Hope Solo suspended for 6 months by U.S. Soccer

SEATTLE, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Calling your opponent "a bunch of cowards" isn't the best way to exude sportsmanship, especially during the Olympic Games.

That's exactly what Hope Solo did after her United States Women's National Team was knocked off by Sweden in a soccer quarterfinal at the Rio 2016 Summer Games.

Now U.S. Soccer is taking action against Solo's vitriol, which was not publicly shared by her USWNT teammates. The organization suspended Solo for six months from the national team for "conduct that is counter to the organization's principles."

The suspension is effective immediately.

"The comments by Hope Solo after the match against Sweden during the 2016 Olympics were unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we require from our National Team players," U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said in a statement Wednesday. "Beyond the athletic arena, and beyond the results, the Olympics celebrate and represent the ideals of fair play and respect. We expect all of our representatives to honor those principles, with no exceptions."

"Taking into consideration the past incidents involving Hope, as well as the private conversations we've had requiring her to conduct herself in a manner befitting a U.S. National Team member, U.S. Soccer determined this is the appropriate disciplinary action."

USWNT coach Jill Ellis and Gulati met with Solo Wednesday in Seattle. She was also suspended for a month in 2015. Solo is eligible to return to the team in February.

Solo has one World Cup victory and two Olympic gold medals in 202 national team appearances.