Boxing: Former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali has been hospitalised for a respiratory issue, family spokesman Bob Gunnell said. Ali was in fair condition but that a brief hospital stay was expected. Ali, 74, has been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease for more than three decades and has kept a low profile in recent years.

Cycling: Cyclist Tejay Van Garderen has withdrawn from consideration for the US team for the Rio Olympics over concerns that the Zika virus outbreak could present risks for his pregnant wife. US health officials have concluded that Zika infections, a mosquito-borne virus, in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a birth defect that can lead to severe problems in babies.

Basket, NBA finals: Golden State Warriors needed a big lift from their bench to down Cleveland Cavaliers 104-89 in the NBA Finals opener in Oakland on Thursday. With Warriors sharpshooters Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson going cold, Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala and Leandro Barbosa spearheaded a decisive 15-0 run at end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter.

Athletics: Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana ran the second fastest women’s 5,000m in history as she missed out on the world record by just over a second at the Rome Diamond League late Thursday. The world champion finished more than 20 seconds ahead of Kenya’s Mercy Cherono in 14:12.59 but failed to break the 14:11.15 set by Tirunesh Dibaba.