French heavyweight boxer TONY YOKA's appeal against a one-year ban for doping violations was rejected on Tuesday, "denting his hopes of winning a world title." He was handed a 12-month suspension last month by the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) for "failing three times to provide necessary information on his whereabouts" for out-of-competition drug tests (AFP, 8/14). ... Brazil World Cup winner RONALDO was discharged from a hospital in Ibiza after suffering from pneumonia. The 41-year-old said that he returned home on Tuesday (BBC, 8/14). ... Former French Rugby Federation (FFR) President PIERRRE CAMOU died Wednesday, aged 72. Camou served as FFR president from '08-16. In '11, he launched the campaign for France to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup (L’ÉQUIPE, 8/15). ... Argentina's "disastrous" World Cup forced LIONEL MESSI into a "rethink" and he reportedly decided he will not play for his country again in '18. With LIONEL SCALONI in caretaker charge, it remains to be seen who will be the next permanent Argentina coach and now it "remains to be seen when or if Messi will be back" (MARCA, 8/14). ... WANDA NARA, the wife of Inter Milan striker MAURO ICARDI, said that she is willing to criticize her husband "after taking on a punditry role for Mediaset." Nara will appear on the football show Tiki Taka, which airs every Monday on Italia 1 (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 8/15).
