Update on the latest sports

NFL-PACKERS-RODGERS

Rodgers missing from minicamp

GREEN BAY, Wisc. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers wasn’t with the Green Bay Packers for their first mandatory minicamp session. This marks the latest chapter in the standoff between the team and its MVP quarterback.

Rodgers also hadn’t participated in the Packers’ voluntary organized team activities. That represented change from his usual offseason routine. The Packers have the option to fine Rodgers just over $93,000 if he misses all three minicamp sessions this week.

Rodgers’ future with the team has been uncertain ever since ESPN reported shortly before this year’s draft that the three-time MVP doesn’t want to return to Green Bay.

In other developments from NFL camps:

—Tom Brady is back on the practice field with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 43-year-old quarterback was a full participant Tuesday at mandatory minicamp for the Super Bowl champions, taking part in individual drills and doing some 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work. Coach Bruce Arians said last week there was a chance he’d limit Brady’s involvement as he recovers from offseason knee surgery.

—The NFL will spend up to $1 million funding up to five studies that will examine how to better help players ease their pain and find alternatives to opioids. Those potential alternatives include marijuana and other cannabis-derived products. The league and the NFL Players Association formed a joint pain management committee in 2019 to help find alternatives to opioids and give players and league medical staffs information on pain management. Some retired NFL players have spoken out about their use of marijuana during their time in the league and said it’s a better way of managing pain than the drugs prescribed by team doctors. The league prohibits marijuana use by players.

— The San Francisco 49ers have lost two more backups to significant injuries during offseason workouts. The team announced that safety Tarvarius Moore tore his Achilles tendon and offensive lineman Justin Skule tore the ACL in his knee during Monday’s practice. Moore and Skule join running back Jeff Wilson Jr. on the offseason injury list for San Francisco. Wilson tore the meniscus in his knee last month and will miss at least the first six weeks of the season.

— Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was held out of parts of practice Tuesday because of tightness in his left hamstring. The No. 1 overall draft pick returned after getting some treatment on the field and threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew also had a pass tipped and returned for a score.

— The Baltimore Ravens have signed guard Michael Schofield. Schofield played 11 games last season for the Carolina Panthers, starting three. Prior to that, Schofield played for the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos.

—Retired quarterback Philip Rivers has won the Pro Football Writers of America’s Good Guy Award for his cooperation with reporters. Rivers earned praise for consistently tackling all topics, even in a Zoom setting, and offering answers with perspective, wit and originality during his career. He retired at 39 after one season with Indianapolis in 2020 following 16 years with the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers. Rivers led the Chargers to the playoffs seven times and is the franchise’s all-time passing leader.

MLB-RED SOX-SALE

Red Sox ace Sale eager to return, as team preaches patience

BOSTON (AP) — Injured Red Sox ace Chris Sale made a positive step in his return from Tommy John sugery, throwing 25 pitches off a bullpen mound at Fenway Park.

The 31-year-old left-hander said he would start tomorrow if the team would let him. But Red Sox manager Alex Cora said they needed to be patient to make sure Sale comes through rehab OK. Sale had elbow ligament replacement surgery in March, 2020. It typically takes a minimum of 12 months to recover from the procedure, but can stretch to two years.

Also in the majors:

—The Washington Nationals have put pitcher Austin Voth on the 10-day injured list with a fractured nose. Voth was sent to a Philadelphia hospital Sunday to get his nose reset after it was broken when he was hit by a pitch while squaring around to bunt against Philadelphia’s Vince Velasquez. He exited with a towel covering a gash across his nose after the ball deflected off the bill of his batting helmet. Washington manager Dave Martinez said Voth’s nose was broken in a few places and his left eye is pretty much swollen shut.

OLYMPIC SKATER-ARREST

Ex-Olympic skater charged with defrauding virus relief fund

NEW YORK (AP) — A former Olympic figure skater has been arrested on charges that he ripped off a program to help struggling small businesses harmed by the coronavirus.

Luka Klasinc, a 48-year-old Slovenian man, is charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said Klasinc used false documents to try to get over $1 million in aid. Authorities say he claimed to run an event management company that stages major ice-themed amusement park style events worldwide.

Klasinc finished 26th at the 1992 Winter Olympics.

OLYMPICS-TOKYO-REFUGEE TEAM

Refugee team of 29 athletes picked for Tokyo Olympics

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The refugee team for the Tokyo Olympics has 29 athletes competing in 12 sports. The team picked by the International Olympic Committee was drawn from 55 athletes who fled their home countries and got scholarships to train for the games in a new home country.

The 29 athletes are an increase from 10 in the inaugural refugee team at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. They are originally from Africa, Asia and South America.

IOC president Thomas Bach says they will “send a powerful message of solidarity, resilience and hope to the world.”

MEDINA SPIRIT-LAWSUIT

Baffert, Medina Spirit owners sue Kentucky racing officials

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Trainer Bob Baffert and the owners of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit have filed a lawsuit against Kentucky racing officials.

They are seeking a temporary injunction they say is to prevent violation of due process rights and for custody of “remnant” samples of the colt’s urine to prove that traces of the steroid betamethasone found in his system during a positive drug test did not come from an injection. Baffert and Zedan Racing Stables filed the lawsuit against the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in Franklin County Circuit Court in Louisville, Kentucky. The suit states that the KHRC told the trainer and connections on June 1 that remnant samples of the samples had been “damaged/contaminated” during transport to the testing lab.

PGA-ARGENTINA-CABRERA EXTRADITED

Golfer Cabrera extradited to Argentina on assault charges

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Argentine golfer Ángel Cabrera, who has played on the PGA has been extradited from Brazil to his homeland to face trial on charges he assaulted three former partners. The 51-year-old Cabrera has been in jail since January when Brazil’s federal police arrested him on an Interpol warrant. Cabrera had spent months on the run from an Argentine case involving assault claims by three former partners who accuse Cabrera of assault, intimidation and causing injuries. Cabrera is the most accomplished golfer from South America. He won the U.S. Open at Oakmont in 2007 and the Masters in 2009.

FRENCH OPEN

Zverev in semifinal

PARIS (AP) — Alexander Zverev has reached his third Grand Slam semifinal and first at the French Open. The sixth-ranked German overcame a slow start to beat Spanish opponent Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 in little more than 1 1/2 hours.

— Tamara Zidansek is the first Slovenian woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal. The 85th-ranked Zidansek beat Paula Badosa of Spain 7-5, 4-6, 8-6. She had never been beyond the second round at a Slam prior to this tournament.

— Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova reached the first Grand Slam semifinal of her career by coming back to beat doubles partner Elena Rybakina 6-7 (2), 6-2, 9-7.