparency Int'l as one of its sponsors, "paid out in transactions" linked to the RFET and the Spanish Tennis Observatory (REUTERS, 6/24). ... Scottish swimmer CAITLIN MCCLATCHEY announced her retirement. McClatchey, 29, "competed for Britain in three Olympic Games" and won two Gold Medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. She said that she was "excited about embarking on new challenges following an 'incredible 10-year career'" (BBC, 6/24).
