Boxer Arturo Gatti's death was ruled a suicide by police yesterday and his wife, once suspected of killing the former champion, was released from jail.

Lead investigator Paulo Alberes told The Associated Press authorities decided Gatti killed himself July 11 while at a seaside resort in northeastern Brazil.

When asked if police had determined the case was a suicide, Alberes said "yes." He offered no other details, though a judge — in ordering the release of Gatti's wife — cited the police investigation and wrote that "the victim took his own life, committing suicide by hanging."

The boxer's widow, 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues, said in a phone interview as she walked out of jail she thinks Gatti may have killed himself because he was afraid she was going to leave him after the pair had a violent disagreement in public the night before his death.

"We had an argument in the street. Then he pushed me and I hurt myself. I believe that when we got home and he saw that he hurt me, he thought I would leave him, that I would tell him to just let me go, that I would separate from him," Rodrigues said. "He did that in a moment of weakness. He was drunk, maybe he didn't know what he was doing, maybe he thought I would leave him the next day."

A day after the 37-year-old Gatti was found dead, police said that Rodrigues had strangled him with her purse strap as he drunkenly slept.

But police began to back off the accusation about a week later after a coroner's report said Gatti may have killed himself as he was found "suspended and hanged."

Gatti, who captured two world titles in his 16-year pro career, retired in 2007 with a record of 40-9.

SWIMMING

SEVEN MORE WORLD RECORDS FALL IN ROME

When in Rome, throw out the record book.

No need for one at the fastest show on water.

Even with Michael Phelps sitting in the stands, seven more world records fell yesterday. For those who've lost count, that's 29 over five days at the Foro Italico — and there's still three days to go at the world championships.

Records fell so fast in yesterday's nine events that the crowd barely had time to cheer one swimmer before another mark dropped.

The records:

• American Ryan Lochte (200 individual medley, 1:54.10)

• Australia's Jessica Schipper (200 butterfly, 2:03.41)

• Brazil's Cesar Cielo (100 freestyle, 46.91)

• Canada's Annanmay Pierse (200 breaststroke, 2:20.12)

• Australia's Christian Sprenger (200 breaststroke, 2:07.31)

• China's Zhao Jing (50 backstroke, 27.06)

• Chinese women (800 freestyle relay, 7:42.08)

ELSEWHERE

Men's water polo: Guillermo Molina scored three goals, including the go-ahead score with 3:38 remaining, and Spain advanced to the gold medal game of the men's water polo world championships with a 7-6 victory over the United States last night at Rome.

Layne Beaubien's shot from 5 meters was stopped with 3 seconds remaining. Jeffrey Powers scored twice for the U.S. and Merrill Moses made 11 saves.

Spain advanced to face Serbia in today's title game. Filip Filipovic scored four goals to lead a 12-11 victory over defending world champion Croatia, which will meet the Americans for the bronze.

Auto Racing: IndyCar star Tony Kanaan has been cleared to return to the track for today's race at Kentucky Speedway after escaping serious injury when his car caught on fire.

During last week's race at Edmonton, Kanaan was pulling out of the pits on lap 34 when his fuel hose attached to his Honda remained open. The fuel ignited as he left the pit stall and flames spread to the cockpit.

The 34-year-old Brazilian sustained superficial burns to his face.

Soccer: The New York Red Bulls got second-half goals from Ernst Oebster and Alfredo Pacheco, and earned a 2-2 tie with W Connection in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round last night at Marabella, Trinidad.

Jonathan Fana gave Connection of Trinidad a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute, but New York rallied behind goals by Oebster in the 47th minute and Pacheco in the 59th to go up 2-1.

Hughtun Hector tied it in the 71st.

College basketball: East Tennessee State sophomore center Seth Coy, 19, was killed when his car hydroplaned on a wet highway and flipped.

The 6-foot-11 Coy was driving through Shelby County in Kentucky on his way home to Montgomery, Ind., on Wednesday at about 5 p.m. when the single-car accident occurred.

Coy played in 24 games as a freshman, averaging 2.9 points and 2.0 rebounds in 10.8 minutes.