Sports Briefs

Monaco sign Jovetic, Balde

MONACO (AP) Defending champions Monaco signed forwards Stevan Jovetic from Inter Milan and Keita Balde from Lazio yesterday, pre-empting the anticipated departure of Kylian Mbappe to Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG are reportedly close to sealing a loan move for Mbappe, with an option to buy the prolific 18-year-old for 180 million euros ($216 million) next season.

PSG are not in a position to buy Mbappe right now. They signed Neymar from Barcelona earlier this month for a world record 222 million euros ($262 million) and are restricted by Financial Fair Play rules designed to curtail excessive spending by clubs each season.

The 22-year-old Balde, who plays for Senegal, scored 16 league goals for Lazio in Serie A last season and has signed a five-year deal.

The 27-year-old Jovetic has signed a four-year deal.

Ethiopia shuts down drugstore selling banned substances

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) A drugstore in Ethiopia that was selling banned substances to athletes across the road from the country's main track stadium has been shut down pending an investigation, anti-doping authorities said yesterday.

Ethiopia's Anti-Doping Office confirmed that the pharmacy was offering the blood-boosting substance EPO after a preliminary investigation.

The store was shut down for three months pending a full probe, the office said, and the head of the pharmacy had his pharmaceutical license revoked for six months.

The preliminary investigation, carried out by Ethiopia's Ministry of Sport, came in response to an undercover report by British newspaper The Guardian and German broadcaster ARD.