World Sports News in Brief

England to play Euro 2020 qualifier with Kosovo at St Mary's

Southampton's St Mary's Stadium has been confirmed as the venue for England's Euro 2020 qualifier against Kosovo in September, the Football Association said on Wednesday. It will be the first time England have played in Southampton since October 2002 when Sven-Goran Eriksson's side were held to a 2-2 draw by Macedonia.

Premier League - Southampton v AFC Bournemouth - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 27, 2019 General view inside the stadium before the match. (Reuters)
Premier League - Southampton v AFC Bournemouth - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 27, 2019 General view inside the stadium before the match. (Reuters)

* Brighton and Hove Albion defender Gaetan Bong has signed a new one-year deal running until June 2020, the Premier League club said on Wednesday. Bong, who was out of contract at the end of the season, has made 47 Premier League appearances since helping the club reach the top flight in 2017.

* Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua will defend his titles against California-based Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr in New York on June 1, the Briton's promoter announced on Wednesday.

* Former player Justin Gimelstob will step down from the ATP board of directors and will not seek re-election after being sentenced following a felony battery charge, the New York Times quoted him as saying on Wednesday. Gimelstob was at one time considered a possible successor to outgoing executive chairman and president of the governing body of men's tennis (ATP) Chris Kermode.

* West Ham United defender Pablo Zabaleta has exercised an option in his contract to extend his stay at the London Stadium until 2020, the Premier League club said on Wednesday. Zabaleta, 34, has made 65 appearances for West Ham since joining on a free transfer from Manchester City in July 2017, including 26 so far this season.

* Spurs Ladies secured automatic promotion to the FA Women's Super League for the first time in their history with a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on Wednesday which means they finish runners-up in the second-tier Championship.

* Olympic 800-metres champion Caster Semenya on Wednesday (May 1) lost her appeal against rules that mean middle distance female athletes with a high natural level of testosterone must take medication to reduce it. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled the regulations were necessary for athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) to ensure fair competition.

* Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery for an injury sustained in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw at Manchester United, the London club said.

Reuters, CNA