RIO DE JANEIRO - Ary Graca, the former head of the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation, says he acted in the best interests of the body despite allegations of corruption and malfeasance.Graca is being investigated by a federal anti-corruption agency, which has cited financial irregularities in a 50-page document and alleges he channeled millions to companies controlled by his friends and relatives.Graca stepped down from his role at the CBV earlier this year but remains president of the Switzerland-based FIVB, the world governing body of the sport. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.The brewing scandal is touching Rio de Janeiros 2016 Olympics.The CBV, which has been threatened with legal action from Graca, said Friday it would not hold a FIBV-sponsored Olympic test event in Rio in July, as scheduled. The test events are seen as crucial to the efficient running of the Olympics, which will open Aug. 5, 2016.Volleyball is probably the second-most popular sport in Brazil, and ties to the Olympics run deep.The head of Rios Olympic organizing committee is Carlos Nuzman, a former president of the CBV who built the sport into a local powerhouse. An International Olympic Committee member, he is not accused of any wrongdoing in the report issued by Brazils Comptroller Generals office, known as the CGU.In a statement Friday, the FIVB said it was aware of the allegations against Graca.The FIVB said it is important to point out that Ary Graca, and others accused, have rigorously and consistently denied any wrongdoing and have openly explained how, at all times, they acted in the best interests of Brazilian volleyball.The statement said Brazilian volleyball had benefited from about 350 million Brazilian reals ($140 million) in commercial services under Gracas leadership.As the president and others from the former CBV management team have mounted legal proceedings against the organizations and individuals for making false accusations, it is not appropriate for the FIVB to comment further on these matters until all investigations and legal action have been completed, the FIVB said.A top player on Brazils mens national volleyball team said players feel betrayed by Graca.Most of the players have the same feeling of betrayal, player Murilo Endres said in an interview Friday with ESPN in Brazil. We have dedicated our time, our sweat, our knees, our shoulders, our ankles to this person and, unfortunately, we were betrayed by him. Indignation and betrayal summarize our feelings. But we will go after this, so it does not go unpunished.It is not clear if Brazils court system will act on the findings of the anti-corruption body.The CGU said the volleyball confederation under Graca misappropriated about $11 million in sponsorship income, channeling it to companies controlled by Gracas friends and relatives. State-run Banco do Brasil said Thursday it was halting sponsorship payments to the confederation.In a statement Thursday, the volleyball confederation said it was under new management and had put in place responsible governance, and above all, ethics. It said it had made its accounts available to supervisory authorities and had set up a permanent internal audit.What we want, what the volleyball community wants, is morality in the sport, coach Bernado Rezende said. The people on the courts are suffering with this. I, myself, had health problems because of all of this that is happening. We are on the courts, playing, fighting, and we see things like this.___Stephen Wade on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephenWadeAP Fred Biletnikoff Jersey . I wondered how NHL coaches would feel about a playoff schedule that allowed them to open a best-of-seven series on the road, which many claim to favour, yet still gave them the precious home-ice edge for a seventh game. Lyle Alzado Jersey . -- Omar Infante walked past the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, where he dressed so many times as a member of the Detroit Tigers, and slipped on a crisp, new Kansas City Royals jersey. http://www.authenticraiderspro.com/Customized/ . The four-time Grand Slam champion has beaten Hantuchova nine straight times, with the Slovaks only win coming when they first played 10 years ago. "I had a tough first opponent who can play extremely good tennis," Sharapova said. Ted Hendricks Jersey . made a diving catch in left field for the final out in a 1-0 victory over the Miami Marlins in a regular-season finale Sunday. Zimmermann (14-5) allowed only two baserunners, finishing with 10 strikeouts and one walk in the fifth no-hitter in the majors this year. George Blanda Jersey . -- The Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a minor league contract with reliever Brandon Lyon that includes an invitation to their big league camp for spring training.HOUSTON -- Houston rookie George Springer has had a month to remember. And hes not about to let up. Springer hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning, and the Astros extended their winning streak to six with a 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Springers shot to left off Preston Guilmet (0-1) extended the rookies hitting streak to 11 games and was his seventh homer in his last seven games. The shot barely got over the left field wall. "I was screaming at it," Springer said. "I was saying Go, go, go and it went. So thank you, baseball." Springers 10 home runs in May extended his Astros rookie record and tied him for the third most long balls by a rookie in May with Jose Canseco, Wally Joyner and Walt Dropo. Mark McGwire set the rookie record for home runs in May with 15 in 1987. "What a guy," Houston manager Bo Porter said of Springer. "Its been pretty impressive. Its fun to watch. Its almost must-see TV." Springer said he was happy to help the Astros continue winning and gave a lot of credit to the man hitting before him in the lineup, Jose Altuve, who had three hits. "The guy thats on base, and its always Jose Altuve," Springer said of his late game poise. "Hes always on base, and with him on base, I understand that hes a threat. With him on base, if they miss, I have to hit it." Springer became the first Astros rookie to hit seven home runs in seven games and first Houston player to do it since Morgan Ensberg in 2006. Ensberg, however, hit his seven home runs over a six-game span. "Hes an exciting player," Porter said. "At any moment, he can change the game with one swing. It doesnt matter if hes 0 for 3 or 3 for 3, he has the ability to impact the game every time he steps into the batters box." Brad Peacock allowed a run on six hits with eight strikeouts in six innings. Peacock, who was scratched prior to his scheduled start May 24 at Seattle with forearm soreness, went six innings for the fifth straight start. Porter said it was the best Peacock had pitched all season. Peacock said it was the best he had felt all year, and he was able to locate his pitches. "I went out there, I wasnt scared," Peacock said. "I threw my fastball, the team came up with some big plays. Springer got the homer and the team got the win. Thats all you can ask for." Josh Fiellds (1-3) threw two scoreless innings for the win, and Chad Qualls pitched the ninth for his fourth save.dddddddddddd Ubaldo Jimenez allowed one run on three hits with eight strikeouts in six innings. Jimenez had struggled in his last two outings, allowing 10 runs in nine innings. "I was able to get a little bit deeper in the game and thats always good," Jimenez said. "Hopefully I get deeper than that in my next game. I felt good. I was able to be there for the team." Houston could not take capitalize with runners in scoring position, going 0 for 11 against Jimenez and finishing 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position with the lone hit being Springers home run. Nelson Cruz remained hot, extending his hit streak to 10 games with two hits, including an RBI single in the fourth that tied it at 1. The Orioles losing streak reached three games. "Its not always going to click together," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said of the Orioles inconsistency of late. "Youre hoping one part of the game is good enough to offset another and we have for the most part. I have a lot of confidence that our best baseball is ahead of us. Tonight we just didnt swing the bats well enough Ubaldo deserved a better fate." Jason Castro scored from third on a wild pitch by Jimenez in the second on a close play at the plate to make it 1-0. After a 4 minute, 25 second review, the call was upheld -- Castro was safe. Jimenez, who had loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a single before Castro scored, escaped the inning by inducing groundouts to Robbie Grossman and Jonathan Villar. NOTES: Baltimore right-hander Tommy Hunter, on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 21 with a left groin strain, has been throwing on flat ground for four days and feels good, Showalter said. ... Orioles catcher Matt Wieters, on the 15-day DL since May 11 with a right elbow strain, is expected to start doing light tossing Friday, Showalter said. ... Houston will send lefty Brett Oberholtzer to the mound Friday against Baltimore right-hander Miguel Gonzalez in the annual Major League Baseball Civil Rights Game. There was a roundtable discussion Thursday and there will be a Beacon Awards Luncheon Friday. The Astros will wear the uniform of the Houston Eagles and the Orioles will wear the uniform of the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro Leagues for the game. 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