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      Tiffany Porter looking to become first athlete to win international medal wearing FACE MASK in Covid prevention measure

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      TIFFANY PORTER will bid to become the first athlete to win an international medal while wearing a FACE MASK.
      Despite routine Covid-19 tests, Britain’s masked raider is the only person at the European Indoors Championships in Torun, Poland, to compete with her face completely covered.

      British hurdler Tiffany Porter says she is taking extra precautions as she works in the frontline against Covid-19Credit: AFP

      Wearing such a face mask is ‘no big deal’ and ‘normal’ for Tiffany PorterCredit: EPA

      The 33-year-old mum-of-one, who runs over 60m hurdles indoors, is a pharmacist in the US and works on the frontline in the daily battle against coronavirus.
      Porter said: “It is not different at all. I train every day in a mask. So it’s no big deal.
      “It’s just an added level of protection for me. It’s part of my normal now.
      “I haven’t really been paying attention to any response from teammates. Nobody has said anything about it to me.

      “It just makes me a little bit more comfortable. They did a really good job of testing everybody while we are here.
      “I do understand about what’s been going on for sure. I’ve been a pharmacist since 2012.
      “Obviously dealing with a pandemic and having to be on the frontline in that regard has been a bit different. But other than that, it’s my life.”

      It makes me more comfortable to take every extra precaution… No, I do not judge others for their decisions.
      Tiffany Porter

      Porter qualified for the semi-finals with a heat time of 8.04sec on Saturday.

      But the Michigan-born star criticised herself for the “extremely poorly executed race”, focusing specifically on the unreactive start.
      The 2013 world championship bronze medallist in the 100m hurdles is “fully vaccinated against Covid-19” and knows that mask wearing has “become controversial and politicised”.
      She told her Instagram followers: “It makes me more comfortable to take every extra precaution (even if it’s seen as ‘extra or unnecessary’) and that should be respected.

      “No, I do not judge others for their decisions or their approach to this pandemic.
      “Information regarding the pandemic is rapidly evolving and we acquire new information and guidelines daily.”
      ANDREW POZZI secured his place in the next stage of the men’s 60m hurdles with a winning time of 7.52sec from heat one.

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      Runner Nelly Jepkosgei given three-year ban for dodging drug test by saying sister was in car crash and faking documents

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      RUNNER Nelly Jepkosgei has been banned for three years for faking a car accident in order to miss a drug test.
      The 800m star’s husband is said to have told testers that she was with her sister in hospital when they visited her home to carry out a test.

      Nelly Jepkosgei has been banned for three years after missing a drug testCredit: AP:Associated Press

      After the athlete did not return in the alloted hour-window, her representative sent an email to the Athletics Integrity Unit enclosing fake signatures and papers to validate the car crash.
      However doping officers then contacted Kenya police and were told there was no record of the alleged accident.
      The AIU, which oversees doping and misconduct cases, said in its ruling that Jepkosgei admitted the deception after an investigation.
      The former Diamond League runner had listed herself as available for testing at home on March 18, 2020.

      But the AIU added that the hospital confirmed a document about her whereabouts presented by Jepkosgei was ‘forged.’
      The 28-year-old would have been handed a standard four-year ban for tampering with the anti-doping process.
      However it was reduced by 12 months because she later admitted to faking the evidence.
      Jepkosgei, the holder of Kenya’s 1000m record, hasn’t competed since 2019.

      That was when she won the 800m in the Rabat and Lausanne rounds of the Diamond League.
      She was in the process of switching citizenship from Kenya to Bahrain.
      Jepkosgei was due to be eligible to represent her new country in August before the announcement of her ban this month. More

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      Sprint star Yohan Blake says he’d rather miss Tokyo Olympics than have the coronavirus vaccine

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      SPRINT star Yohan Blake has claimed he would rather miss the Tokyo Olympics than have the coronavirus vaccine.
      Blake made the shock comments as preparations continue for this summer’s rescheduled games.

      Yohan Blake is prepared to miss out on the Tokyo OlympicsCredit: EPA

      The 31-year-old athlete told the Jamaican Gleaner: “My mind still stays strong, I don’t want the vaccine.
      “I would rather miss the Olympics than take the vaccine.
      “I am happy. I don’t want to get into it right now, but I have my reasons.”
      The Jamaican sprinter won the silver medal in the 100m and 200m at the London 2012 Olympics.

      Blake was also part of Jamaica’s gold-winning 100m relay team in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.
      It is currently mandatory for athletes to have the vaccine to compete at the Olympics.
      A range of measures have been put in place to avoid the spread of Covid-19 at this summer’s Olympics.

      Sex, singing, hugging, chanting, hugging and hi-fiving will be banned from the games.

      Anyone flouting the health and safety rules will be thrown out with strict guidelines in place due to the pandemic.
      Athletes are waiting to hear about their stay in the Olympic and Paralympic village but have already been told post-event partying and sight-seeing will not be permitted.

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      Caster Semenya demands European Court of Human Rights overturn middle distance running ban over testosterone levels

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      CASTER Semenya is asking the European Court of Human Rights to overturn her middle distance ban.
      South African Semenya, 30, a double Olympic champion at 800m from London and Rio, has been unable to run further than 200m competitively since 2019.

      Semenya is hoping she will be able to compete in elite middle distance running againCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      World athletics chiefs won a legal battle to impose restrictions on female athletes with enhanced natural testosterone levels from running against other women over 400m, 800m and 1500m unless they took medication to reduce the levels.
      Semanya, born with cross-gender characteristics but assigned female from birth, fought the original ruling, arguing that the regulations – which meant medication or surgery was required for her to be able to compete – were unfair.
      Despite an initial decision to place her ban on hold pending further scientific study, it was reimposed and Semenya lost a challenge at the Swiss Federal Supreme Court last September.
      Now the 2017 world champion’s lawyers confirmed Semenya is taking the case to the Strasbourg-based Court, with a hope that the IAAF rules will be overturned before the delayed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer.

      In a statement issued by her Johannesburg-based law firm, Semenya said: “I hope the European court will put an end to the long-standing human rights violations by World Athletics against women athletes.
      “All we ask is to be allowed to run free‚ for once and for all‚ as the strong and fearless women we are and always have been.”
      Semenya has set sights on qualifying for the South African team at 200m and also spoken about running the long distance events, with the 5,000m a possibility.
      But signalling a belief that there could be an enforced U-turn, the lawyers added: ”Caster asks the court to find that Switzerland has failed in its positive obligations to protect her against the violation of her rights.

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      “This is due to World Athletics’ continuing discriminatory attempts to restrict the ability of certain women to participate in female athletics competitions.
      “Caster’s application continues her challenge to the demeaning and intrusive regulations. implemented by World Athletics in 2018 which prohibit some women athletes with naturally higher levels of testosterone from participating in international competitions.
      “While the timeline of the application remains to be determined by the court‚ Caster remains ever hopeful that she will soon be allowed to return to the starting line in the 800m at international competitions.”

      Team GB star and pharmacist Tiffany Porter runs hurdles in fastest time this year wearing a mask More

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      What are Nike ‘super shoes’ and why are they axed for Toyko Olympics? Nike Zoom Air Viperfly sprint shoes explained

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      NIKE’S Usain Bolt-beating sprint shoes have been put on hold and will not be produced.
      The controversial shoes are being branded as a Bolt-busting solution from Nike – but the American company have shelved the shoes with World Athletics approval unlikely.

      Nike’s new running spikes have been shelved ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

      The shoes are a different design to ones we have seen before on an athletics track

      Rival companies are also coming up with footwear that has similar technology – with Adidas among the chasing pack.
      What are the Nike Zoom Air Viperfly spikes and will they be allowed at the Tokyo Olympics?
      Nike’s cutting-edge running spikes are designed specifically for 100m sprinters.
      All sprinters wear footwear with small metal spikes on the bottom for better grip.
      Over the last few decades, manufacturers have found ways to make the foot plate more rigid and lighter, which has been approved by athletics officials.

      But the Nike shoes have a carbon fibre mechanism under the ball of the foot that acts like a springboard, generating more power in the sprinter’s stride.
      Nike said: “This composition, developed alongside the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%, was designed to provide responsiveness and energy.
      “It follows deep study of the strategy and performance of the race, and focuses attention on what athletes need most in the last 20 meters of the sprint.”
      Currently, we will NOT be seeing these spikes at the Tokyo Olympics, if it goes ahead in the summer of 2021.

      Nike will not make these shoes available for athletes in Japan.
      The shoes have to be approved by World Atheltics, which approve certain lines of footwear ahead of each world championships, with specific limits on sole thickness.

      The black and green spikes are being described as the fastest of all time
      What shoes did Usain Bolt run his 100m and 200m world records in?
      Retired Jamaican track icon Bolt ran 9.58sec in the 100m in 2009 at the World Championships in Berlin.

      He then went on and broke his own 200m world record, setting an all-time fastest of 19.19sec in the half lap sprint.
      Bolt wore Puma spikes his whole career and was endorsed by the German company since his earliest days as a promising young teenager.

      Usain Bolt broke the 100m and 200m world records in Berlin in 2009, which still stand todayCredit: AFP – Getty

      Usain Bolt is rightly regarded as the greatest sprinter of all timeCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      What are Nike ‘super shoes’ and are they banned from Tokyo Olympics? Nike Zoom Air Viperfly sprint shoes explained

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      NIKE’S Usain Bolt-beating sprint shoes could be BANNED from the Tokyo Olympics, because they help 100-metre runners too much.
      The controversial shoes are being branded as an Usain Bolt-busting solution from Nike – but the American company are set to shelve the shoes with World Athletics approval unlikely.

      The Nike Zoom Air Viperfly was launched last year but has hit a bump in the roadCredit: Nike

      Rival companies are also coming up with shoes that have similar technology – with Adidas among the chasing pack.
      What are the Nike Zoom Air Viperfly spikes and will they be allowed at the Tokyo Olympics?
      Nike’s cutting-edge running spikes are designed specifically for 100m sprinters.
      All sprinters wear footwear with small metal spikes on the bottom for better grip.
      Over the last few decades, manufacturers have found ways to make the foot plate more rigid and lighter, which has been approved by athletics officials.

      But the Nike shoes are thought to have a mechanism under the ball of the foot that acts like a springboard, generating more power in the sprinter’s stride.
      Currently, we will NOT be seeing these spikes at the Tokyo Olympics, if it goes ahead in the summer of 2021.
      According to the Times, Nike have shelved plans for the shoes to be used in Japan.
      What shoes did Usain Bolt run his 100m and 200m world records in?
      Retired Jamaican track icon Bolt ran 9.58sec in the 100m in 2009 at the World Championships in Berlin.

      He then went on and broke his own 200m world record, setting an all-time fastest of 19.19sec in the half lap sprint.
      Bolt wore Puma spikes his whole career and was endorsed by the German company since his earliest days as a promising young teenager.

      Usain Bolt broke the 100m and 200m world records in Berlin in 2009, which still stand todayCredit: AFP – Getty

      Usain Bolt is rightly regarded as the greatest sprinter of all timeCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Watch Team GB star and pharmacist Tiffany Porter run hurdles in fastest time this year wearing a mask

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      TEAM GB hurdler Tiffany Porter clocked her fastest time this year while wearing a mask.
      The 33-year-old is a pharmacist based in the US and opted to wear the face covering despite not being ordered to do so and having received two vaccine doses for Covid-19.

      Pharmacist and athlete Tiffany Porter opted to wear a mask and ended up running a season’s bestCredit: USA TODAY Sports

      Porter safely negotiated the hurdles while wearing a maskCredit: USA TODAY Sports

      Porter juggles competing at the top level of athletics with working as a pharmacistCredit: Instagram @tiffofili

      Running indoors in New York on Saturday, she came second in the 60-metre hurdles in 7.89 seconds – a season’s best and only 0.09 seconds off her personal best for the distance.
      On Instagram, Porter asked for people to respect her decision to wear a mask after footage of her competing was shared by the World Athletics page.
      She said: “Thanks @worldathletics for the post. I have gotten a lot of questions about why I’m choosing to run in a mask so here are a few things:
      “1. Yes I am fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and today marked two weeks since my second dose.

      “2. Yes I ‘understand the science’ and I’m also aware how the pandemic, mask-wearing, government response etc has become controversial and politicised.

      Wearing a mask does not bother me and I train daily with one so competing with one on is not a big deal for me.”
      Tiffany Porter

      “3. Wearing a mask does not bother me and I train daily with one so competing with one on is not a big deal for me.
      “4. It makes me more comfortable to take every extra precaution (even if seen as ‘extra or unnecessary’) and that should be respected.
      “5. No I do not judge others for their decisions/their approach to this pandemic.

      “6. Information regarding the pandemic is rapidly evolving and we acquire new information and guidelines daily.”
      Porter was running against her younger sister Cindy Sember who also competes under the Union Jack flag for Team GB.

      The footage was shared on the World Athletics Instagram pageCredit: Instagram @worldathletics

      The British athlete came second in the indoor race in New YorkCredit: Instagram @worldathletics

      Sember, 26, came fifth in 8.22 seconds but along with all the other runners did not choose to wear any PPE while sprinting.
      The pair both made the 2016 Rio Olympics 100m hurdles final – Porter finished seventh with Sember just outside the medals in fourth, despite running a season’s best on the biggest stage of all.
      Porter was born in the US to a British mother and Nigerian father and represented the country of her birth until switching allegiance at the end of the 2010 season.
      She graduated from the University of Michigan with a doctorate in pharmacy in 2012.
      Porter juggles competing with her work as a pharmacist and said: “I am a woman who wears many hats and I’m very passionate about the different roles I play.
      “I’m a firm believer in giving your all, no matter the task.”

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      Gymnastics champ and former porn star Van de Leur says OnlyFans saved her career in lockdown

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      FORMER Dutch gymnastics prodigy Verona van de Leur has revealed her OnlyFans page saved her career during lockdown.
      Van de Leur is a former Dutch Sportswoman of the Year with five European Championship medals and a World Championship silver to her name.

      Verona van de Leur has an army of online fansCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      Her life has taken plenty of twists and turns before ending up in pornCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      Verona van de Leur was once Holland’s golden girl of athleticsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But injuries and a falling out with her parents, after her father spent thousands of her own money, meant she quit the sport in 2008.
      Van de Leur, 35, told SunSport how she ended up living in her car, on the streets and even spent time behind bars after attempting to blackmail a couple for money.
      She then turned to the porn industry where she remained for eight years until 2019 and signed up to OnlyFans during the coronavirus pandemic.
      Speaking of having to survive in the current climate, she told Meduza: “I don’t know how long the lockdown will last.

      “The government does not compensate me for anything, but I have to live somehow.
      “Fans ask me why I decided to end [my porn career] and after so many years they can’t let me go.
      “OnlyFans has become a good way to make a lot of money and pay attention to the fans at the same time.
      “I am proud of my work and while I can still make money from it, why not? Of course, this was not my plan when I announced my retirement in December 2019, but since then many people’s lives have changed.

      After spending time in jail, Verona turned to a career in pornCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      She opened up an OnlyFans account following the pandemicCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      Verona spent eight years in the porn industryCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      Before joining the porn industry she was living on the streetsCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      Verona was set for stardom at an early age in gymnasticsCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      “Belgium and Holland are still locked down. We were told that until everyone gets the vaccine, life will not be normal. I cannot look into the future.
      “But I was never ashamed of porn. I loved the job. There was a moment when I could give it all up completely – so why not use it?
      “On my account, I began to post porn content that was filmed over the past eight years, which means that there were updates every day – so many videos have accumulated.”

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