Olympics 2024: Canada loses women's soccer drone spying appeal - ESPN

Canada's appeal against their soccer team's points deduction at the Paris Games amid a drone scandal was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the CAS said on Wednesday.

The CAS said its panel of three judges dismissed Canada's appeal and confirmed the six-point deduction imposed Saturday by FIFA.

Two assistant coaches used drones to spy on opponent New Zealand's practices last week before their opening game.

Canada was docked six points, while coach Bev Priestman and officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander were banned from any soccer-related activity for one year by FIFA after New Zealand complained that Canadian staff flew drones over their training sessions before their opening match.

«The application filed by the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer in relation to the six-point deduction imposed on the Canadian women's soccer team for the football tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 has been dismissed,» CAS said in a statement.

The urgent verdict came less than eight hours before defending Olympic champion Canada plays Colombia in Nice in final round of games in Group A.

Canada stays third in the standings with zero points despite wining both its games, against New Zealand and France. Canada can still advance to the quarterfinals with a win Wednesday.

Head coach Bev Priestman and her two assistants were banned by FIFA for one year after being removed from the Olympics by Canadian officials.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.