GENEVA >> The international swimming federation says its executive director has been ordered to testify as a witness in a U.S. criminal investigation into the case of 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance in 2021 yet were allowed to continue competing.

The news comes just three weeks before the Paris Olympics where 11 of the Chinese swimmers who tested positive for the banned heart medication three years ago are set to compete.

Three of the swimmers won gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics that opened in July 2021, just weeks after the World Anti-Doping Agency declined to challenge Chinese authorities’ explanation of food contamination at a hotel to justify not suspending them.

A House Committee on China asked the Justice Department and the FBI on May 21 to investigate the case under a federal law that allows probes into suspected doping conspiracies even if they occurred outside the U.S.

Swimming’s world governing body, World Aquatics, confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that its top administrator, Brent Nowicki, was subpoenaed to testify in the investigation.

Soccer

Argentina 1, Ecuador 1 (Argentina wins 4-2 on PKs) >> Defending champion Argentina advanced to the Copa America semifinals, beating Ecuador 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw after conceding a tying goal in second-half injury time.

Lionel Messi put Argentina’s first penalty kick off the crossbar but goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez saved Ecuador’s first two attempts in the shootout and Nicolás Otamendi beat Alexander Domínguez with the winning kick.

Seeking its third straight major title, Argentina will play Venezuela or Canada on Tuesday in East Rutherford, N.J.

Golf

Springer posts sub-60 round >> Hayden Springer posted the 14th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history when he finished eagle-birdie in the John Deere Classic for a 12-under 59.

Springer shot 27 on the front nine of the rain-softened TPC Deere Run. He finished in style with an 18-foot birdie putt on the 15th, holing out for eagle from 55 yards on the par-5 17th and pumping his fist when his 12-foot birdie dropped on the final hole.

The PGA Tour record is a 58 by Jim Furyk at the Travelers Championship in 2016. Furyk also is among 13 players with a 59.

Cycling

Groenewegen wins Tour de France Stage 6 >> Dutch champion Dylan Groenewegen won the sixth stage of the Tour de France after a mass sprint that was decided in a photo finish.

Groenewegen earned a sixth career stage victory at cycling’s biggest race ahead of Jasper Philipsen and Biniam Girmay.

Tadej Pogacar kept a 45-second lead over Remco Evenepoel.

Motor sports

Haas F1 team signs teenage driver >> Oliver Bearman has been signed on a multiyear deal by the Haas Formula 1 team from 2025 onward.

Haas announced the signing in a statement without giving more details. The 19-year old British driver will take the seat vacated by German driver Nico Hulkenberg, who is joining Sauber at the end of the year ahead of its rebranding to Audi for 2026.

Bearman impressed with a stunning seventh-place finish at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March, when he stood in for Carlos Sainz Jr. He got the unexpected F1 debut after Sainz was diagnosed with appendicitis and needed an operation.