England record goalscorer WAYNE ROONEY will "retire from international football after the 2018 World Cup in Russia." The ManU forward was "speaking to the media for the first time" since new England Manager SAM ALLARDYCE confirmed "he would keep the 30-year-old as his captain." Rooney said, "Come Russia I feel that will be the time to say goodbye to international football. My mind is made up" (BBC, 8/30). ... Bronze Medalist judoka YARDEN GERBI has "sold her Olympic name tag through the eBay auction site," raising almost NIS 200,000 ($52,748), which "she intends to donate for medical equipment at a Tel Aviv hospital." Gerbi said that "she will dedicate the tag to the seller and sign it." She added that the money "would go to the children's oncology ward" (TIMES OF ISRAEL, 8/29). ... The Turkish Basketball Federation has officially suspended STEPHANE LASME for one year "for using prohibited substances." The player was "found positive at two different controls during last season." Lasme will also pay a $50,000 fine (SPORTANDO, 8/29). ... India's Rio Olympians -- shuttler P.V. SINDHU, wrestler SAKSHI MALIK, gymnast DIPA KARMAKAR and shooter JITU RAI -- were "conferred the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awards," the country's highest sporting honor. This was the first time in the history of the National Sports Awards "that four athletes were chosen for the Khel Ratna" (IANS, 8/29).
