RIO DE JANEIRO -- The president of cyclings world governing body defended the Olympic road course on Saturday, calling it a fair test and suggesting those who crashed pushed past their limits.Brian Cookson addressed a number of issues during a wide-ranging news conference at the Rio de Janeiro Games at the midway point of the cycling program, including doping, the schedule of the track cycling program and several road racing issues.But perhaps the biggest hot-button issue through a week of competition was a road course that some had labeled too dangerous. One particularly nasty descent caused riders such as Italian star Vincenzo Nibali to go down and left Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten in the hospital.Weve had discussions about the number of crashes and the circumstances, Cookson said. It is my belief and our belief at the UCI that the courses were in the bounds of what was reasonable.Van Vleuten spent several days in the hospital with a concussion and three small fractures to her spine. She flew home to the Netherlands on Friday to continue her recovery.Its the riders responsibility to make the right decisions, Cookson said. I went to speak with Annemiek in the hospital and talked to her, and in her case, it was an error of judgment there.Cookson was also asked about the silver medal won by Olga Zabelinskaya in the time trial. It came just days after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled a ban on Russian athletes who had been barred from competing for prior doping offenses was unenforceable, allowing Zabelinskaya to compete.The Russian cyclist who finished second in the time trial was entitled to be here under the rules of the [World Anti-Doping Agency] and the IOC, Cookson said. Im guessing she will not be the only previously convicted doped athlete at the Games.Cookson has been working to clean up the sport after years of doping, including Lance Armstrongs admission of guilt a few years ago. He said the positive test of a Brazilian cyclist in an out-of-competition test the week before the road race was a sign of progress.Ive said this many times before, cycling has been leading for many years in the fight against doping in sport, Cookson said. Whether there is a small number of athletes trying to cheat, I hope not, but if they are, we will catch them and we will sanction them.In other issues:? Cookson said the UCI is still examining the blood bags from Operation Puerto, the Spanish police investigation into a doping ring led by Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes. Cookson otherwise declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, saying only that when we have something to report, we will.??The UCI is confident WorldTour teams will compete in the team time trial at the world championships in Qatar. Several teams announced plans to boycott the event, in part because they are required to compete at their own expense.??Cookson said he was open to smaller teams in major events such as the Tour de France, but he warned that I think some of the bigger teams would object to that, and there are pros and cons to the details of that. Its something I wouldnt rule, out but lets move forward gradually.??The UCI hopes to expand the cycling program at future Olympics, though Cookson did not say whether it would be merely an expansion of the track program or the addition of another discipline, such as downhill mountain biking or freestyle BMX competition. Wholesale Under Armour Shoes China . 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After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Latest on the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (all times local):12:50 p.m.Matt Anderson and his U.S. mens volleyball teammates have stunned the Brazilians in four sets to deny the previously unbeaten host nation a quarterfinal berth.After two forgettable preliminary matches and facing the real possibility of near-Olympic elimination, Anderson led the charge for a roster packed with Olympic first-timers.Anderson brought it with a spot-on jump serve, big hitting and reliable passing in a 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 25-20 victory that left the raucous, flag-waving pro-Brazil crowd at Maracanazinho arena in disbelief.The U.S. win snapped a four-match losing streak to Brazil in international competition since winning the World League gold medal on July 20, 2014.---12:05 a.m.Simone Manuel of the United States and 16-year-old Penny Oleksiak of Canada tied for the gold medal in the womens 100-meter freestyle, upsetting world-record holder Cate Campbell.Manuel becomes the first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming.Campbell was on pace to take her world record even lower when she made the turn out front, with little sister Bronte right behind her. But the Australian siblings, who teamed up to lead their country to gold in the 4x100 freestyle relay, couldnt hang on.Bronte faded to fourth, and Cate dropped all the way to sixth at the finish.Instead, it was Manuel -- her fingernails painted red, white and blue -- who touched at the same time as Oleksiak, the youngest swimmer in the field.Manuel broke down in tears when she recognized her historic achievement in a sport that still has few African-Americans.---11:45 p.m.Another long night at the Copacabana beach volleyball venue -- even for the players who have already completed their matches.At the conclusion of the group stages, the international volleyball federation drew lots to pair teams up for the knockout round. That took place at around 9 p.m. for the men, with the women having theirs at about 11:30 p.m.But even after the pairings were determined, that wasnt the end of it.The FIVB needed to wait for TV to bless the schedule. That wasnt expected to be announced until about 1 a.m.American Phil Dalhausser said after his match on Thursday that he wouldnt wait to find out the time of his first elimination match. He said staying up and finding out that he needed to be on the court at 11 a.m. Friday would mess up his schedule. The match could also be late at night or even Saturday.Dalhausser and Nick Lucena will play the Austrian team of Robin Seidl and Alexander Huber. Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross will play the Italian team of Laura Giombini and Marta Menegatti.Time TBD.---11:35 p.m.MEDAL ALERT: Simone Manuel of the United States and Penny Oleksiak of Canada have tied for the gold medal in the womens 100-meter freestyle at the Rio Olympics. Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden claims the bronze.---11:25 p.m.Michael Phelps wasnt about to be stopped. Not even by his biggest rival.Phelps blew away Ryan Lochte -- and everyone else, for that matter -- to win his fourth gold medal of the Rio Olympics and 22nd overall with a victory in the 200-meter individual medley Thursday night.This was touted as the last showdown between two of Americas greatest swimmers, though theres never been any question about which one had the upper hand.Phelps became the first swimmer ever to win the same event at four straight Olympics, and he always left Lochte trailing in his wake. Phelps finished a full body-length ahead of the field with total dominance on the breaststroke and freestyle legs, finishing in 1 minute, 54.66 seconds.Lochte didnt even make it to the podium this time, after taking two silvers and a bronze behind Phelps at the last three Olympics. He led at the midway point but faded to fifth.Japans Kosuke Hagino took the silver, while Chinas Wang Shun claimed the bronze.---11:15 p.m.MEDAL ALERT: Michael Phelps wins his fourth gold medal of the Rio Olympics and 22nd overall with a victory in the 200-meter individual medley. Kosuke Hagino of Japan takes the silver and Wang Shun of China earns the bronze. Phelps rival Ryan Lochte did not medal.---10:45 p.m.America has its latest backstroke great.Ryan Murphy completed a sweep of the mens backstroke events, taking gold in the 200 meters Thursday night at the Rio Olympics.Murphy also won the 100 back, becoming the third American man in the last five Olympics to take both races. Aaron Peirsol pulled off the sweep at Athens in 2004 and Lenny Krayzelburg claimed both golds at the 2000 Sydney Games.The 21-year-old Murphy touched in 1 minute, 53.62 seconds. Australias Mitch Larkin grabbed the silver in 1:53.96, just ahead of Russias Evgeny Rylov with the bronze in 1:53.97.The United States has not lost a mens backstroke final at the Olympics since 1992.---This item has been corrected to reflect that Murphy is the third American man in the last five Olympics, not three, to take both races.---10:40 p.m.Rie Kaneto of Japan pulled away from Yulia Efimova to take gold in the womens 200-meter breaststroke at the Rio Olympics.Kaneto grabbed the lead on the third of four laps and powered to the finish comfortably in front. The winning time was 2 minutes, 20.30 seconds.Efimova was 1.67 seconds behind, leaving the Russian with another silver medal. She also finished second to American Lilly King in the 100-meter breaststroke.Chinas Shi Jinglin took the bronze in 2:28.28.Australias Taylor McKeown was top qualifier in the semifinals and grabbed the early lead. But she couldnt hang on, fading to fifth.---10:30 p.m.MEDAL ALERT: Ryan Murphy of the United States has won gold in the 200-meter backstroke, completing a sweep of the mens backstroke events. Mitch Larkin of Australia takes silver and Evgeny Rylov of Russia gets bronze.---10:20 p.m.MEDAL ALERT: Rie Kaneto of Japan has won gold in the womens 200-meter breaststroke at the Rio Olympics. Yulia Efimova of Russia takes the silver and Shi Jinglin of China earns the bronze.---10:20 p.m.MEDAL ALERT: World No. 1 Ma Long has extended Chinas utter domination of table tennis with his 4-0 gold medal win over countryman Zhang Jike, the reigning London champion.The victory Thursday comes a day after Chinese women took gold and silver.Ma, the reigning world champion, came into the tournament expected to win, and he dismantled Zhang, whose first name was inspired by Brazilian soccer star Zico.Despite putting together erratic performances since London, Zhang is known for showing up for big matches.But it was all Ma on Thursday.China has won all but four gold medals since table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988 -- and all the golds at the past two games. If its men and women can take the team titles, as expected, they will have swept gold in Rio, too.Jun Mizutani of Japan beat Vladimir Samsonov, from Belarus, in the bronze medal match.---10:15 p.m.Defending Olympic champion Florent Manaudou looks like the swimmer to beat again in the 50-meter freestyle.The 25-year-old from France posted the top time in the semifinals Thursday night at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, covering one frenetic lap in 21.32.Thirty-five-year-old Anthony Ervin of the United States is back in the final as well, 16 years after he shared the gold with Gary Hall Jr. at the 2000 Sydney Games. Ervin tied with Ukraines Andriy Hovorov for the second-fastest time at 21.46.Another American, Nathan Adrian, was fourth in 21.47.---9:35 p.m.An official says Bulgarian steeplechase athlete Silvia Danekova has been provisionally suspended days before she is due to run in the Olympics after an initial positive drug test in Brazil.The official, who asked not to be identified because the case has not been publicly announced, told The Associated Press on Thursday that the information had been passed from the International Olympic Committee to athletics officials and that the results of a second sample would be needed before further action is taken.Messages seeking comment from Bulgarian team officials were not immediate returned Thursday.Danekova is not a medal contender in the event, which starts with heats on Saturday. The Bulgarian Olympic Committee could not be immediately reached for comment.The 33-year-old runner competed in the Olympics four years ago but did not move beyond the heats.--AP Sports Writer Raf Casert contributed to this report.---9:20 p.m.The U.S. womens field hockey team has improved to 4-0 and will play Britain on Saturday to determine who will win Pool B.Katie Bam scored two goals and helped the U.S. defeat India 3-0 Thursday night.Bam scored in the first and third periods, and Melissa Gonzalez added a goal in the fourth.Goalie Jackie Briggs notched her first shoutout of the Games against India after allowing a single goal in each of the teams first three matches.The United States already had clinched a slot in the quarterfinals. They got off to a strong start by knocking off No. 2 Argentina and No. 3 Australia in their first two matches.---9:15 p.m.The IOC says all four cities bidding for the 2024 Olympics have been told not to invite media to their hospitality houses in Rio.The IOC originally said three cities -- Los Angeles, Rome and Paris -- received notices warning them that the media invitations were against the rules. It said the fourth bid city -- Budapest, Hungary -- was not involved.Later Thursday, the IOC said it happens that all four cities have been reminded of the rules.They IOC said the cities have all been reminded that this was not permitted and have subsequently stopped their activities.Representatives of all four cities are in Rio to observe the Olympics and pitch their bids to IOC members, who will select the host city in September 2017.---8:10 p.m.Officials exploded a backpack found inside the Olympic basketball arena while Spain and Nigeria started their mens game in the nearly entirely empty building.A statement from the Rio Olympic Committee said the backpack was found near a trash container in the bathroom on the top floor. Ticket holders were prevented from entering Carioca Arena 1 because the bag was next to a spectator passageway.The controlled explosion under the guidance of the Federal Police and the Army reverberated with a boom that jarred Spain center Pau Gasol as he was about to take the court.Officials say the backpack contained a tablet, a pair of socks and a jacket.Inspectors allowed the game to start on time, and for volunteers and the media to remain in the building. Spectators were allowed to enter in the first quarter.---8:08 p.m.It was a scary scene for Brazilian fans at the teams arrival in Sao Paulo for the quarterfinals of the Olympic soccer tournament: Neymar limping heavily and with his ankle wrapped up.But the Brazilian football confederation says exxams conducted on the star strikers right foot on Thursday showed no serious injuries.ddddddddddddNeymar is expected to practice on Friday and be fully fit to play in Saturdays match against Colombia at the Arena Corinthians.Neymar did not show signs of the injury in Brazils 4-0 win over Denmark on Wednesday in Salvador, a result that kept alive the hosts dream of winning the soccer gold medal for the first time.He was able to play through the injury but it required treatment after the match and raised some concerns.The Barcelona forward is the top player at the soccer tournament and one of the biggest stars at the Rio Games.---8:05 p.m.There are more complaints about the conditions on some of the courses for the Rio Games on Guanabara Bay.Belgiums Evi Van Acker became the first sailor to fall ill during the games after sailing the polluted waters that were subject of great scrutiny in recent months.Denmarks Allan Norregaard called Van Ackers illness a shame, then said the randomness of the wind on some of the courses inside the bay doesnt make them suitable for the games. He added that its been a waste of the sailors time and is scandalous.He sails in the Nacra 17 class with Anette Viborg. They are 11th after six races.Earlier this week, Denmarks Jonas Hogh-Christensen called the chaotic conditions on an inside course a mockery of sport.---8 p.m.The World Anti-Doping Agency and Court of Arbitration for Sport say they have been targeted by hackers.WADA communications coordinator Maggie Durand tells The Associated Press in an email that the agency was notified of a YouTube video claiming WADAs website had been hacked. She says an investigation and was quickly able to determine that the website had not been compromised, although we continue to monitor activity.She says WADA can confirm that its data base of doping results has not been compromised.Meanwhile, CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb tells the AP there has been an attempt to hack the CAS website. It is not the first time, and certainly not the last time.He says the attempt was apparently unsuccessful but investigations are being made ... to make sure that we have not suffered any damage.Reeb says information on the CAS website is intended for the public and is not confidential.---7:40 p.m.Osea Kolinisau and his rugby sevens teammates can call themselves Fijis first Olympic champions, capping their domination the last two years with an emphatic 43-7 win over Britain in the gold-medal match at Rio.Both teams were unbeaten going into the final, but only one of them has rugby sevens as a national sport. It was all but over at halftime, with the Fijians scoring five tries before the break to 29-0. Kolinisau scored the first of those, reaching back over his head to touch down.Rugby is back in the Olympics for the first time since a 15-a-side tournament was played in 1924. The International Olympic Committee took the decision in 2009 to add the sevens format for Rio, and the Fijians have been preparing ever since to end a drought at the Summer Games.South Africa won the bronze medal with 54-14 win over Japan, which shook up the tournament on day one with an upset win over New Zealand.---This item has been corrected to reflect that South Africa won bronze. Britain won silver.---7:35 p.m.Romania beat top-ranked China to win the gold medal in womens epee fencing Thursday.Its the first medal of the Rio Games for the Romanians, who outscored China 44-38.Ana Maria Popescu helped Romania widen its early gap, scoring four unmatched touches. Yujie Sun got China back within 30-25 ahead of its final bout, but four early scores from Popescu clinched it for the Romanians.Russia beat Estonia 37-31 to claim bronze and an Olympic-leading fifth fencing medal.---7:30 p.m.The IOC will investigate the incident of a Kenyan track and field coach who was sent home from the Olympics after posing as an athlete and giving a doping sample in the runners name.The International Olympic Committee says it has set up a disciplinary commission to look into the matter with regard to the coach and the athlete concerned.The IOC thanked the Kenyan Olympic Committee for its swift action in expelling coach John Anzrah after he was found with 800-meter runner Ferguson Rotichs accreditation card, and after he had provided a urine sample for a doping test.IAAF spokesman Yannis Nikolaou says the federation will ask for a report from the IOC. He says, after the IOC has dealt with the case, the IAAF will decide whether further sanctions must be imposed.---7:20 p.m.Rafael Nadal has pulled out of mixed doubles at the Olympics before playing his first-round match.The International Tennis Federation announced Nadals withdrawal Thursday, when he was supposed to make his debut in that event for Spain at the Rio de Janeiro Games with Garbine Muguruza.Their match against Lucie Hradecka and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic had been scheduled to be Nadals third contest of the day.He reached the quarterfinals in singles and the semifinals in mens doubles with victories earlier Thursday.The Olympics are Nadals first competition in 2+ months. He had been sidelined with an injured left wrist.---7:20 p.m.None of the No. 1 seeds will win gold -- or any medal -- in tennis in Rio de Janeiro.Five events, five early losses for the top seeds. In fact, Serena Williams was the only one to make it out of the opening match. She was upset in the third round.The top-seeded mixed doubles team of Caroline Garcia and Nicolas Mahut of France lost Thursday to Brazils Teliana Pereira and Marcelo Melo 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1). Its the second time at these Olympics that Mahut has fallen in the first round as the No. 1 seed: He and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the Wimbledon champs, were eliminated Sunday in mens doubles.Two other No. 1 seeds were knocked out Sunday. In the mens draw, Novak Djokovic lost to 2009 U.S. Open champ Juan Martin del Potro. Williams, also upset twice as a No. 1 seed in Rio, was eliminated with sister Venus in womens doubles that day.---6:55 p.m.MEDAL ALERT: Britain won the first gold medal of the track cycling program at the Rio Olympics on Thursday, rallying past New Zealand in the final of the mens team sprint by the slimmest of margins.The squad of Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner trailed their rivals when their second and third riders dropped away, but Skinner was able to make up the difference. They finished in a time of 42.440 seconds, lowering the Olympic record that the Kiwis set in the previous round.Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Ed Dawkins stopped the clock in 42.542 seconds.The French team of Gregory Bauge, Francois Pervis and Michael DAlmeida rallied on the final lap to swipe bronze from the Australian team of Nathan Hart, Matt Glaetzer and Patrick Constable.---6:40 p.m.Namibian boxer Jonas Junias lost his first bout four days after he had been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault in the Olympic athletes village.The 22-year-old Junias was the Namibian flag bearer at last weeks opening ceremony. He was one of two boxers arrested on sexual assault charges.Both fighters have been released. Junias was arrested Monday and accused of sexually attacking two housekeepers in the village.Rio organizing committee spokesman Mario Andrada says Junias and Hassan Saada of Morocco were released from police custody Thursday morning.IOC spokesman Mark Adams says Junias was free to compete, hes not been found guilty.Junias lost a unanimous decision to French fighter Hassan Amzile in a light welterweight bout.Junias was surrounded by officials after the fight and did not talk to reporters.---6:40 p.m.Olympic organizers say around 30 percent of volunteers are not turning up for work each day at the Rio de Janeiro Games.IOC spokesman Mark Adams on Thursday called volunteers the backbone of the games but many are not so committed to working for free.The Rio organizing committee said in a statement to The Associated Press that of the 50,000 volunteers involved in the delivery of the Olympic Games, we have an average attendance rate of just over 70 percent.Organizers added that this number allows us to operate at a comfortable level as some volunteers not showing up was factored into our plans.---6:10 p.m.Forget the pressure. Forget the hype. Simone Biles is immune to all of it.Dynamic on vault. Effortless on beam. Jaw-dropping on floor. Brilliant all over. And now, finally, an Olympic champion.The 19-year-old American soared to the all-around title on Thursday afternoon, putting the gap between herself and the rest of the world on full display under the Olympic spotlight. Her total of 62.198 was well clear of silver medalist and Final Five teammate Aly Raisman and Russian bronze medalist Aliya Mustafina.Biles became the fourth straight American woman to win the all-around title and fifth overall while cementing her reputation as the greatest gymnast of her generation and perhaps ever. Her victory was never in doubt and she burst into tears when her long journey to this moment ended when her final total was posted.---6:05 p.m.MEDAL ALERT: US gymnast Simone Biles flips and flies to Olympic all-around gold, teammate Aly Raisman wins silver.---6 p.m.Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena are through to the knockout stage of the Olympic beach volleyball tournament after an extra long victory over Italy.The Americans won 21-13, 21-17, 24-22 on Thursday night to finish unbeaten in group play. Theyll wait for the drawing of lots to find out their opponent in the round of 16.The third set in a beach volleyball match is supposed to be up to 15 -- but the team has to win by 2. The Italians fought off a half-dozen match points before the Americans nailed it down.That left the United States with one mens and one womens team playing for a medal. April Ross and three-time gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings wrapped up pool play with a perfect record on Wednesday.---6 p.m.The chief of NBC Sports says the Rio Games are a huge hit and that he doesnt anticipate having to make concessions to advertisers to make sure they got what they paid for.Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Sports Group said Thursday that a drop in ratings for the networks prime-time coverage of the Rio de Janeiro Games has been offset by increases in people streaming content or watching the Olympics on cable networks like Bravo and NBCSN.Viewership was down markedly on NBC the first two nights but picked up with the success of U.S. swimmers gymnasts. While it still hasnt reached the level of London 2012 Lazarus says he doesnt expect advertisers will have to be compensated with free time.---AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org ' ' '