Sports News Roundup: Major League Baseball, Cuba ink deal so players can sign without defecting; Five-times Olympic champion Franklin retires at 23

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Federal bill would regulate U.S. sports betting

The nascent U.S. legal sports betting market would be subject to federal oversight under a bill introduced in Congress on Wednesday, one that will surely face opposition from the casino industry and some states. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch and Democratic Senator Charles Schumer introduced the bill, which aims to protect consumers and sports integrity and would require states to seek federal approval to run a sports betting program.

Top U.S. rhythmic gymnast Zeng handed six-month doping ban

Laura Zeng, the United States top-ranked rhythmic gymnast and winner of five Pan Am Games gold medals, was handed a six-month ban on Wednesday by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Zeng, who also represented the United States at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, tested positive for the banned diuretic and masking agent acetazolamide in an out-of-competition test on Oct. 18, USADA said in a statement.

Wizards' Howard says he's pain-free after surgery

Nearly three weeks after undergoing a lumbar microdiscectomy, Dwight Howard surprised his Washington Wizards teammates Tuesday evening in Atlanta ahead of their matchup against the Hawks and told reporters he's pain free and has his eye on a championship comeback this season. Howard said he has been rehabbing at home in Atlanta because "I know if I would have been around the team after the surgery, I would have wanted to been out there and play. ... I think the team doctors had the best solution: Go home, get your mind right, get your body right and when you return, let's get to that championship."

Packers QB Rodgers says he's playing vs. Jets

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told reporters Wednesday he plans to play through his groin injury Sunday against the New York Jets. "It's about leadership," said Rodgers, who hurt the groin in Sunday's loss to the Bears but played through the issue. "How can I stand here and say these games don't matter? ... That's not the way I lead. I'm super competitive."

Five-times Olympic champion Franklin retires at 23

Missy Franklin, the 2012 World Swimmer of the Year, announced her retirement on Wednesday at age 23, citing intense pain from shoulder injuries that have dogged her for nearly three years. Franklin was a 17-year-old when she won the 100 and 200 meters backstroke events at the 2012 London Olympics, the latter in a world-record time that still stands more than six years later.

Tennis: Sport faces 'serious integrity problem' - review panel

Scrapping official live scoring data at the lowest level of professional tennis and taking a harder line on "tanking" are among the recommendations made by an International Review Panel in a report published on Wednesday. The panel was formed in 2016 by the sport's four main professional governing bodies to address betting-related and other integrity issues.

Nagy says Bears won't rest starters

Chicago Bears: With a chance at the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, Bears coach Matt Nagy said he has no plans to rest quarterback Mitchell Trubisky of any of his other starters in Sunday's game at San Francisco. "That's not even in the world of consideration for us," Nagy said Wednesday. "We're trying to win. There's too many other things that can happen and the fact of the matter is, realistically speaking, is we can be a higher seed. If you have an opportunity to do that, they why wouldn't you try for that?" The NFC North champions are 10-4 and one game behind the Los Angeles Rams for the second seed. If the teams finish tied, Chicago would earn the first-round bye because of its Week 14 win against the Rams at Soldier Field. Detroit Lions: Rookie running back Kerryon Johnson was officially placed on injured reserve Wednesday, ending a promising debut campaign that included a pair of 100-yard games -- the first by a Lions rusher since 2013. The second-rounder from Auburn suffered a left knee sprain in a Week 11 win against Carolina and finishes the season with 118 rushes for 641 yards and three touchdowns, plus 32 catches for 213 yards and a score. Johnson's average of 5.4 yards per carry is tied for second in the NFL among qualifying backs with fellow rookie Philip Lindsay of the Broncos, trailing only Green Bay's Aaron Jones (5.5). Jones was also placed on IR this week.

Sabres place suspended F Berglund on unconditional waivers

The Buffalo Sabres announced Wednesday they have placed suspended forward Patrik Berglund on unconditional waivers with the intent of terminating his contract. Berglund, 30, was suspended indefinitely Dec. 15 due to "failure to report" to the team for its road game at Washington. The team declined further comment.

Major League Baseball, Cuba ink deal so players can sign without defecting

Major League Baseball (MLB) and Cuba's Baseball Federation said on Wednesday they had inked a deal allowing Cuban players to sign with U.S. teams without needing to defect from the Communist-run island and undertake dangerous journeys via human traffickers. The deal will mark the first time since the Caribbean country's 1959 revolution that Cuban players can legally sign with MLB teams without the need to defect and is a ray of light in fraught bilateral relations that have deteriorated since Donald Trump became president.

Panthers holding out Newton versus Falcons

The Carolina Panthers are holding out quarterback Cam Newton from Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons due to his ailing right shoulder, coach Ron Rivera told reporters on Wednesday. Newton will likely miss the regular-season finale against the New Orleans Saints as well, but the team elected not to put him on injured reserve.

(With inputs from Reuters)