Latest news with #Olympic
The Hindu
44 minutes ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif must undergo genetic sex screening to fight for new governing body
Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif must undergo genetic sex screening to participate in upcoming events with the sport's new governing body. World Boxing announced mandatory sex testing for all athletes Friday. The governing body specifically mentioned Khelif when announcing the policy, saying the Algerian gold medal winner must be screened before she will be approved to fight at any upcoming events, including the Eindhoven Box Cup next month in the Netherlands. 'The introduction of mandatory testing will be part of a new policy on 'Sex, Age and Weight' to ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for men and women,' World Boxing wrote in a statement. The fighters' national federations will be responsible for administering the tests and providing the results to World Boxing. Khelif won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics last summer amid international scrutiny on her and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, another gold medal winner. The previous governing body for Olympic boxing, the Russian-dominated International Boxing Association, disqualified both fighters from its 2023 world championships after claiming they had failed an unspecified eligibility test. The IOC ran the past two Olympic boxing tournaments after the banishment of the IBA for decades of misdeeds and controversy, and it applied the sex eligibility rules used in previous Olympics. Khelif and Lin were eligible to compete under those standards. Khelif intends to return to international competition next month in Eindhoven as part of her plan to defend her gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics, but some boxers and their federations had already spoken out to protest her inclusion. Chromosome testing was common in Olympic sports during the 20th century, but was largely abandoned in the 1990s because of numerous ambiguities that couldn't be easily resolved by the tests, collectively known as differences in sex development (DSD). Many sports switched to hormone testing to determine sex eligibility, but those tests require governing bodies to make difficult decisions on the eligibility of women with naturally high testosterone levels. Three months ago, World Athletics — the governing body for track and field — became the first Olympic sport to reintroduce chromosome testing, requiring athletes who compete in the women's events to submit to the test once in their careers. World Boxing has been provisionally approved to replace the IBA as the governing body at the Los Angeles Games, but it has faced significant pressure from boxers and their federations to create sex eligibility standards. World Boxing announced that all athletes over 18 years old in its competitions must undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genetic test to determine their sex at birth. The PCR test detects chromosomal material through a mouth swab, saliva or blood. If an athlete intending to compete in the women's categories is determined to have male chromosomal material, 'initial screenings will be referred to independent clinical specialists for genetic screening, hormonal profiles, anatomical examination or other valuation of endocrine profiles by medical specialists,' World Boxing wrote. The policy also includes an appeals process. The boxing body's decision is the latest development in a tumultuous period in Olympic sex eligibility policy. The issue of transgender participation in sports has become an international flashpoint, with President Donald Trump and other conservative world leaders repeatedly weighing in. Earlier this year, World Athletics also proposed recommendations that would apply strict rules to athletes who were born female but had what the organization describes as naturally occurring testosterone levels in the typical male range. In 2023, World Athletics banned transgender athletes who had transitioned male to female and gone through male puberty. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said he felt confident that the body's new rules would withstand legal challenges. The 26-year-old Khelif had competed in women's boxing events under the IBA's auspices without controversy until the 2023 world championships. She had never won a major international competition before her dominant performance in the women's welterweight division in Paris.
IOL News
44 minutes ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Zakithi Nene aiming to bounce back at the Kip Keino Classic after Diamond League blip
The in-form Zakithi Nene (centre) is the headline act in the 400m at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi. Image: BackpagePix SA's 400m star Zakithi Nene will be confident of setting the record straight when he lines up for the one-lap event at the Kip Keino Classic at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday. The in-form 27-year-old sprinter took second position at last weekend's Diamond League meeting in Rabat, in 44.46 seconds. He looked on track for the win but was chased down on the home straight by American Jacory Patterson, who clocked 44.37. Olympic champion Quincy Hall took third in 44.90. Nene set a personal best time of 44.22 at the SA championships in Potchefstroom in April. He will headline another strong field on Saturday that will include Africa Games champion Chidi Okezie and Australia's Cooper Sherman and Portugal's Joao Coelho. Former national 400m champion Zablon Ekwam, who boasts a personal best of 44.69, is among the local runners who could pose an outside threat to the South African in their backyard, however. Nene's performances so far this year have deservedly earned him top billing in Kenya, including his starring role in SA's 4X400m gold at the recent World Relays in Guangzhou, China with a world lead 2:57.50. He ran the anchor leg in a team that featured Gardeo Isaacs and youngsters Udeme Okon and Leenderts Koekemore, clocking a split time of 43.63. That feat ensured all eyes were on Nene in Rabat to see if he could run another sub-44-second time. Unfortunately, he was not able to deliver. Nene's coach, Victor Vaz, feels conditions may have played a part, pointing out that all the runners ran slower than expected, even race winner Patterson. The American's 43.9 is the world-leading time this year. 'My impression was that conditions weren't that favourable for personal bests. I was obviously expecting Zak to run another 44.2 in the hope that he goes sub-44 in the future,' Vaz said. 'In my opinion, he didn't finish the race correctly. I think he started over-striding and leaning. He sensed the guy was coming for him in the last 10 metres and that slowed him down to the point where the guy could catch him just before the line. 'I thought he should have run through the line, instead of starting to dip a little bit early.' Vaz feels his sprinter is in the best shape of his life and is tipping him to rebound fairly quickly in Kenya. He is worried about the toll the recent travel is taking out on the track star, though. 'Statistically he has no opposition (at the Kip Keino Classic). Nigerian Okezie and Australian Sherman are the two closest guys, but they're still very far from his time. So I don't want to be overconfident and put a curse on the poor chap but I think, all things being right, he should comfortably win the race.
GMA Network
an hour ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Alcaraz survives after Sabalenka, Zheng shine at scorching French Open
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in action during his third round match against Bosnia's Damir Dzumhur REUTERS/Denis Balibouse PARIS - Carlos Alcaraz made heavy weather of his French Open clash with Damir Dzumhur but moved into the fourth round while world number one Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen blazed a trail on a hot Friday at Roland Garros. Defending champion Iga Swiatek continued her bid for a fifth Roland Garros title when the fifth seed stayed calm on a searing afternoon on Court Philippe Chatrier to beat Jaqueline Cristian while Holger Rune edged a brutal five-setter with Quentin Halys. Alcaraz was expected to sizzle in the cool of the evening but the second seed found himself in hot water after his level dipped against Dzumhur before recovering to seal a 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4 win and book a clash with Ben Shelton. "It was under control during the first two sets, and then I don't know what happened," Alcaraz said. "I think he started to play, but I let him get into the match, get into a good rhythm. I let him get into his game and I didn't know what to do. "I was a break down in the fourth, and I just tried to calm myself a little bit, think much clearer, and try to do the good things again. Just happy to take the chances he gave me in the fourth set and play great tennis at the end." Sabalenka avoided the worst of the heat in the morning but had to stave off the plucky Olga Danilovic to win 6-2 6-3 and continue her bid for a maiden Roland Garros title after major triumphs at the Australian and U.S. Opens. The three-time Grand Slam champion looked in ruthless form while racing ahead 5-0 but Danilovic avoided the bagel by taking the sixth game on serve and pulled a break back. The resurgence did not last long as Sabalenka closed out the opening set with another break and withstood a stern test in the second set to beat her 34th-ranked opponent. Zheng, who won her biggest title at last year's Paris Games, continued her good form on the Roland Garros clay as the Chinese eighth seed made the second week by beating Grand Slam debutant Victoria Mboko 6-3 6-4 at Court Simonne Mathieu. That match was halted briefly when the 18-year-old Mboko was down 5-3 in the second set as a fan needed medical attention but Zheng was not affected when play resumed and quickly dispatched the Canadian. Former semi-finalist Amanda Anisimova required treatment for a blister on her right hand before the American secured a 7-6(4) 6-4 victory over Clara Tauson to reach the last 16 of the major where she announced herself in 2019. 'BIG HITTERS' Anisimova, seeded 16th, takes on Sabalenka in the next round aiming to improve her 5-2 win-loss record against the top seed. "We're both big hitters, so I'm sure we're going to be going at it back and forth," Anisimova said. Liudmila Samsonova will expect to be tested against Zheng after beating Dayana Yastremska 6-2 6-3. Swiatek extended her spectacular French Open winning streak to 24 matches after seeing off Jaqueline Cristian 6-2 7-5 as the temperature soared. "It was 20 degrees Celsius when I played my first match but today it was 30 degrees," Swiatek said. "It's not easy to adjust but I've played in every condition. Last year at the Olympics it was super hot, so I was ready." Up next for Swiatek is fellow Grand Slam champion Elena Rybakina, who ousted 2017 Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-2. Last year's runner-up Jasmine Paolini eased past Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-4 6-1 and faces another Ukrainian after Elina Svitolina beat Bernarda Pera 7-6(4) 7-6(5). Eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti blew hot and cold against Mariano Navone before winning 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-2 while Rune beat Halys 4-6 6-2 5-7 7-5 6-2. "It was a brutal match," Rune said. "I tried to change things ... I had to put more spin on the ball because of the conditions. "The player who took the opportunities to be aggressive was the player who won." Tommy Paul also needed five sets, the 12th seed defeating Karen Khachanov 6-3 3-6 7-6(7) 3-6 6-3, while American fans had more joy as 13th seed Shelton downed Matteo Gigante 6-3 6-3 6-4 and Frances Tiafoe beat Sebastian Korda 7-6(6) 6-3 6-4. Alexei Popyrin overcame Nuno Borges 6-4 7-6(11) 7-6(5) to fly the flag for Australia while Daniel Altmaier sent Hamad Medjedovic packing 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-2. French hopes suffered a blow as Arthur Fils pulled out of Saturday's clash against Andrey Rublev with a back injury. —Reuters
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Must-see TV this week: Matt Baker's UK tour and Tom Daley's success story
Fresh storylines are waiting TV fans this week, with new series hitting screens and streaming platforms alike. From powerful documentaries to suspenseful dramas, get the lowdown. Ups and downs are ahead for drama lovers with new action-packed shows being released this week - but that's not all the TV landscape brings. Channel 5 dedicates a documentary to the royal family feud between Prince Harry, Prince William and King Charles III, recalling the trio's tense conversation at Sandringham following Harry and Meghan's decision to leave the Firm. Over on Channel 4, former motorcycle racer Guy Martin embarks on road trip across Vietnam, while Matt Baker pays tribute to the people behind the UK's bustling life. Discovery +, on the other hand, delivers a compelling feature about Olympic champion and LGBTQ+ icon Tom Daley - from his beginnings as a young diving whizz to his life with his loved ones. Here's everything you should keep an eye on. Crisis At Sandringham Summit Saturday, C5 The royal walls shook in 2020 - now Crisis at Sandringham Summit reveals the explosive fallout that fractured The Firm. With Harry and Meghan's bombshell exit still reverberating, this documentary explores the aftermath of that infamous family meeting. Featuring gripping dramatisations, royal insiders and top-tier journalism, it digs deep into the tension between Prince Harry, his brother Prince William and their father, King Charles. What really happened behind closed doors? And how did one discussion spark a global media frenzy? Prepare for a compelling look into palace drama that's more explosive than fiction. The Front Room Saturday, Sky Cinema Premiere & NOW A sinister houseguest, a haunted pregnancy and a chilling secret - Brandy Norwood stars as Belinda in this taut psychological thriller that will twist your nerves into knots. When Belinda welcomes her creepy stepmother-in-law into the family home, things spiral fast into gothic terror for her and her husband Norman (Andrew Burnap). Based on Susan Hill's short story, The Front Room is a slow-burn descent into paranoia, grief and maternal instinct gone primal. Expect fiendish secrets, surreal horror and tension that'll cling to your skin like fog long after the credits roll. Our Guy In Vietnam Sunday, C4 Guy Martin heads to Vietnam for a riveting, three-part road trip across war-scarred land and a fast-moving culture. From riding the Ho Chi Minh Trail to triggering a dormant bomb, Our Guy In Vietnam unpacks a nation's trauma with heart and horsepower. This isn't your usual history lesson - it's culture, tech and memory through a mechanic's lens. Fifty years after the war ended, Vietnam's resilience roars back to life in this loud, smart and surprising journey. Tom Daley 1.6 seconds Sunday, Discovery+ In just 1.6 seconds, Tom Daley must deliver perfection. This gripping documentary follows the Olympic diving legend and LGBTQIA+ trailblazer as he reflects on a lifetime of pushing limits. With never-before-seen footage and heartfelt interviews with his family, Tom Daley: 1.6 Seconds dives deep into the victories, heartbreaks and pressures behind the podium. From teenage prodigy to global icon, Tom lifts the lid on the grit that comes with the gold. But more than a sports story, it's a portrait of resilience and the quiet power of becoming your truest self. C*A*U*G*H*T Sunday, ITVX War, mistaken identity and viral fame collide in C*A*U*G*H*T, where four Aussie soldiers are dumped in the chaos of a war-torn island, where everything spirals out of control. Captured by rebels who believe they're Americans, the group become viral sensations after filming a hostage video - then decide fame beats going home. Created by Kick Gurry, this darkly funny satire skewers celebrity culture with help from stars like Sean Penn and Matthew Fox. It's outrageous, unpredictable and wickedly smart. Mountainhead Sunday, Sky Atlantic Four billionaire friends, one luxury chalet and global economic collapse - Mountainhead is the end-of-the-world comedy you didn't know you needed. Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith and Ramy Youssef all star as filthy rich frenemies navigating doomsday with cocktails and passive aggression. Isolated from the chaos below, their retreat turns into a psychological (and hilarious) pressure cooker. Who cracks first? Who hoards the snacks? And what's left when your money means nothing? It's a sharp and stylish satire on privilege. Matt Baker's British Isles Tuesday, More4 Matt Baker's got his walking boots on - and his heart firmly rooted in home soil. In this lush four-part series, the Countryfile star treks across the UK, from Kent's white cliffs to Northern Ireland and Scotland, to meet the extraordinary people quietly shaping Britain. From sculpture-like mushrooms to engineering marvels in motion, Matt Baker's British Isles is a feel-good patchwork of unsung heroes, beautiful vistas and big-hearted storytelling. It's more than sightseeing - it's soul-sighting. A great reminder of what makes Britain truly brilliant. Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story Tuesday, Sky Arts Few writers lived as boldly as Edna O'Brien - and this intimate documentary captures her fire in full. From banned books to literary breakthroughs, Blue Road traces Edna's fearless path through fame, feminism and family. With tributes from friends, sons and fellow authors, plus access to her personal diaries, this isn't just a biography - it's a final love letter, month after the icon's death in July, 2024. Filmmaker Sinéad O'Shea honours the Irish legend with grace and grit. Edna may have passed but her voice, spirit and rebellion clearly live on. The Rookie Tuesday, Sky Witness Nathan Fillion is back as the LAPD's most seasoned recruit, John Nolan. No longer the new kid on the block, John faces fresh pressure in season seven of The Rookie as he recovers from a gunshot wound and grapples with the physical toll of the job. But there's no slowing down - especially with two new rookies joining the team and a dangerous manhunt underway for two escaped inmates. Blending grit, humour and heart, The Rookie continues to prove that experience is the ultimate weapon. What It Feels Like For a Girl Tuesday, BBC Heartbreaking, chaotic and unexpectedly hilarious, What It Feels Like For a Girl is the BBC's Y2K-styled adaptation of Paris Lees' memoir. It follows Byron (Ellis Howard), who breaks free from the drudgery of his working-class hometown and dives headfirst into Nottingham's neon-lit underworld. There, he meets a crew of new friends, drugs and dizzying nights of rebellion. But when Byron falls for bad boy Liam (Jake Dunn), the fallout is brutal. A raw coming-of-age tale that blends euphoria, trauma and truth in equal measure. You'll feel every high - and every crash. Stick Wednesday, Apple TV+ Owen Wilson stars in Stick, a quirky underdog comedy about second chances and missed swings. He plays Pryce Cahill, a washed-up golf pro whose glory days are long behind him. After losing his wife, job and mojo, he meets Santi (Peter Dager), a 17-year-old golf prodigy with baggage - and maybe a shot. Together, they form an unlikely bond. Set in small-town Indiana and full of dry wit, this series mixes sports, found family and emotional redemption. Pryce may be down, but don't count him out - he's about to tee off on life again. The Survivors When Kieran Elliott returns to his hometown, fifteen years after a deadly storm ravaged the area and left three of his friends dead, he walks straight into a fresh murder that rips open old scars. The Survivors blends seaside small-town secrets with brooding, slow-build suspense across six punchy episodes. Fronted by Charlie Vickers (Rings of Power), the drama grips like a rip tide, dragging you through trauma, guilt and buried truths. As the town closes ranks, Kieran's past resurfaces - and the monster may be someone they all know. Emotional, eerie and impossible to pause. Straw Friday, Netflix Tyler Perry and Taraji P. Henson deliver gut-punch drama in Straw, a searing look at one woman's spiral through desperation. Janiyah, a single mother with a sick child, faces the kind of day where every door shuts - and survival demands unthinkable choices. Stark, raw and viscerally emotional, Straw is a bruising portrait of motherhood on the edge. The Color Purple and Hidden Figures star Taraji is phenomenal, anchoring a story that speaks to systemic failure, strength and sacrifice. You won't be able to look away - even when it hurts.
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Olympic Boxing Champ Imane Khelif Must Undergo Genetic Sex Screening to Fight for New Governing Body
Ap file photo Algeria's Imane Khelif poses after defeating China's Yang Liu to win gold in their women's 66 kg final boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif must undergo genetic sex screening to participate in upcoming events with the sport's new governing body. World Boxing announced mandatory sex testing for all athletes Friday. The governing body specifically mentioned Khelif when announcing the policy, saying the Algerian gold medal winner must be screened before she will be approved to fight at any upcoming events, including the Eindhoven Box Cup next month in the Netherlands. 'The introduction of mandatory testing will be part of a new policy on 'Sex, Age and Weight' to ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for men and women,' World Boxing wrote in a statement. The fighters' national federations will be responsible for administering the tests and providing the results to World Boxing. Khelif won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics last summer amid international scrutiny on her and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, another gold medal winner. The previous governing body for Olympic boxing, the Russian-dominated International Boxing Association, disqualified both fighters from its 2023 world championships after claiming they had failed an unspecified eligibility test. The IOC ran the past two Olympic boxing tournaments after the banishment of the IBA for decades of misdeeds and controversy, and it applied the sex eligibility rules used in previous Olympics. Khelif and Lin were eligible to compete under those standards. Khelif intends to return to international competition next month in Eindhoven as part of her plan to defend her gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics, but some boxers and their federations had already spoken out to protest her inclusion. Chromosome testing was common in Olympic sports during the 20th century, but was largely abandoned in the 1990s because of numerous ambiguities that couldn't be easily resolved by the tests, collectively known as differences in sex development (DSD). Many sports switched to hormone testing to determine sex eligibility, but those tests require governing bodies to make difficult decisions on the eligibility of women with naturally high testosterone levels. Three months ago, World Athletics — the governing body for track and field — became the first Olympic sport to reintroduce chromosome testing, requiring athletes who compete in the women's events to submit to the test once in their careers. World Boxing has been provisionally approved to replace the IBA as the governing body at the Los Angeles Games, but it has faced significant pressure from boxers and their federations to create sex eligibility standards. World Boxing announced that all athletes over 18 years old in its competitions must undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genetic test to determine their sex at birth. The PCR test detects chromosomal material through a mouth swab, saliva or blood. If an athlete intending to compete in the women's categories is determined to have male chromosomal material, 'initial screenings will be referred to independent clinical specialists for genetic screening, hormonal profiles, anatomical examination or other valuation of endocrine profiles by medical specialists,' World Boxing wrote. The policy also includes an appeals process. The boxing body's decision is the latest development in a tumultuous period in Olympic sex eligibility policy. The issue of transgender participation in sports has become an international flashpoint, with President Donald Trump and other conservative world leaders repeatedly weighing in. Earlier this year, World Athletics also proposed recommendations that would apply strict rules to athletes who were born female but had what the organization describes as naturally occurring testosterone levels in the typical male range. In 2023, World Athletics banned transgender athletes who had transitioned male to female and gone through male puberty. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said he felt confident that the body's new rules would withstand legal challenges. The 26-year-old Khelif had competed in women's boxing events under the IBA's auspices without controversy until the 2023 world championships. She had never won a major international competition before her dominant performance in the women's welterweight division in Paris.
