US star Hope Solo handed six-month suspension after calling Sweden cowards

"I could not be the player I am without being the person I am, even when I haven't made the best choices or said the right things."

United States goalkeeper Hope Solo has been handed a six-month ban by her national federation after labelling Sweden "a bunch of cowards" following her side's Olympic quarter-final defeat.

The 35-year-old hit out after Sweden, eventual runners-up in Rio, defeated the USA 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the last-eight encounter on August 12.