Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Golf: Career will not be defined by a few bad years, says Spieth

Jordan Spieth has not lifted a trophy since the 2017 British Open and has drifted to 21st in the world rankings but the Texan says he would have had a good career even if he never wins again and that he will not go chasing results. The former world number one triumphed 11 times on the PGA Tour before turning 24 but is coming off the first disappointing year of his career. Briton Gill battles brutal conditions to claim World Marathon title

British runner Susannah Gill has won the women's title at the World Marathon Challenge after completing seven marathons in seven days, battling diverse conditions across seven continents. Gill finished a grueling 295-kilometre (183 miles) challenge in a world record time of 24 hours, 19 minutes and nine seconds, burning up to 5,000 calories a day. Golf: Nitties sinks record nine successive birdies in Australia

Australian James Nitties made nine successive birdies in the opening round of his home Vic Open in Barwon Heads on Thursday, matching Mark Calcavecchia's 10-year-old record. Starting from the 10th hole at 13th Beach Golf Links, Melbourne man Nitties made his remarkable run from the par-four 15th through to the par-five fifth at the European Tour co-sanctioned event. Vonn misses downhill training again

Lindsey Vonn skipped women's downhill training for the second day running at the Alpine skiing world championships on Thursday, two days after suffering a high-speed crash in the Super-G that left her battered and bruised. Sunday's downhill in Are will be the final race of the former Olympic champion's career after she announced her retirement last week. Olympics: USOC doubles funding to $6.2 million to aid sex abuse investigations

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) will double its annual funding to $6.2 million for the entity which investigates sexual abuse complaints raised by Olympic athletes, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said on Wednesday. Grassley, who is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, asked the USOC in a letter two weeks ago to outline the steps being taken to support athletes affected by the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal and prevent future abuse of athletes. Top 25 roundup: No. 14 Villanova tops Creighton in OT to extend streak

Freshman Saddiq Bey scored a career-high 17 points to carry No. 14 Villanova to a 66-59 overtime win over visiting Creighton on Wednesday. Eric Paschall scored 15 points, Phil Booth added 14 and Collin Gillespie had 13 as the Wildcats (19-4, 10-0 Big East) won their 11th in a row. Russian race walker Kirdyapkina gets doping ban - CAS

Russian race walker Anisya Kirdyapkina has been suspended for doping and is set to be stripped of two world championship medals, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Thursday. "All results of Ms Kirdyapkina since 25 February 2011 were disqualified through to 11 October 2013, including forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points and prize and appearance money obtained during this period," CAS said in a statement. Body recovered from wreckage of plane carrying footballer Sala: UK investigator

A body has been recovered from the wreckage of the plane that was carrying Argentina-born professional soccer player Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) in Britain said late on Wednesday. The agency did not disclose the identity of the body. Qatar climb 38 places in FIFA rankings after Asian Cup triumph

Qatar have moved up to 55th in the FIFA world rankings, their best position in 26 years, after their breakthrough Asian Cup triumph in the United Arab Emirates last week. The 2022 World Cup hosts' remarkable run at the continental championship, where they won all seven games and conceded only one goal, allowed them to move up 38 places from 93rd in the world. NBA roundup: Bucks stay hot, pound Wizards

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 43 points, Eric Bledsoe added 22 points and 11 assists, and the Milwaukee Bucks routed the visiting Washington Wizards 148-129 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight win. Antetokounmpo made 17 of 21 field-goal attempts, including 3 of 3 from 3-point range, as Milwaukee beat the Wizards for the second time in less than a week.