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      Team GB star CJ Ujah stripped of National Lottery funding over Tokyo silver medallist’s failed drug test

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      CJ UJAH has been stripped of domestic athletics funding following his Olympics drugs violation.The sprinter is suspended from the sport after testing positive for banned substances at the Tokyo Games in August.
      Ujah has taken his case to the Court of Arbitration for SportCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Ujah with his relay pals Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake in TokyoCredit: Getty
      The case has gone to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the GB team that won 4x100m relay silver behind Italy could be stripped of their medals.
      That would mean heartache for Ujah’s Tokyo team-mates Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake.
      Londoner Ujah, 27, was on Olympic Relays funding – between £21,000 and £28,000 – over the past 12 months.
      He insists he is not a cheat and denies any wrongdoing.
      And if he can prove his innocence in the CAS court then he could possibly request funds – which are provided through the National Lottery – for the 2022 season.
      Olympic head coach Christian Malcolm said: “It was a bit of shock when we found out about the test.

      “It’s very unfortunate, especially the hard work that the whole team had put into it. We’e still waiting to find out what the outcome of that will be.”
      British Athletics Performance Director Sara Symington added: “CJ is currently suspended from the sport so we were unable to consider him in this selection process. That was the rationale.”
      A group of 67 athletes have been offered membership to join the Olympic World Class Programme pool of cash.
      This includes Keely Hodgkinson, 19, who came from nowhere to win an Olympic 800m silver medal and the European indoors title.
      Scottish runner Andrew Butchart has been removed from Olympic Podium Potential funding of £10,000 to £16,000 despite finishing 11th in the 5,000m Olympic final.
      Athletics bosses say this was for ‘performance’ reasons not due to his embarrassing comments about allegedly faking Covid travel tests on a podcast. More

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      London Marathon hopeful Charlotte Purdue stopped running late at night in training after Sarah Everard tragedy

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      CHARLOTTE PURDUE refused to go running late at night or through empty parks in training for Sunday’s London Marathon.The safety of women on our streets has become a major talking point following the abduction and murder of Sarah Everard in March.
      Charlotte Purdue refused to train late at night after Sarah Everard’s murderCredit: PA
      Everard, 33, was kidnapped, raped and killed by policeman Wayne Couzens in MarchCredit: Reuters
      Everard, 33, was walking home alone at night when she was kidnapped, raped and killed by policeman Wayne Couzens.
      The serving Met Police officer was this week sentenced to life in prison for his hideous crimes.
      In recent days many women have revealed online their own near-escapes and encounters with dangerous men at night time.
      Purdue, Britain’s fourth fastest woman of all time over 26.2 miles, said: “I’ve been thinking of the Sarah Everard case a lot the last few days.
      “I personally only really run in well-populated places and in the day — not late at night or through empty parks.
      “I hadn’t thought about it much before this whole situation but I definitely have to a lot more now.
      “I run on the treadmill now when it’s dark and in winter because it’s a lot safer. In the day I do feel safe running outside by myself.

      “I’d say more streetlights, and CCTV cameras, stuff like that would help. People have to make their own decision on if they feel safe or where they run.”
      Purdue aims to use the 41st London Marathon — rescheduled from April — to show Team GB selectors were wrong to crush her Olympics dream.
      The 30-year-old ran her PB of 2:25:38 at the 2019 London Marathon but was snubbed for Tokyo — with Brits Stephanie Davis, Jess Piasecki and Steph Twell all flopping in Sapporo.
      It proved a very stressful time for Purdue, who was naturally left ‘gutted’, and she attempted in vain to appeal the decision.
      The Aldershot ace claims there were untruths told about her training and physical condition in the selection meeting, which she was keen to rectify on the record.
      And now seven months on, she feels let down by the lack of communication from UK Athletics about why she was ignored.
      ‘TOOK TIME TO GET OVER IT’
      Purdue said: “It has taken some time to get over what happened.
      “I was advised by the British Athletes Commission and they set me up with some legal advice.
      “When my appeal was unsuccessful, they advised me to write an open letter to UK Athletics boss Jo Coates about the whole situation.
      “I did receive a reply from her in March, a letter basically saying she acknowledged my points but I have had no communication since then.
      “The Olympics is such a big thing and I felt I did deserve a spot in the team. I feel like I could have run well in Tokyo.
      “I definitely haven’t forgotten about it but I just want to move on now and focus on Sunday.
      “The point to prove is more to myself that I’m back to my best rather than me proving anything to someone else.
      “It’s definitely tainted my desire. I’d obviously love to represent GB again but I definitely won’t forget about this whole year and situation.” More

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      CJ Ujah breaks silence on doping ban as ‘shocked’ Team GB relay silver medal winner says ‘I am not a cheat’

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      TEAM GB star CJ Ujah has declared ‘I am not a cheat’ after being provisionally suspended for an alleged anti-doping breach.The 27-year-old won 4x100m sprint silver in Tokyo.
      CJ Ujah declared ‘I am not a cheat’Credit: PA
      CJ Ujah poses alongside his team-mates on the podium after winning 4x100m relay silver in TokyoCredit: Getty
      But Ujah, as well as team-mates Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, could be stripped of his medal if he is found guilty.
      Ujah, however, is adamant that he did nothing wrong.
      Breaking his silence, he told PA: “It’s taken me a few days to process the information I received on Thursday shortly before it was made public.
      “I am completely shocked and devastated by this news.
      “To be absolutely clear, I am not a cheat and I have never and would never knowingly take a banned substance.
      “I love my sport and I know my responsibilities both as an athlete and as a team-mate.

      “I am respecting the formal processes and will not be making any further comment until it is appropriate to do so.”
      The presence of banned substances ostarine and S-23 were found in Ujah’s sample.
      These help with building muscle.
      Italy’s shock double-gold winning sprinter Lamont Marcell Jacobs taunted that he ‘smiled’ when hearing the news of Ujah’s provisional suspension.
      He told Tuttosport: “Doping? The situation has not touched me so much.
      After seeing the Ujah investigation I would say that perhaps it is better to look into your own house first and then attack others. It makes me smileLamont Marcell Jacobs
      “I know the sacrifices and the blows I went through to get here and instead I want to enjoy it 100 per cent.
      ‘”After seeing the Ujah investigation I would say that perhaps it is better to look into your own house first and then attack others. It makes me smile.”
      If found guilty, in addition to losing his silver medal, Ujah could be booted out of athletics for four years.
      First, however, he can ask to have his B sample analysed.
      Lamont Marcell Jacobs poses with one of his goldsCredit: AFP
      Team GB Olympic star CJ Ujah suspended over doping violation after helping men’s 4x100m relay team take silver in Tokyo More

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      in Boxing

      Team GB boxing hero Lauren Price reveals she is in talks with Eddie Hearn about turning pro after winning Olympic gold

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      TEAM GB’S Olympic boxing hero Lauren Price has revealed she is set for talks with Eddie Hearn over turning professional.The 27-year-old Welsh wonder won middleweight gold in Tokyo last week and has now been contacted by Anthony Joshua’s Matchroom promoter.
      Eddie Hearn wants talks with one of Team GB’s gold medal heroes from the Tokyo GamesCredit: Getty
      Olympic middleweight champion Lauren Price revealed she plans to have talks with him over turning proCredit: PA
      Price claims she wants to ‘keep her options open’ but reiterated her intention to defend her title at the 2024 Paris Games and admitted her heart is still in the amateur ranks.
      She told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast: “I’m sure as an athlete three years is nothing.
      “I’m still young and for me Paris is only three years away so I could be a double Olympian.
      “There’s a lot of opportunities there, but for now I’m just enjoying the moment. I’ll take a few weeks off and chill out and then go from there.
      “But for me, I love what I do – I’ve got a great life training in Sheffield, training with world class coaches in a world class programme.
      “I can’t thank GB Boxing enough so for me there’s everything that’s coming up as well.”
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      Speaking about Hearn, she continued: “He’s asked to have a chat with me and stuff like that.
      “He’s obviously the main man and I don’t know; it’s opened my options up, but for now I’m just going to take some rest and enjoy the moment.
      “When you win an Olympic medal and that it changes your life doesn’t it, and starting off as a pro, if you’ve got that type of background, you’ve reached the top in the amateur game… then the price, as you say, will be pretty interesting.”
      Price also added: “For now my heart is obviously staying on with Team GB and doing another Olympics.
      “You look at the likes of Nicola Adams and Katie Taylor. They both did two cycles and Katie Taylor at the minute she is smashing it up in the pros as well.
      “Being a man, it’s different. In the women’s game it’s big, it’s getting bigger and bigger all the time so another three years it will be bigger again and (I can) just go from there then.”
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      Team GB Olympic hero Galal Yafai bought PlayStation 5 by big brother Kal after winning Tokyo gold medal

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      GALAL YAFAI was not only rewarded with a gold medal for his Olympics heroics – but also a PlayStation 5.Victory in the flyweight division at Tokyo 2020 was just the latest step in the 28-year-old’s rise, which includes a Commonwealth Games gold.
      Galal Yafai has enjoyed a hero’s welcome after winning goldCredit: Getty
      And Yafai had a special gift waiting for him when he returned home to Birmingham after his victory over Carlo Paalam.
      The boxer revealed on GMB: “Kal bought me a Playstation 5.
      “You know what, before the final.
      “It’s kind of a present, I’ve been wanting one for ages now and thankfully Kal was able to get one.”
      Older brother Kal, 32, held the WBA super-flyweight title for over three years until his defeat to Ramon Gonzalez in February 2020.
      But getting hold of a PS5 is still a tall order, given the rapid manner in which they sell out across the country.
      GMB host Ben Shephard joked that the Olympic triumph was worth it for the games console, to which Yafai laughed and replied: “Definitely.”
      Team GB finished fourth in the medal table for Tokyo 2020, thanks to 22 gold medals.
      It’s overwhelming, I’m just so grateful for everyone to show me that love.Galal Yafai

      Yafai, who has another fighter brother in former Commonwealth super-bantamweight champ Gamal, was one of six British boxing medallists.
      Speaking after claiming his crown, he said: “I’m Olympic champion now and I’m over the moon.
      “I’ve worked hard, I took up boxing and thank god it worked out for me. I trained hard, gave it everything, and it just shows that if you work hard, you can get the rewards.
      “My friends, family, brothers will be over the moon. Everyone back in Birmingham, the support I’ve had has been ridiculous.
      “I just want to say a big thanks to everyone who has supported me. It’s overwhelming, I’m just so grateful for everyone to show me that love.”
      Yafai also held a video call with Kal live on television after the win, when he was told of the present.
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      An emotional Kal said: “Unreal, unreal. You’ve been brilliant the whole time.”
      He then added: “Galal, last thing I’ve gotta tell you, I’ve got your PS5 out there, waiting for you.”
      Galal said: “I can’t wait to get home and play on it, can’t wait.”
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      Emotional boxer Kal Yafai speaks to brother Galal after his Olympic gold medal win and reveals he’s brought him a PS5 More

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      Tokyo 2020 medal table: USA beat China to top spot after landing three golds on final day of Olympics

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      AMERICA once again claimed top spot in the medal table as they pipped China on the final day thanks to three golds.The USA scooped gold medals in the women’s basketball and women’s volleyball, while Jennifer Valente won in her omnium event in track cycling.
      Team USA finish the Tokyo 2020 Games at the top of the medal table thanks to three golds on the final day
      Track cyclist Jennifer Valente poses with her gold medal after winning the women’s omniumCredit: EPA
      The US Olympic team also won the most medals at Tokyo 2020 with a whopping 113 in total.
      They won an incredible 39 golds – one more than China – while also taking home 41 silvers and 33 bronze medals.
      It is the third Games in a row that America have finished top of the pile and sixth out of the last seven Olympics.
      The only Games they have failed to come top in the table since Atlanta 1996 is Beijing 2008 where hosts China finished in first place.
      Incredibly, Team USA have won the most medals at every Games since hosting the global tournament in 1996.
      Another astonishing achievement is that America have never finished outside of the top three in either the medal table or medals won since the very first Athens 1896 Games.
      And they could have had two more gold medals on the final day at Tokyo, but boxers Keyshawn Davis and Richard Torrez Jr lost in their respective lightweight and super-heavyweight bouts.
      Swimmer Caeleb Dressel won the most medals in the 2020 Games, having claimed five golds to bring his total Olympic medal count to seven.
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      Team GB finished fourth in the medal table after winning 22 golds
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      It was another memorable games for Team GB, who finished in fourth spot with a fantastic 22 gold medals.
      Two more golds were won on the final day, with boxer Lauren Price beating China’s Li Qian in the middleweight event.
      And Jason Kenny created British history by becoming the first Olympian to win seven gold medals after he defended his keirin title.
      Great Britain have now finished in the top four for the fourth consecutive Games, having finished fourth in Beijing, third in London and second in Rio.
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      Jason Kenny collects seventh gold medal of glittering career making British Olympic history More

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      Brilliant Galal Yafai wins boxing gold for Team GB with dominant win over Filipino rival in Tokyo 2020 final

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      GALAL YAFAI, a former car factory worker from Solihull, delivered Team GB’s first boxing gold of the Tokyo Olympics.The flyweight fighter overcame former Filipino street vendor Carlo Paalam over three three-minute rounds at the Kokugikan Arena – the spiritual home of sumo.
      Galal Yafai won gold in boxing for Team GB on SaturdayCredit: PA
      Yafai floored Carlo Paalam in the first roundCredit: EPA
      The 28-year-old – who quit work at the Land Rover firm in the Midlands to pursue the noble art – was ahead on four of the five judges’ scorecards and has now joined the showroom of British boxing champions.
      The lucrative professional route will be his next target even though the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 12 months’ time would normally have been an appealing proposition, especially as he won gold at light flyweight on the Gold Coast in 2018.
      Paalam started quickly and connected well with his early punches but was caught and knocked down by a brilliant left-hander from Yafai halfway through the first round.
      In the second round, Paalam was warned by the referee for the use of his head and from there on it was Yafai’s fight to lose.
      All Yafai had to do was stay out of trouble in the final round and remain on his feet for the 180 seconds.
      And Yafai, whose family have a British-Yemen heritage, did just that to secure finally a boxing medal for his family after 13 years of trying.
      Yalai is the first Brit to win in the flyweight division since Terry Spinks at the 1956 Melbourne Games.
      The Brit, who was well beaten in his first bout of the Rio 2016 Games, watched on TV as sibling Kal lost to a difficult Cuban in the Last 16 of the flyweight competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
      Kal has since become the WBA super flyweight world champion, and he tweeted his delight at his brother’s victory, saying: “Alhumdililah!!! My brother Galal Olympic champion!!! I’m lost for words!!! Olympic champion!!!! Olympic champion!!!!”
      And speaking after securing gold Yafai told the BBC: “It’s something I’ve always want to do, to be Olympic champion. Now I’m Olympic champion and I’m over the moon.
      “I’ve worked hard, took up boxing and thank God it’s worked out for me.
      “I bet they’re over the moon all my friends and family. The support I’ve had from back home has been ridiculous.
      “It’s overwhelming I’m so grateful for the support I’ve got.
      “I’m so determined to win, I’ve got that heart and desire to win and it’s worked out for me today.”
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      This result means Britain have won at least one gold medal at four successive Olympics, a credit to head coach Rob McCracken who took over 11 years ago.
      Lauren Price, a former South Wales taxi driver, should double that tally when she faces China’s Li Qian tomorrow on the final day of the competition.
      The middleweight boxer has been tipped to win gold even before she set foot in the Far East.
      Whatever happens from now on, the British boxing camp will return to the UK shores in the next 48 hours with six medals – a record for an overseas Games, and one that eclipses the five won at the London 2012 Games.
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      Galal Yafai boxed brilliantly to win gold in TokyoCredit: AFP
      The fighters embrace after their gold medal boutCredit: AP
      Tom Daley shows off huge box of condoms at Olympic village More

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      Team GB star puts Tokyo 2020 merchandise up for sale on eBay in bid to raise funds to continue career

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      TEAM GB hammer thrower Taylor Campbell has listed his Tokyo 2020 merchandise on eBay in a desperate bid to raise funds.Campbell, 25, finished 14th in his heat but said he will not receive any extra money for reaching the Games.
      Taylor Campbell revealed his UK Sport funding is not enough to live off
      Campbell showed off his goods in the eBay auction
      And he says the funding from UK Sport is not enough for him to train and live off – he even had to dip into his savings to go to the Tokyo Olympics.
      Every Olympic athlete received some Samsung goods from the Games’ sponsors.
      They include a Samsung Galaxy S21 bearing the design of the Olympic rings.
      As well as the phone, Campbell has put his wireless earbuds up for sale.
      The current bid stands at £3,230 but is constantly growing, with the public keen to get their hands on a piece of Olympic history.
      Campbell is currently looking for a job so hopes his memorabilia sells for a good price, with his earnings set to go towards his training for the Commonwealth Games, which take place in Birmingham next year.
      He told Sky News: “I get some funding from UK Sport but it’s not enough to live off.
      “It has blown up a bit and there has been an overwhelming amount of support.
      “Unfortunately making it to the Olympics doesn’t get you any more money, you do it for the pride.
      “I am an iPhone guy and the Samsung will have just sat in a box as memorabilia, so I put it on eBay.”
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      Some fans on Twitter were disheartened at Campbell’s need to sell the goods, and suggested other ways to raise money.
      One wrote: “Just set up a go fund me man. The Athletics community will donate more than what you’re selling all that for.”
      Another added: “Set up a go fund me – I don’t play the lottery but really want to support athletes directly – would actually be really chuffed to know I’ve helped in a small way!”
      Since the outpour of support after auctioning the items Campbell tweeted: “Overwhelmed by the messages of support I have received since posting this. So many kind individuals out there. I will keep you all posted over the next day or so for those that have reached out offering support!”
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      Richard Kilty praises his silver winning GB team after losing out on Olympic gold in 4x100m relay More