Transgender women athletes banned from female events at Olympics by IOC

The International Olympic Committee has banned transgender women and DSD athletes from the female category of events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and future Games.Kirsty Coventry, the president of the IOC, said the landmark decision had been taken because “it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category”.The IOC has also confirmed that all athletes wanting to compete in the female category at future Olympics will have to undergo a one-off SRY (sex determining region Y gene) screening to detect their biological sex. Usually that is done via an unintrusive cheek-swab or saliva test.Coventry said the decision, which applies to elite individual and team sports, was based on science and would protect the fairness and safety of women’s sport

Why Max Verstappen gave me my marching orders from a press conference | Giles Richards

In the grand scheme of things I enjoy a remarkably privileged career, paid to cover Formula One, a sport I have loved since 1976. So I am loth to complain, but was deeply disappointed when Max Verstappen chose to eject me from his press conference on Thursday at the Japanese Grand Prix over a question asked at the end of last season.Our first face-to-face in 2026 came at Suzuka when it turned out the Dutchman had a positively elephantine recollection. When he saw me he stared, smiled and declared he would not speak until I left. In the course of a brief 30-second exchange, he told me to “get out”

Rams star Puka Nacua sued over alleged antisemitic remark and biting incident

Star Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua has been sued by a woman who says he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder on New Year’s Eve. The civil lawsuit was filed this week in Los Angeles, according to TMZ. The suit also cites gender violence and negligence.Madison Atiabi and her attorney, Joseph Kar, claim Nacua said “fuck all Jews” during a New Year’s Eve dinner in Los Angeles last year. Atiabi is Jewish and says she “immediately felt uncomfortable and emotionally distressed” when the wide receiver made the comments

Keely Hodgkinson pokes fun at West Ham over world championships stadium dispute

Keely Hodgkinson has playfully poked fun at West Ham after it emerged they could ruin London’s chances of hosting the 2029 World Athletics Championships.Sebastian Coe, the World Athletics president, has made it clear he wants those world championships to be held in September as a finale to the athletics season. However, West Ham do not want to give up the London Stadium for approximately three weeks for the event as their season will have started.Hodgkinson, who won the World Indoor Championship 800m on Sunday, made her feeling’s clear on Tuesday when she responded to a story on X saying “London’s bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships is in jeopardy”.“The GB team will bring back more medals to that stadium than West Ham have seen in their entire history,” she wrote, before adding hand over the mouth, laughing and heart emojis

The nerdy, authentic Oklahoma City Thunder are a breath of fresh air

The relatable, endearing authenticity of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending NBA champions is a wonder to beholdWinter is over, though perhaps most NBA fans feel as if it’s just beginning. After a midseason slump, the Oklahoma City Thunder have won 12 of their last 13 games They’re clinging to a slim but steady three-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs atop the otherwise chaotic Western Conference. (The Lakers are good now? The Nuggets can’t find their footing? The Rockets can’t even stand up?) The Thunder’s flirtation with vulnerability was fun, but the defending champions look as invincible now as they did during their 24-1 run to begin the season. So, now as then, with nothing to criticize in the Thunder’s basketball, we are compelled to discuss their character and vibes.Reviews are usually poor

MLB 2026 predictions: are the Dodgers inevitable? Maybe not …

The World Series champions have somehow become even stronger. But there are a few teams who could stop them from retaining their titleA welcome introduction. Recent years have seen a tactical flattening of the game with the introduction of the universal DH, the banning of the shift and the three-batter minimum rule, but this adds an interesting wrinkle to game management. The league table of catchers’ challenge percentages will be fascinating. AEThe robo-ump makes me sick, but I also didn’t love the pitch clock and I could never go back to 3hr 45min games