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Perth Now
3 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Aussie's ‘shattering' twist as Paris 2024 gold medal stripped
'Shattered' Australian Paralympic runner Jaryd Clifford has spoken out after his top rival was banned for doping and stripped of his Paris 2024 gold medal. It was revealed last month that Spain's Yassine Ouhdadi had tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol from a sample collected one month before last year's Paralympics. Only now has the International Paralympic Committee handed down its ruling, blaming the 'substantial delay' on 'an administrative error by a third party'. Ouhdadi will forfeit his 5000m T13 gold medal because the tainted sample was provided before the Paralympics. But Clifford, overtaken by Ouhdadi on the last lap, will not benefit having been disqualified from his bronze medal position soon after the race. He was scratched from the results because he released the tether linking him to guide Matt Clarke as they crossed the finish line, and later told he had no grounds to launch an appeal. 'I had a brain fade with a metre to go, dropping the tether that was probably the laziest moment of my career,' Clifford said at the time. 'I just wanted to run through that line, I wished the dive had been earlier but that's sport, man ... it's so tough, four years to go back to the drawing board.' Learning that Ouhdadi should never have been running in Paris has now devastated Clifford, who was also beaten to gold by the Spaniard at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021 and the world championships in 2023. 'It's hard to find the words for this, but I'll try,' Clifford wrote on Tuesday. Clifford still accepts that he was ultimately responsible for his disqualification after dropping the tether. But Ouhdadi's presence in the race has been a tough pill to swallow in the wake of the positive doping test. 'Due to my disqualification I cannot be elevated to a new position,' the Australian said. 'I'm pretty shattered. My races against Yassine have changed my life. It's taken a lot of strength to move forward from these moments in my career, particularly that race in Paris last year. 'Without Yassine in that 5000m, it's hard not to think about how different that last lap might have played out. Everything leading into that race was about beating him and only when he went past us on that last lap did everything begin to unravel. 'To think that holding on for a silver that day would be a gold today feels like another kick in the guts.' After being passed by Ouhdadi, Clifford was also overhauled by Aleksandr Kostin — and the Russian neutral athlete has now been promoted to gold. Anton Kuliatin, another Russian neutral athlete, was promoted to bronze by Clifford's disqualification and has moved up again to silver. Clifford also missed out on a medal in the 1500m final. Credit: Ulrik Pedersen/Cal Sport Media Three days after the controversial 5000m final, Clifford suffered more heartache in the 1500m when he fell 0.01 seconds short of bronze. Kostin won that final, with Kuliatin edging out Clifford for bronze, while Ouhdadi's fifth-place finish will be wiped as a result of his doping ban. The Australian will now hope to enjoy a winning moment at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics — potentially over Ouhdadi, whose ban was backdated and will expire in September 2027. 'I'm determined to keep my focus on the future,' Clifford wrote. 'I had always reflected on those moments with sadness and frustration, but I learnt a lot from falling short too. 'No matter how much you revise the official results you can never change how a race made you feel. 'When I dream of winning a gold medal, I don't dream about the dot-point on the resume. I dream about the moment crossing the line knowing that all the hard work finally paid off. 'I can't control the past, but I can control the chance I give myself to fight for those moments in the future. 'I was able to pick myself up off the track in Paris last year because I knew I had an army there to dust me off and get me back on my feet. 'I feel so much love from so many places, but particularly the communities that have been there every step of the way. It means the world to have you all in my corner. 'I love nothing more than pulling on that green and gold singlet and giving it everything I've got. That will never change. Bring on the next four years!' Clifford broke his own 1500m T12 world record with a 3:40.39 run on Sunday, taking just shy of a second off his previous mark from 2021. He said it is 'such a relief' to have bounced back from injuries and setbacks in recent years. 'I haven't run a PB in the 1500m in over four years so hearing that time was very special,' Clifford said. He will now turn his attentions to the 2025 world championships in September, with Ouhdadi out of the picture.
7NEWS
3 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Jaryd Clifford ‘shattered' as rival Yassine Ouhdadi banned for doping and stripped of Paris 2024 gold medal
'Shattered' Australian Paralympic runner Jaryd Clifford has spoken out after his top rival was banned for doping and stripped of his Paris 2024 gold medal. It was revealed last month that Spain's Yassine Ouhdadi had tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol from a sample collected one month before last year's Paralympics. Only now has the International Paralympic Committee handed down its ruling, blaming the 'substantial delay' on 'an administrative error by a third party'. Ouhdadi will forfeit his 5000m T13 gold medal because the tainted sample was provided before the Paralympics. But Clifford, overtaken by Ouhdadi on the last lap, will not benefit having been disqualified from his bronze medal position after the race. He was scratched from the results because he released the tether linking him to guide Matt Clarke as they crossed the finish line, and later told he had no grounds to launch an appeal. 'I had a brain fade with a metre to go, dropping the tether that was probably the laziest moment of my career,' Clifford said at the time. 'I just wanted to run through that line, I wished the dive had been earlier but that's sport, man ... it's so tough, four years to go back to the drawing board.' Learning that Ouhdadi should never have been running in Paris has now devastated Clifford, who was also beaten to gold by the Spaniard at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021 and the world championships in 2023. 'It's hard to find the words for this, but I'll try,' Clifford wrote on Tuesday. Clifford still accepts that he was ultimately responsible for his disqualification after dropping the tether. But Ouhdadi's presence in the race has been a tough pill to swallow in the wake of the positive doping test. 'Due to my disqualification I cannot be elevated to a new position,' the Australian said. 'I'm pretty shattered. My races against Yassine have changed my life. It's taken a lot of strength to move forward from these moments in my career, particularly that race in Paris last year. 'Without Yassine in that 5000m, it's hard not to think about how different that last lap might have played out. Everything leading into that race was about beating him and only when he went past us on that last lap did everything begin to unravel. 'To think that holding on for a silver that day would be a gold today feels like another kick in the guts.' After being passed by Ouhdadi, Clifford was also overhauled by Aleksandr Kostin — and the Russian neutral athlete has now been promoted to gold. Anton Kuliatin, another Russian neutral athlete, was promoted to bronze by Clifford's disqualification and has moved up again to silver. Three days after the controversial 5000m final, Clifford suffered more heartache in the 1500m T13 when he fell 0.01 seconds short of bronze. Kostin won that final, with Kuliatin edging out Clifford for bronze, while Ouhdadi's fifth-place finish will be wiped as a result of his doping ban. The Australian will now hope to enjoy a winning moment at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics — potentially over Ouhdadi, whose ban expires in September 2027. 'I'm determined to keep my focus on the future,' Clifford wrote. 'I had always reflected on those moments with sadness and frustration, but I learnt a lot from falling short too. 'No matter how much you revise the official results you can never change how a race made you feel. 'When I dream of winning a gold medal, I don't dream about the dot-point on the resume. I dream about the moment crossing the line knowing that all the hard work finally paid off. 'I can't control the past, but I can control the chance I give myself to fight for those moments in the future. 'I was able to pick myself up off the track in Paris last year because I knew I had an army there to dust me off and get me back on my feet. 'I feel so much love from so many places, but particularly the communities that have been there every step of the way. It means the world to have you all in my corner. 'I love nothing more than pulling on that green and gold singlet and giving it everything I've got. That will never change. Bring on the next four years!' Clifford broke his own 1500m T12 world record with a 3:40.39 run on Sunday, taking just shy of a second off his previous mark from 2021. He said it is 'such a relief' to have bounced back from injuries and setbacks in recent years. 'I haven't run a PB in the 1500m in over four years so hearing that time was very special,' Clifford said. He will now turn his attentions to the 2025 world championships in September, with Ouhdadi out of the picture.
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Alcaraz makes feelings clear after beating Sinner on rival's return from ban
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in the final of the Italian Open on Sunday to mark the perfect build-up to the French Open, which gets underway in Paris next week Carlos Alcaraz has welcomed Jannik Sinner back to top level tennis after the Italian's return from a doping ban. Sinner had been forced to sit on the sidelines for three months after testing positive for Clostebol. The ban followed a deal Sinner's team negotiated with the World Anti-Doping Authority and came into effect on February 9. He served the full length of the suspension ahead of the Italian Open and will be free to play in all four majors this year. In his first tournament back, Sinner reached the final in Rome, where he came up against Alcaraz. Both men were looking to win the Italian Open for the first time, with Sinner playing in front of a home crowd. Sinner struggled to match Alcaraz though, with the Spaniard claiming a 7-6, 6-1 win. Both players are now building up to the French Open, which gets underway on Sunday. The duo are expected to be two of the favourites to win at Roland-Garros, with Alcaraz the defending champion. Having beaten Sinner on Sunday, Alcaraz admitted he was pleased to see one of his biggest rivals return to the court. 'I'm just really happy to get my first Rome [title], hopefully it's not going to be the last one,' he said. 'The first thing I want to say is that I'm just really happy to see Jannik back at this amazing level. "I'm sure it wasn't easy for him coming back after three months and making the final of a Masters 1000 in his first tournament [back]. It's something insane, so I have to congratulate him. I'm proud of myself, with the way I approached the match mentally. "Tactically, I think I played pretty well from the first point until the last one. I didn't do a rollercoaster… I maintained my good level throughout the whole match, so I'm really proud about everything I did today. 'All eyes are on Paris right now, on Roland Garros. Beating Jannik, winning Rome, both things mix together and give great confidence going to Paris. I always say 'The final is not about playing, the final is about winning'. I just repeat everytime I play a final.' Sinner entered Sunday's final on a 26-match winning run and forced Alcaraz to save two set points in the opener. But once the Spaniard found his rhythm, Sinner was unable to keep pace. Alcaraz dropped just six of 27 first-serve points in the opening set and saved each of the break points he faced, which doubled as set points. After edging the opening set, the reinging French Open champion was dominant in the second. The 22-year-old deployed a series of brilliant defensive groundstrokes as well as trademark drop shots to help to a win. Sinner meanwhile is now turning his focus to Paris, having reached the semi-finals last year. "[The] first set for sure was a little bit of a game-changer. But talking generally, [I am] very happy about this tournament,' Sinner said. 'It gives me hopefully confidence to play some good tennis also in Paris. "Let's see what's coming out there. But after three months, coming here, making this result means a lot to me, a lot to my team also. We worked a lot to be here."
Telegraph
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Carlos Alcaraz finally has toughest adversary back but dominates Jannik Sinner
Finally, someone has beaten world No 1 Jannik Sinner. Almost inevitably, the man to do it was Sinner's great rival and fellow tennis giant Carlos Alcaraz, who has now extended his lead in their head-to-head meetings to 7-4. Before this final in Rome – which saw Alcaraz assert growing dominance in his 7-6, 6-1 victory – Sinner had been on a 26-match winning streak. He had not been beaten since his previous encounter with Alcaraz, which came in Beijing more than seven months ago. If seven months seems an awfully long time, we should not forget that this spell was extended by the three-month doping ban which Sinner's team agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency, as a result of his positive tests for Clostebol, a banned steroid. Sinner, 23, only returned to competition just over a week ago against Mariano Navone, showing few ill-effects from his lengthy absence from the match court. Building day by day, he delivered the highest-rated performance of the season, according to the ATP's number-crunchers, in the quarter-final against Casper Ruud, and seemed to have slotted back into his former dominance without a hiccup. But Alcaraz – who has now won all four of their meetings in the last 19 months – was always going to be a different proposition to the rest of the field. These two men have parcelled out the last five slams between them, with Sinner claiming all three of the hard-court events while Alcaraz took last year's French Open and Wimbledon. In this match, neither man managed to find his best rhythm in a slightly tentative first set. For Alcaraz, 22, there may have been a feeling of pressure, as he probably thought he ought to be beating a man who has played so little tennis this year. For Sinner, the exertions of the five wins he has claimed in the past week, which always feel different to training, may have been catching up on him. The key moment came when Alcaraz managed to wriggle out of two break points – which were also set points – while serving at 4-5 down. Then he got his own chance to go a set up while leading 6-5 in the tie-break. At this stage, he finally released the handbrake and came charging in behind a big backhand, producing a wonderful drop-volley while on a dead run. Magic on set point 💫 Inside Campo Centrale as @carlosalcaraz seals the opener vs Sinner! — Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 18, 2025 Now that Alcaraz had the first set in the bag, he relaxed and began distributing play in the way only he can. The huge forehands, the subtle drop-shots and the impossible retrievals: they were all on show as he sprinted for the finish line. Absolutely flying ⚡ @carlosalcaraz takes the lead in the 2nd set, winning 14 of the last 18 points! #IBI25 — Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 18, 2025 At the end of the match, Sinner gave his rival a warm smile and a hearty embrace. For him, this week will still feel like a major positive. He made a run to the final from a standing start and will be confident of putting up a better fight if he should come up against Alcaraz again in the French Open final in three weeks' time. Meanwhile, Alcaraz is probably the one player who will be glad about Sinner's return. He has not performed badly at all during the three-month interregnum, winning titles in Rotterdam and Monte Carlo. And yet, at the same time, he has looked slightly out of sorts, losing matches to Jiri Lehecka, Jack Draper and – most unexpectedly – 34-year-old David Goffin.
India Today
17-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Sinner vs Alcaraz Live Streaming: All you need to know about Italian Open 2025 final
World No.1 Jannik Sinner and four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz will be up against each other in the men's singles final of the Italian Open 2025 on Sunday, May has been in scintillating form as he returned to court following his doping ban after testing positive for a banned substance, Clostebol. Sinner began with a dominating win over Argentina's Mariano Navone, after which he took down Jesper de Jong of the he got the better of Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina and then knocked out Madrid Open champion Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals. After not dropping a single set in the first four matches, Sinner faced jitters in the semi-final against Tommy Paul of the United 23-year-old lost the opening game, but he made a stupendous comeback to win the match 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 and set up a final against on the other hand, returned in Rome after missing the Madrid Open due to hamstring and groin injuries. He began with a straight-set win over Dusan Lajovic and followed it up with another victory over Laslo the pre-quarterfinal, he beat Karen Khachanov, after which he knocked out Jack Draper. In the semi-final, Alcaraz beat Italy's Lorenzo Musetti to book his berth in the grand to the finaladvertisementCarlos Alcarazbeat Lorenzo Musetti 6–3, 7–6(4)beat Jack Draper 6–4, 6–4beat Karen Khachanov 6–3, 3–6, 7–5beat Laslo Djere 7–6(2), 6–2beat Duan Lajovi 6–3, 6–3Jannik Sinnerbeat Tommy Paul 1–6, 6–0, 6–3beat Casper Ruud 6–0, 6–1beat Francisco Cerndolo 7–6(2), 6–3beat Jesper de Jong 6–4, 6–2beat Mariano Navone 6–3, 6–4Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz Head-to-headJannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have faced each other 10 times since their first meeting in the 2021 Masters 1000 in Paris. Alcaraz is leading Sinner 6-4. In their last three meetings, Alcaraz won, with Sinner last winning in the 2023 Beijing and where to watch Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz in the Italian Open 2025?Sony Sports Network has the broadcasting rights for the Italian Open 2025. Live Streaming of the final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will be available on the Sony LIV Watch
