Shenzhen, China | AFP | Former world number one Maria Sharapova abandoned her quarter-final tie in the Shenzhen Open on Friday after struggling with a thigh injury. Just 10 days before the start of the Australian Open, Sharapova received treatment for a painful left thigh after losing the first set …
Read More »World athletics body maintains Russia ban
Monaco, Principality of Monaco | AFP | The governing body of world athletics on Tuesday maintained Russia’s ban from track and field over mass state-backed doping, citing two conditions before the powerhouse can return to international competition. Rune Andersen, head of the IAAF’s taskforce on Russia, said Russian authorities, in …
Read More »Russia’s fairytale World Cup run ends in tears
Moscow, Russia | AFP | The impassioned shouts of “Ros-si-ya” died away on the streets and tears filled the stadium as Russia bowed out of their home World Cup in the cruellest fashion: on penalties. The men in red exceeded the wildest expectations by coming within a penalty kick and …
Read More »World Cup hosts Russia ‘not a footballing nation’
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Former Russia coach Leonid Slutsky has some blunt advice for the World Cup hosts: admit that you are not a “footballing nation” and move on. Slutsky’s stark assessment came in the wake of two humbling home defeats to Brazil and France last month. Pundits and …
Read More »Russia shrugs off World Cup no-show by British ministers, royals
Moscow, RUSSIAN FEDERATION | AFP | Moscow on Tuesday shrugged off London’s decision not to send British ministers and royals to Russia’s World Cup over a nerve agent attack on a former double agent. The measure was one of a number announced by British Prime Minister Theresa May in response to …
Read More »Football’s laws body approves VAR for World Cup
Zurich, Switzerland | AFP | Football’s lawmakers on Saturday approved video assistant referee technology (VAR) for this summer’s World Cup, in one of the biggest changes to the sport in years. The International Football Association Board (IFAB, meeting in Zurich, rubber-stamped a move already backed by FIFA’s top brass, including …
Read More »World Cup coaches brace for ‘modern life’ of VAR
Sochi, Russia | AFP | World Cup coaches expressed a quiet confidence on Wednesday about Video Assistant Referee technology ahead of its likely adoption for this year’s showpiece event in Russia. Representatives from the 32 teams to have qualified for the World Cup gathered in the Black Sea resort of Sochi …
Read More »Kremlin ‘very glad’ at lifting of ban on 28 Russian athletes
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia on Thursday welcomed a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to lift bans on 28 of its athletes accused of doping, and said that its efforts to defend its rights were paying off. “We are very glad for our athletes,” President Vladimir …
Read More »IOC steps up drug tests ahead of Winter Games
Lausanne, Switzerland | AFP | More than 14,000 anti-doping tests on more than 6,000 athletes have been conducted in the lead up to the Winter Games in Pyeongchang next month, the International Olympic Committee said on Thursday. The tests, conducted between April and December 2017, represent a 70 percent increase on …
Read More »Klopp calls for Liverpool focus after Euro spree
Liverpool, United Kingdom | AFP | Jurgen Klopp urged his Liverpool players not to succumb to the hype generated by their own scintillating performances after they crushed Spartak Moscow to reach the Champions League knockout rounds. Liverpool’s ‘Fab Four’ shone in a 7-0 trouncing of Spartak on Wednesday, with Philippe …
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