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      Dame Denise Lewis stands down as UK Athletics president after just two months amid BBC Sport pundit row

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      DAME Denise Lewis has “temporarily” stood down as president of UK Athletics after just two months in the role.The former Olympic gold medal heptathlon winner landed the gig in December.
      Dame Denise Lewis has stood down as president of UK AthleticsCredit: Getty
      But concerns over integrity were raised after she also decided to continue working as an athletics pundit for BBC Sport.
      And Lewis confirmed on Instagram Stories that she was “temporarily” leaving her UK Athletics role.
      She said: “I’ve had to make the difficult decision to temporarily step away from my role as UKA president – with the upcoming Olympics and a hectic summer ahead.
      “I would only want to accept the role when it can have my full attention.”
      READ MORE IN ATHLETICS
      The Times reported this week there were concerns that Lewis’ integrity “could be compromised” due to her duel role at UK Athletics and the BBC.
      Lewis had apparently been accredited for next week’s World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
      The BBC refused to confirm to the Times whether or not she will be appearing on screens for the event.
      And they did not respond after being asked whether her UK Athletics presidency would compromise her integrity as a pundit either.
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      Lewis’ representatives at M&C Saatchi Merlin also declined to respond on her potential studio appearance in Glasgow.
      Lewis was elected UK Athletics president after the organisation announced annual losses of £3.7million last year.
      Denise Lewis OBE on career challenges, inspirations and winning Olympic gold
      There has been a big decline in revenue from sponsors and organisations — including the BBC.
      Lewis’ announcement that she is “temporarily” stepping down follows Dame Katherine Grainger’s decision before the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
      She was chairman of UK Sport at the time but temporarily stepped away to work as a BBC commentator for rowing.
      Lewis’ gold Olympics medal came at the Sydney 200 Games.
      Four years earlier, she bagged bronze in Atlanta.
      Lewis was also a gold medallist at the 1998 European Championships.
      And she twice bagged silver at the World Championships in 1997 and 1999 before retiring in 2005. More

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      I played for England and went to a World Cup, but I should have done more, it makes me feel physically sick

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      JERMAINE JENAS says he feels physically sick when he looks back at his football career.The now 41-year-old burst on to the scene with his hometown team Nottingham Forest aged 17 back in 2001.
      Jermaine Jenas has revealed his regret at his football careerCredit: PA
      The star won 21 caps for England and went to the 2006 World Cup with the Three LionsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Just a year later he got his big move to the Premier League with Newcastle United, where he went on to win the PFA Young Player of the Year award in his first season there.
      Jenas’ performances were also recognised on the international stage as Sven-Goran Eriksson handed him an England debut in February 2003.
      Tottenham swooped to sign Jenas in 2005 and he helped them to League Cup success before he began to suffer a number of injury issues.
      He had loan spells at both Aston Villa and back at Forest before he joined QPR in 2013, however, the midfielder was forced to retire the following year through a knee injury.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Jenas, who won 21 England caps during his career and went to the 2006 World Cup, has since enjoyed an impressive career on TV.
      He has worked on both BT Sport and BBC’s Match of the Day while also earning a regular slot as host of The One Show.
      However, despite that success in his second career, he revealed his anguish and disappointment when he looks back at his footballing days during an interview with the Big Issue.
      He said: “It’s not spoken about enough in sport – we see all the success stories but there’s more people that live with regrets.
      Most read in Football
      “I played for England, played Champions League football, went to a World Cup, won a major trophy, and played in every great stadium there is. But I think if I was to tell my younger self, he would have said that’s good, but you should have done more.
      “It’s something I’ve found very hard to make peace with. Even saying it now physically makes me feel sick.
      Jermaine Jenas threatens to WALK OFF TNT Sports set live on TV after Laura Woods’ brutal comment-
      “So I have to tell myself well done, you achieved things in the game. But from a sporting perspective, my younger self would ask me a few questions.”
      But there is one moment in particular that he would love to go back to as he revealed: “If I could relive a day from my career it would be when I was PFA Young Player of the Year.
      “I was 19 years old, sitting with Sir Bobby Robson who had bought me for a lot of money the year before, and it felt like I had paid him back. The gamble was justified.
      “Alan Shearer, Kieron Dyer and the Newcastle chairman were there and to get up in front of the PFA and for them to have voted for me was huge.
      “I underestimated it a bit at a time. But there’s no greater feeling than being honoured by your fellow professionals.
      “I wouldn’t mind living that day again because it was a long journey to get there.” More

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      MOTD2 host Mark Chapman finds love again with glam estate agent after death of wife Sara from cancer

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      MATCH of the Day 2 host Mark Chapman has found romance again after his wife’s death.Chappers, 50, has been dating estate agent Clere Collier for months.
      Widower Mark Chapman has found love againCredit: PA
      Chappers is dating Dubai estate agent Clere Collier
      It is his first relationship since wife Sara, 44, died of cancer in 2020.
      Mum-of-two Clere, 43, was once linked with pop singer Dane Bowers and is based in Dubai.
      She uses her contacts there to invest in London’s property market — and makes regular UK trips for work and to see Mark in Manchester, where the BBC broadcaster is based.
      Mark had three children with wife of 19 years Sara.
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      A source said: “It’s early days but Mark and Clere are in a good place and enjoying each other’s company.
      “Mark’s focus has always been his children and work, so a relationship was unexpected.
      “He and Clere are taking things slow and just seeing how it all plays out, but it’s clear to see they are really into each other.”
      Mark, who had three children with wife of 19 years Sara, is a Radio 5 Live regular and occasionally steps in for Gary Lineker on Match of the Day.
      Most read in Football
      He also fronts Sky Sports’ Carabao Cup coverage and is regarded as one of the industry’s most talented presenters.
      Mark, affectionately known as Chappers, made his name as the sports presenter for Radio 1’s Newsbeat and was part of Sara Cox’s team when she hosted the station’s Breakfast Show.
      Premier League cult hero makes ‘excellent’ BBC MOTD debut as impressed fans say ‘give me more’
      He later went on to perform the same role for Scott Mills before going on to become a fixture at 5 Live and BBC television, which also saw him front the corporation’s NFL coverage before it moved to Channel 4.
      This is Mark’s first relationship since wife Sara died of cancer in 2020 aged 44Credit: Twitter
      Chapman has hosted Match of the Day 2 for over a decadeCredit: BBC More

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      TNT Sports take cheeky dig at hit BBC show ahead of Arsenal’s crunch Premier League ‘battle’ vs Newcastle

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      TNT Sports took a cheeky dig at the BBC during their coverage of Arsenal vs Newcastle.The kick-off was moved from TNT’s usual 12:30pm slot to a primetime 8pm Saturday showing to maximise the number of TV viewers.
      The Arsenal vs Newcastle game has been moved to a primetime TV slotCredit: AP
      The presenters took a cheeky dig at GladiatorsCredit: BBC
      Welcoming viewers to the game, lead commentator Darren Fletcher said: “Forget Gladiators, the battle is here.”
      The comment was in reference to Gladiators on BBC One, which is showing at the same time and has recently been relaunched.
      The much-loved 1990s show has been revamped with Bradley Walsh presenting alongside his son, Barney.
      Former Premier League ref Mark Clattenburg also oversees the action as the referee on the show.
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      Clattenburg recently dipped his toe back into the refereeing game after taking a job at Nottingham Forest.
      The former whistler will be a ‘referee’s analyst’ for the club, the first of its kind.
      The football feeling does not end on the hit TV show, with Guy Mowbray providing the commentator.
      Mowbray is well known for his commentating on Match of the Day, week to week.
      Most read in Football
      The show was recently hit by “fix” claims after a former gladiator claimed there were certain events that contestants would find “impossible” to win against burly gladiators.
      Arsenal entered the game against Newcastle looking to close the gap at the top of the table.
      Gladiators in chaos as referee forced to stop game after epic wardrobe malfunction and contestant is left injured
      The title-chasers will be just two points off Liverpool if they can beat Newcastle tonight.
      Manchester City took a major step in their hunt to reel in Liverpool earlier as they triumphed over Bournemouth 1-0. More

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      Horror as Premier League star is threatened by troll who vowed to come to his house and kill him & his family

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      A PREMIER League star has revealed he was threatened by a troll who vowed to come to his house and kill him and his family.Neal Maupay, 27, scored a last-minute winner for Brighton & Hove Albion against Arsenal in June 2020.
      Brentford’s Neal Maupay was threatened by a troll who vowed to come to his house and kill him and his familyCredit: Rex
      The striker scored a last-minute winner for Brighton & Hove Albion against Arsenal in June 2020Credit: PA
      The Frenchman also unintentionally injured goalkeeper Bernd Leno during the gameCredit: AP
      The Frenchman, who is now on-loan at Brentford from Everton, also unintentionally injured goalkeeper Bernd Leno during the game.
      He then received a tidal wave of threats on social media, the BBC reported.
      “I got home and got a phone call from the club saying, listen, there’s a lot of stuff going on online,” he told the BBC Radio 4 podcast, Why Do You Hate Me?.
      “We advise you to switch off your social media and deactivate your accounts if you want to.”
      Read more Sports News
      The striker got a message from an anonymous account which warned that his “loved ones would go through suffering”.
      It also threatened to harm him and said: “Your family will be attacked later in the day just watch.”
      Maupay recalled: “It was very disturbing. I called the club and I said, we need to do something, because what if that guy is really coming to my house?”
      He blocked the account, but the person created another profile.
      Most read in Football
      The next message read: “You think by reporting my account you’re safe? I will kill you and your family.”
      Tim Cooper, who leads the Premier League troll-busting unit, said: “We don’t often see repeat infringers – the same person sending the same messages.
      “We often see it as one outburst, rather than a real spiral of abuse aimed at one particular individual.
      “So it’s quite a unique case with Maupay where it was one user and then a follow up.”
      Maupay was one of the first players to refer abuse to Cooper’s team.
      “I had to do it because I wanted to make sure we were reporting these people and trying to get them punished for it,” he said.
      “I think it’s my responsibility as a person and as a football player to report it and try to change it. I think to ignore it is not the solution.”
      Cooper’s team were able to trace the comments to a 19-year-old based in Singapore, Derek Ng De Ren.
      Ng was an Arsenal fan and blamed his team’s loss on Maupay injuring Leno.
      The teenager was eventually handed a nine-month probation order.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      The Premier League said it was the first time it was able to successfully work on a case of abuse from overseas.
      Watch Why Do You Hate Me? Hunting Premier League Trolls on BBC iPlayer or listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds. More

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      Alex Scott poses in ski outfit as presenter takes on four-day Arctic endurance challenge for iconic BBC show

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      ALEX SCOTT was all smiles as she prepared for, potentially, the greatest challenge of her life.The BBC Sport presenter, 39, shared snaps training on skis as she embarks on a charity mission.
      Alex Scott is all smiles on skis as she trains for her challenge
      BBC host Scott is trekking across the Arctic with a group of celebs to raise money for Comic Relief
      From left to right, Laura Whitmore, Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison, and Alex Scott will brave the elements in the Arctic
      Scott is set to brave the freezing temperatures to trek across the Arctic for Comic Relief.
      She will be joined by Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison and Laura Whitmore for Snow Going Back: Comic Relief Vs The Arctic.
      They are set to start their endurance test at the edge of the Arctic Circle in Tromso, Norway.
      It will take four days to trek, cross-country ski, and cycle to a finish a line some 50km away.
      Read more on Alex Scott
      The group will be confronted with minus 20C temperatures and will have just eight hours of daylight as they make their way through the polar region.
      Scott and the rest of the crew will be required to pitch their own tents and survive on food rations in the gruelling test.
      On Sunday, the Football Focus host took to Instagram to share some photos.
      In one she can be seen hitting the deck, as she laughs off her fall.
      Most read in Football
      While in others, she shows off her team and training they have been doing so far, including skiing and cycling.
      Alex Scott braves wind and torrential rain as she stuns in tartan jacket on BBC
      She captioned the photos: “Posted pictures of us smiling in training because I’m not sure how many there will be over the coming days 🥶🥶
      “Training all complete… #snowgoingbacknow.”
      Scott added: “A four-day endurance challenge taking on the unforgiving landscape of the Arctic to raise vital funds all for @ComicRelief.
      “It’s going to be tough, long and very very cold but as one team we’re determined to raise as much money as we can to help try to tackle poverty and injustice around the world.
      “Please donate if you can to… comicrelief.com/alex.
      “Thank you 🙏🏾”
      The group will have to trek 50km through the Arctic
      Scott and her pals will have to pitch a tent
      Part of the endurance test includes cycling
      The journey features in a documentary before Red Nose Day
      Scott’s girlfriend Jess Glynne posted a comment that read: “You 🖤”
      The journey will be captured by a BBC film crew and shown as a documentary before Red Nose Day on March 15. More

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      Former referee Mark Clattenburg gets surprise new job at Premier League club – alongside role on BBC’s Gladiators

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      NOTTINGHAM FOREST have appointed former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg as the club’s new referees’ analyst.The 48 year old was at the City Ground for Forest’s home match against West Ham today.
      Mark Clattenburg has landed a shock new job at Nottingham ForestCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Clattenburg recently appeared as the official on BBC show Gladiators alongside host Bradley WalshCredit: BBC
      Clattenburg spent time with the club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis before kick-off.
      Tony Scholes, the Premier League’s chief football officer, was also present at the match.
      Forest have been frustrated over a number of controversial decisions by officials and VAR this season.
      The appointment of Clattenburg is seen as an attempt to improve their understanding of decisions and also improve relationships with the PGMOL and match officials.
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      The Durham-born ref officiated in the Premier League for 13 years between 2004 and 2013.
      He also took charge of the 2016 Champions League final and the European Championship final between Portugal and France in the same year.
      He has recently been the lead referee in BBC TV show Gladiators.
      The classic series, which originally aired on ITV from 1992 to 2000, made a comeback earlier this year.
      Most read in Football
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      Clattenburg’s appearance on the reboot left fans stunned with some claiming he was putting on a Scottish accent during the show.
      During the one-hour episode, the former ref said the show’s famous line: “Contestants, ready? Gladiators, ready?”
      Eight bizarre football rules you may not know
      But for the rest of the season he will be in place at Forest in a key consultancy role. More

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      Controversial British athletics icon Dwain Chambers to make shock return to competitive sprinting aged 45

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      DWAIN CHAMBERS will run in a competitive race at the age of 45, yet he should really forget all about winning!Despite his dodgy drugs past, UK Athletics are open to him working with and talking to the current generation about his chequered past and complicated history.
      Dwain Chambers is still competingCredit: PA
      He is unlikely to qualify for the World Indoor ChampionshipsCredit: PA
      In his pomp, Chambers was one of the best sprinters around, winning bronze at the 100 metres at world level in 1999 plus gold over 60 metres indoors in Doha 14 years ago.
      But infamously, he was caught up in the USA BALCO doping scandal – in 2003, he tested positive for a banned steroid, was suspended from the sport for two years and was stripped of some medals.
      Chambers probably should have retired by now and given up competition but he will be the oldest person in the field at the two-day UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham.
      UKA Olympic Head Coach Paula Dunn said: “The reality is he’s not going to qualify for the World Indoors with the standards.
      READ MORE SPORT NEWS
      “He enjoys his athletics. He’s qualified as right.
      “He’s doing great work down in Lee Valley with his academy. So like every other athlete, he can continue to race.
      “I don’t think he has aspirations, realistically, to go to the World Indoors (in Glasgow) but he’s running very well for somebody who’s in his mid-forties.
      “Some people enjoy keeping fit and competing. He obviously feels he has more to give.
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      “And like any athlete he feels he wants to reach his full potential at the age of 45.
      “As a sport, we’re inclusive. So, he’s welcome to do that.”
      British track sprinter Dwain Chambers races a HORSE ahead of Cheltenham
      It is ten years since he last ran in GB colours, notably finishing fourth in the 100 metres final at the European Championships in Zurich.
      That year, he also ran at the 2014 World Indoors in Sopot, Poland, but came sixth as Teesside Tornado Richard Kilty claimed the 60-metre title.
      Some will not forgive Chambers for his indiscretions and UKA policy prevents someone who has served a drugs ban from being employed as a national coach.
      Dunn would have no issue potentially bringing him into a UKA camp on a one-off basis, especially as he tried to redeem himself, teaching people about the pitfalls of cheating.
      She said: “Dwain has done lots of workshops telling youngsters about the dangers and how you have to say focused on what you are trying to achieve without taking shortcuts.
      “So for me, it’s a story of redemption. He got caught, he owned up to it and he has tried to make the best of a situation.
      “If he can educate people about the pitfalls, I think that’s a bonus.
      “Sometimes the best people to give the message is the person who has suffered through some consequences.
      “So it is not off the table but I haven’t actually thought about it. Long-term, it could be something that could be useful for the programme.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “As an adviser and as a speaker to athletes in the areas that he talks in at the moment then he could be useful.”
      Sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – who is Nitro in the BBC Gladiators reboot – has pulled out of the national trials. More