EXCLUSIVE Former Team Canada gymnast reveals brutal way she was humiliated in front of teammates week after week
A former Team Canada gymnast has lifted the lid on the grim realities of participating in the sport, revealing she was forced to stand on a scale in front of all of her teammates every single week.
Laura Mazzuca, 31, started doing gymnastics when she was only two years old. By the time she was six, she was already training 36 hours a week.
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Reuters
32 minutes ago
- Reuters
Experts doubt FBI's claim that crop fungus smuggled by Chinese students is a threat
CHICAGO, June 6 (Reuters) - A biological sample that a Chinese researcher was accused of smuggling into the United States and that prosecutors cast as a "dangerous biological pathogen" is a common type of fungus already widespread in U.S. crop fields that likely poses little risk to food safety, experts said. On Tuesday, U.S. federal prosecutors, opens new tab accused two Chinese researchers of smuggling samples of the fungus Fusarium graminearum into the U.S., describing it as a potential agricultural terrorism weapon. Yunqing Jian, 33, a researcher at the University of Michigan's Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology has been charged in connection with allegations that she helped her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, 34, smuggle the pathogen into the U.S. However, agriculture experts interviewed by Reuters this week said the fungus has been in the U.S. for more than a century, can be prevented by spraying pesticides, and is only dangerous if ingested regularly and in large quantities. "As a weapon, it would be a pretty ineffective one," said Jessica Rutkoski, a crop sciences professor, wheat breeder and geneticist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Rutkoski and other researchers said extensive testing for the fungus' toxin, widespread use of fungicides and the difficulty of intentionally creating an infection with the pathogen would make it a clumsy weapon. The U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI declined Reuters' request for comment. Since the 1900s, U.S. farmers have been battling the fungus, which causes Fusarium head blight, usually known as "scab," which often infects wheat, barley and other grains on farms during rainy years. The telltale pink streaks on the grain heads contain a toxic byproduct called vomitoxin, which is tested for and tightly controlled by grain elevators where farmers sell their crops. Constant testing and monitoring means that only negligible amounts of vomitoxin ever make it into the bread, pasta and cookies Americans eat, far below levels that would sicken a human, experts said. "We have a long history of managing epidemics of scab," said Andrew Friskop, professor and plant pathologist at North Dakota State University, noting that farmers have access to many tools to prevent and control the disease. Farmers began regularly spraying their fields with fungicide as early as the 1990s, and researchers have since developed multiple strains of fungus-resistant wheat. Plant experts said that it would be difficult to fully assess the risks posed by the samples without more information on the particular strain. But Rutkoski, whose research involves intentionally contaminating wheat with the fungus, said that she isn't always successful at infecting her test field's wheat with scab. She said the pathogen is difficult to control, and her lab has to strike the right balance of temperature and humidity to create an infection. In federal court in Detroit on Tuesday, Jian was charged with conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud the U.S., smuggling goods into the U.S., false statements and visa fraud. Jian did not comment on the charges, and the lawyer who represented her in court was not immediately available for comment. Liu could not be immediately reached for comment. The court scheduled Jian's bail hearing for June 13.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
PE teacher, 31, who was obsessed with not going bald took his own life after switching to an unlicensed drug in Dubai to treat his hair loss, inquest hears
A teacher obsessed with not going bald took his own life after switching to a powerful unlicensed drug to treat his hair loss, an inquest heard today. Sam Applegarth, 31, who had no history of mental health problems, hanged himself in Dubai after starting an online course of dutasteride - a drug not licensed for hair loss in the UK. The PE teacher, who had first sought help for his hair loss aged 22, had used minoxidil and finasteride for years without any side-effects. The inquest heard that there are no known 'suicidal ideation' side-effects from taking dutasteride - a drug primarily used to treat an enlarged prostate - because there has been a failure to report such feelings in men taking the drug. Today Mr Applegarth's heartbroken girlfriend Anya Guy, 30, urged anybody having suicidal thoughts after taking dutasteride to inform medical experts in the hope of preventing similar tragedies. Mr Applegarth was brought up in Outwood, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and after working for the Rugby Football League took up teaching science and PE at Minsthorpe High School. After his death one parent praised him as an 'absolute diamond and role model'. Wakefield Coroner's Court heard that since 2015 he had been concerned about losing his hair and visited top specialist Dr Bessam Farjo at his trichology clinic in Manchester. Dr Farjo told the hearing that Mr Applegarth visited for consultations and advice, but was never prescribed any drugs. Sam Applegarth's heartbroken girlfriend Anya Guy, 30, pictured outside his inquest in Wakefield today, urged anybody having suicidal thoughts after taking dutasteride to inform medical experts He was aware that Mr Applegarth had started taking minoxidil, which is easily available over the counter at pharmacies such as Boots. The teacher later complemented it with doses of finasteride, which has been linked to terrifying side-effects including erectile dysfunction, depression and anxiety. Dr Farjo told coroner Oliver Longstaff that Mr Applegarth had 'self-sourced' those drugs and both had been happy with their effects. In 2017 Mr Applegarth underwent a successful hair transplant at the clinic. In follow-up consultations Mr Applegarth informed the doctor that he had also undergone platelet-rich plasma treatment, where a concentrated portion of his own blood was injected in a bid to rejuvenate his hair. He had also had his head tattooed to give the appearance of hair, in a process called scalp micro pigmentation. 'He was happy with the overall appearance after the tattoo,' Dr Farjo told the inquest. Mr Applegarth last saw Dr Farjo in July 2024, two months before he flew to Dubai. Leading hair loss expert Dr Bessam Farjo, who saw Sam Applegarth at his clinic in Manchester but did not prescribe him medication, told today's inquest in Wakefield there may be an under-reporting of suicidal ideation by patients following a course of dutasteride He reported still taking minoxidil and finasteride tablets, which he had sourced himself. He was also using camouflage products to conceal his hair loss and the doctor suggested cognitive therapy to alleviate his anxiety about going bald. 'He was a young man with an exaggerated view about how big an issue his hair loss was,' said the doctor. 'I had no concerns he was having any side-effects from the drugs.' He stated that 'suicidal ideation' is one recognised side effect of taking finasteride. But if a patient had not experienced those thoughts whilst on the drug they would not suffer them after the drug is out of their system. Dr Farjo said he was unaware that Mr Applegarth had begun taking dutasteride, which he described as 'more powerful' than finasteride. He said the known side-effects of both drugs are the same, apart from the fact finasteride has been reported by the British National Formulary to cause suicidal ideation. Dr Farjo acknowledged, under questioning from Ms Guy, there may be an under-reporting of suicidal ideation by patients following a course of dutasteride. 'Dutasteride is not licensed for hair loss in this country and it is not commonly prescribed,' he said. 'The reason the BNF suicide ideation is not mentioned for dutasteride is because it has not been reported, whereas it has been reported for finasteride.' Dr Farjo said that it would have been easy for Mr Applegarth to access a course of dutasteride himself. 'Unfortunately, it is not difficult to get medication online,' he said. He said numerous private medical supply companies are 'sprouting up' to prescribe drugs to patients, without seeing them in person. Ms Guy told the inquest that Mr Applegarth had moved to Dubai to teach in August last year, with a view to her joining him at a later date. She said he had 'struggled at times with his self-esteem' due to his perceived hair loss, but she felt his condition was not a bad as he believed. His GP and family told the inquest Mr Applegarth had no history of mental illness or self harm and was a 'bright and happy individual'. He appeared to be thriving in Dubai, enjoying swims, the gym and getting in more than 20,000 steps a day, the inquest heard. However, he was found hanging in his apartment by a work colleague on September 19 - just five weeks after arriving in Dubai. He left no suicide note and a post-mortem found no alcohol or drugs in his system. Following Mr Longstaff's conclusion of suicide, Ms Guy said outside court that she hoped people who may be suffering suicidal thoughts whilst taking dutasteride would come forward. She said: 'People feeling by side-effects with dutasteride should report them, especially if they are feeling suicidal. 'People need to be aware that they may be having suicidal ideation because of the drug.' Last month the European drugs regulator said it was not possible to establish a link between suicidal ideation and dutasteride tablets based on the reviewed data. The European Medicines Agency confirmed suicidal thoughts as a side effect of anti-hair-loss drug finasteride but said the benefits of both medicines continue to outweigh their risks for all approved uses. Following Mr Applegarth's tragic death, Craig Shepherd, who recruited him to work at Wakefield Trinity Rugby League Club, said: 'It was inevitable Sam went on to be a massive success in teaching. 'He was so loved by all who knew him. RIP Sam.' Anita Godfrey responded by posting: 'An absolute diamond and role model he really engaged my three in rugby league and would go above and beyond.' For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Ric Flair diagnosed with skin cancer as WWE legend, 76, reveals heartbreaking news
WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair revealed he has been diagnosed with skin cancer for the "second time in three years." Flair, 76, announced he will begin treatment next week. 3 3 3 The 16-time world champion denied reports he had cancer on Twitter on Thursday to keep his diagnosis private, but was later ready to share the news. Flair told People: "It's the second time in three years that I've been dealing with skin cancer. "I will be undergoing treatment next week." The two-time WWE Hall of Famer added: "Appreciate the concerns!" Flair is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.
