Newsmakers

Banned Five Russian race-walkers, including three Olympic gold medalists, were banned by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency on Tuesday. Bans of three years, two months were handed to Olympic champion Sergei Kirdyapkin and Olga Kaniskina, as well as 2011 world champ Sergei Bakulin. All three doping cases backdated to late 2012. Valery Borchin, an Olympic gold medalist in 2008, was banned for eight years from October 2012 for a second doping offense, while Vladimir Kanaykin was banned for life for a repeat offense.

Agreed Outfielder Colby Rasmus agreed to an $8 million, one-year contract with the Houston Astros. The 28-year-old Rasmus started 80 games in center field for the Toronto Blue Jays last season and has played both right and left field in his six-year big-league career. He batted .225 with 18 homers and 40 runs batted in last season.

Released Sporting Kansas City parted ways with forward Claudio Bieler after two Major League Soccer seasons. He had 16 goals and five assists in 54 appearances across all competitions over the past two seasons.

Traded The New York Yankees traded pitcher Gonzalez Germen to the Texas Rangers for cash, a month after acquiring him from the New York Mets. The 27-year-old right-hander had a 4.75 ERA and no record in 25 relief appearances for the Mets last year, when he was sidelined for a month with a virus.

Died Formula One driver Robert Manzon, the last survivor of the inaugural season in 1950, died in Cassis, France. He was 97. Manzon was regarded as one of the fastest drivers of his era, but his short career was affected by mechanical problems throughout. He never crossed the finish line in Le Mans.