logo
French fencer cleared of doping charge on account of kissing her American partner

French fencer cleared of doping charge on account of kissing her American partner

The Guardian07-07-2025
French Olympic fencer Ysaora Thibus was cleared of a doping allegation Monday because the judges accepted she was contaminated by kissing her American partner over a period of nine days.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) ruling echoed a verdict clearing another French athlete with a similar defense in a doping allegation – tennis player Richard Gasquet in the celebrated 'cocaine kiss' case in 2009.
Cas said in the Thibus case its judging panel dismissed an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), which asked for her to be banned for four years.
Thibus tested positive for the anabolic substance ostarine in January 2024. She was later cleared by an International Fencing Federation tribunal weeks before the Paris Olympics, which let her compete there.
Wada challenged the explanation that Thibus was contaminated 'through kissing with her then partner, who had been using a product containing ostarine without her knowledge,' Cas said.
The court said Monday 'it is scientifically established that the intake of an ostarine dose similar to the dose ingested by Ms Thibus' then partner would have left sufficient amounts of ostarine in the saliva to contaminate a person through kissing.'
The Cas judges 'accepted that Ms. Thibus' then-partner was taking ostarine from 5 Jan, 2024, and that there was contamination over nine days with a cumulative effect.'
Her partner at the time was Race Imboden, a two-time Olympic fencing bronze medalist for the United States.
Thibus, a silver medalist for France in women's team foil at the Tokyo Olympics, placed fifth at that event in Paris and 28th in the women's individual foil.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Scottie Scheffler calls Tiger Woods comparisons ‘silly' after his Open triumph
Scottie Scheffler calls Tiger Woods comparisons ‘silly' after his Open triumph

BreakingNews.ie

time11 minutes ago

  • BreakingNews.ie

Scottie Scheffler calls Tiger Woods comparisons ‘silly' after his Open triumph

Newly-crowned Open champion Scottie Scheffler insists it is 'silly' to compare him to Tiger Woods. The 28-year-old won his second major of the year after May's US PGA, his fourth in total, and he is three-quarters of the way towards a career Grand Slam – which he can complete at next year's US Open in the same four-year time-frame as Jack Nicklaus. Advertisement Only 15-time major winner Woods has done it quicker, in three years. The numbers continue to stack up for the world number one, whose 17-under total gave him a four-stroke victory at Royal Portrush but belied how comfortable his win was. Champion Golfer of the Year. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2025 On Saturday evening Rory McIlroy, a five-time major winner who himself completed the Grand Slam at the Masters in April, said Scheffler was 'inevitable' and his play is giving off a Woods-type aura. He is 111 under par in majors since the beginning of 2020, 46 shots better than anyone else, and is four from four when it comes to converting 54-hole major leads (Woods won his first 14) and has been world number one for 112 consecutive weeks. Advertisement 'I still think they're a bit silly,' Scheffler said of the Woods comparison. 'Tiger won, what, 15 majors? This is my fourth. I just got one-fourth of the way there. 'I think Tiger stands alone in the game of golf. He was inspirational for me growing up. He was a very, very talented guy, and he was a special person to be able to be as good as he was at the game of golf. Explain this one @ golf gods — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 20, 2025 'I don't focus on that kind of stuff. That's not what motivates me. I'm not motivated by winning championships. I don't look at the beginning of the year and just say 'Hey, I want to win X amount of tournaments, I want to win whatever it is'. Advertisement 'I have dreams and aspirations that I think about, but at the end of the day I feel like what motivates me is just getting out and getting to live out my dream. 'I get to play professional golf, and I feel like I'm called to do it to the best of my ability. 'I don't place much emphasis on things that I can accomplish. It's just mostly about putting in the proper work and coming out here and competing. 'I've always done my best when I'm able to live in the present.' Advertisement On Tuesday Scheffler gave a surprisingly revealing press conference at which he admitted being successful at golf did not fulfil him and he prioritises being a good husband and father over anything. It all adds up to the Champion Golfer of the Year. @NTTDATA | #ShotView — The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2025 After winning the Claret Jug he felt his comments were taken out of context and insisted he was not disrespecting the game or making light of his achievements. 'I think it really underestimates what I was trying to communicate. Maybe I didn't do as effective of a job as I hoped to in communicating that,' he added. 'At the end of the day, I have a tremendous amount of gratitude towards moments like these. Advertisement 'I literally worked my entire life to become good at this game and play this game for a living. It's one of my greatest joys of my life to compete out here. 'To be able to win The Open Championship here at Portrush is a feeling that's really hard to describe. 'This is amazing to win the Open Championship, but at the end of the day, having success in life, whether it be in golf, work, whatever it is, that's not what fulfils the deepest desires of your heart. 'Am I grateful for it? Do I enjoy it? Oh, my gosh, yes, this is a cool feeling. 'It's just tough to describe when you haven't lived it.'

Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang rescued England — keep them on bench
Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang rescued England — keep them on bench

Times

time11 minutes ago

  • Times

Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang rescued England — keep them on bench

Just as it appeared that Sarina Wiegman had found her best XI, last Thursday's Euro 2025 quarter-final against Sweden has thrust the head coach's line-up back into flux. That game was transformed once Wiegman made four substitutions in the closing stages, helping the Lionesses to recover from 2-0 down before winning on penalties. By the second half of extra time, England had six substitutes on the pitch. So England should start Tuesday's semi-final against Italy with the same XI that finished the quarter-final, right? Of course, it's not that simple. Implementing wholesale changes could result in an unfamiliar style that England cannot execute, and may fail to recognise how Italy pose a different challenge to Sweden. Furthermore, England's substitutes — the self-proclaimed 'positive clicks' — seem relatively content in their impact roles. But after starting so poorly last Thursday, Wiegman surely has to make adjustments. What should change, and where must she preserve the status quo? Defence: the Carter dilemma and persisting with Greenwood Jess Carter struggled against Sweden's pace and power. She and Leah Williamson swapped centre-back positions to take Carter away from Sweden's dangerous right-sided attackers, before the Gotham FC defender was substituted in the 70th minute. Carter also floundered at left back in England's tournament-opener defeat by France, and Italy may pinpoint her as a weakness. Yet Carter's on-pitch capabilities are merely part of Wiegman's dilemma. The 27-year-old revealed on Sunday that she had been subjected to racist abuse on social media, and England will stop taking a knee before matches as a result. Wiegman must deduce whether any improvements to the team from dropping Carter outweigh the potential psychological ramifications of the decision. Esme Morgan would be a solid replacement. The Washington Spirit defender, 24, is taller and more mobile than Carter, meaning she is better at dealing with one-on-one situations and passes over the top. Carter is better on the ball but Italy's press is among the most conservative in the tournament, so Morgan's limitations in this area should be mitigated. By the end of the Sweden game, Niamh Charles was playing left back and, given she has been derided for defensive mishaps this year, played well. However, whether she has 90 (or 120) minutes of good defending in her is uncertain. Consequently, Alex Greenwood should continue at left back. Greenwood's aerial presence — she plays centre back for Manchester City — could neutralise Italy's penchant for long, diagonal passes. The big caveat is Williamson's ankle injury, even though Morgan said England were 'very optimistic' that the captain would recover for Tuesday. If this verdict proves misleading, then the most in-form back four would be Lucy Bronze, Morgan, Greenwood, Charles. Midfield: not the time for panic England's starting midfield was also poor during the Sweden game, but the trio of Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone clicked nicely in the previous two matches against Wales and the Netherlands. Sticking with this midfield feels prudent, partly because the alternatives are not hugely appealing. That there are no natural replacements for Walsh or Stanway is a long-term concern for Wiegman, but not one to be addressed in the final week of a major tournament. Further forward, removing Toone and restoring Lauren James in a free-roaming No10 role would risk resurrecting the midfield troubles of the France game. Switching to a back three could also leave the midfield overwhelmed, as it was against France. With the exception of a friendly featuring a heavily rotated XI against Switzerland last December, England have not used this system since the 2023 World Cup. A midfield of Walsh and James helped England come back last Thursday, but the frantic state of the game created unique circumstances. For Tuesday, the more balanced midfield of Walsh, Stanway and Toone makes sense. Attack: keep holding back the game-changers While Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang were pivotal against Sweden, both may profit from staying on the bench for now. Kelly is an ideal impact substitute. As she displayed on Thursday, in contributing two assists before scoring a penalty in the shoot-out, she has the direct style to beat tiring defenders and relishes the role of England's saviour. Her forceful out-of-possession work is useful from the start when the opponent has control of the game, but England should have more of the ball than Italy. Meanwhile, starting Agyemang would probably mean playing alongside Alessia Russo, and both forwards are keen to drift away from the No9 position and play with their back to goal. Russo and Agyemang as a striker duo is a fascinating concept but, considering they are not natural foils for one another, perhaps best left as an experiment after the Euros. The 19-year-old Agyemang, like Kelly, is a brilliant option off the bench. If England are to make a change up front, perhaps Beth Mead for Lauren Hemp is the choice. Mead possesses the subtle passing and movement to break down a stubborn Italy, and Hemp had an uncharacteristically quiet game against Sweden.

BBC star reveals horror after landlord recorded naked images on hidden spy cam
BBC star reveals horror after landlord recorded naked images on hidden spy cam

The Sun

time11 minutes ago

  • The Sun

BBC star reveals horror after landlord recorded naked images on hidden spy cam

A BBC actress has told of her horror after discovering her landlord planted a spy cam in her bathroom. The Scots star — who has appeared in prime-time comedies and dramas — found the recording device hidden in a washing basket after taking a shower. 4 4 4 She fled the flat before watching back the footage and finding intimate clips of herself — plus an image of the creep changing the memory card. Cops have launched a probe. Last night the telly star said: 'I was in a state of absolute shock. He filmed me when I was at my most vulnerable.' The performer told how she moved into the property in France last July after a break-up with a boyfriend. Her 40-something landlord — whom she believed was a drug user — soon seemed suspicious. The actress recalled: 'Something didn't feel right with him.' Later she found two holes drilled into the bathroom wall which she plugged with cotton earbuds. And the night before she found the recording device she claimed the sicko spiked her drink. She recalled: 'It was like something out of a horror movie. 'I always used to notice this little black dot in the washing basket across from the shower. 'I never in a million years thought he'd be spying on me. But given what had happened the night before, I went to have a closer look. 'My heart just stopped and I burst into tears. There was a green light flashing on the camera. 'I knew that it was on and I was being recorded.' Initially she remained in the bathroom and switched off the lights fearing the sicko could be waiting outside 'with a knife'. Eventually she packed a bag and fled the property before returning with cops days later. She eventually plucked up the courage to watch the video and was horrified saying: 'I was in complete shock.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store