* USA Gymnastics said on Wednesday (Dec 5) it had filed for bankruptcy protection as the embattled governing body continues to grapple with the aftermath of the Larry Nassar abuse scandal.
* Serena Williams will make her return to the Australian Open for the first time since winning in 2017 when eight-weeks pregnant, it was confirmed Wednesday (Dec 5), with virtually all the world's top 100 players due at Melbourne Park. That includes injury-prone Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.
* Deontay Wilder on Tuesday (Dec 4) called for an immediate rematch with Tyson Fury, dismissing claims from his British rival he would attempt to avoid a return bout after their epic heavyweight duel in Los Angeles.
* Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard must make up his mind whether he wishes to commit to Chelsea and extend his contract worth a rumoured £350,000 (US$450,000) a week, the club's manager Maurizio Sarri said.
* CSKA Sofia, aiming to end Ludogorets's domination of the Bulgarian league, have hired European Cup-winning coach Ljupko Petrovic as a consultant, the 31-time champions said on Wednesday.
* Southampton have appointed Austrian Ralph Hasenhuttl on a 2-1/2 year contract to replace the sacked Mark Hughes as manager, the struggling Premier League club said in a statement on Wednesday.
* Badminton's world governing body on Wednesday (Dec 5) banned former council member Raj Gaya from the sport for life and hit him with a fine of US$50,000 over alleged misuse of funds.
* Dani Rowe, who won Olympic team pursuit gold for Britain at the 2012 London Games under the name of King, announced her retirement from professional cycling on Wednesday. Rowe, a three times team pursuit world champion between 2011 and 2013, won a road race bronze for Wales at this year's Commonwealth Games in Australia.
* MotoGP riders can be classified as race finishers in future even if they and their motorcycles cross the line separately, the sport's governing body (FIM) said on Wednesday.
* Italy's Supercoppa match between Juventus and AC Milan will be staged in Saudi Arabia next month, the Serie A league said in a statement on Wednesday. Serie A said the annual fixture would take place at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah on Jan. 16.
* A second-half salvo from Atletico Madrid helped them sweep past Sant Andreu 4-0 on Wednesday and into the Copa del Rey last 16 5-0 on aggregate.
* Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games organisers have formally proposed moving the start time of the marathon races forward to avoid the worst of the Japanese capital's scorching summer heat.
