Wrestling power Japan, which swept four gold in London, reacted with dismay Wednesday after Olympic chiefs said the 2020 Games would not include the sport, depriving the country of a rich source of medals.

"I really don't know why. I am so devastated that I don't know what to do," said Saori Yoshida, Japan's undisputed wrestling queen who has won a record 13 straight Olympic and world championship gold medals over 10 years.

A French international footballer is being investigated in connection with the soliciting of a minor for prostitution, judicial sources told Agence France Presse on Wednesday.

The player's name appeared in the mobile phone of an under-age girl who has been arrested on shop-lifting charges and whose profile was sufficient to justify the opening of a preliminary investigation, the sources said.

South Africa coach Gordon Igesund has been admitted to hospital due to severe abdominal pain, a national football association spokesman said Wednesday.

The doctor treating the 56-year-old said initial tests showed he might be suffering from appendicitis and that further investigations would be done to confirm the diagnosis.

Outwitting Alex Ferguson has never been so important for Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho as he potentially puts his short- and long-term future on the line in the last-16 match against Manchester United in the Champions League.

With Madrid trailing Barcelona by 16 points in the Spanish league, the pressure is on Mourinho to deliver success in Europe and win the continent's most glittering prize for the club for the 10th time.

IOC leaders dropped wrestling from the Olympic program on Tuesday, a surprise decision that removes one of the oldest Olympic sports from the 2020 Games.

The IOC executive board decided to retain modern pentathlon — the event considered most at risk — and remove wrestling instead from its list of 25 "core sports."

The Charlotte Bobcats ended Boston's seven-game winning streak as Byron Mullens scored 25 points and had 18 rebounds in a 94-91 win over the Celtics on Monday.

Kevin Garnett had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Celtics, but missed a key 18-foot shot that would have given Boston the lead late in the game. Paul Pierce and Avery Bradley had chances to send the game into overtime in the final seconds, but missed open 3-pointers.

West Bromwich Albion punished Liverpool for an inefficient display at Anfield on Monday, soaking up 80 minutes of pressure before scoring two late goals for a 2-0 victory and its first Premier League win since December.

Steven Gerrard looked set to finally provide the breakthrough for a dominant Liverpool when the hosts were awarded a penalty in the 77th minute, but goalkeeper Ben Foster dove to his left to palm his spot kick away — one of several key saves that kept the visitors in the game.

Robbie Keane would like to manage Ireland in the future.

The 32-year-old forward, Ireland's captain and career scoring leader with 54 goals, has won two Major League Soccer titles with the Los Angeles Galaxy and last month agreed to a contract through 2014. When he's done playing, he'd like to move into management.

Thierry Henry wants football officials to deduct points in the standings from teams whose fans racially abuse players.

Several players have been targets of abuse from supporters in recent weeks, including American forward Jozy Altidore of Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, Barcelona defender Daniel Alves and AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, who led his teammates off the field during a friendly in protest.

Arsenal has allowed much-maligned defender Andre Santos to join Brazilian team Gremio on loan for the rest of the season.

Santos has become third-choice left back at the Premier League club — behind Kieran Gibbs and recent signing Nacho Monreal — and has been heavily criticized by Arsenal fans for some poor displays this season.