Tokyo 2020 Olympics

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      in Athletics

      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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      in Athletics

      Agnes Jebet Tirop dead at 25: Tokyo Olympic star and World medallist found stabbed to death at home in Kenya

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      KENYA’S Tokyo Olympic star Agnes Tirop has been found dead with a stab wound in her abdomen.The 5,000m star, 25, was discovered at her house in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County earlier.
      Kenyan Olympic medallist Agnes Tirop has been found dead with stab wounds in her stomach
      The 25-year-old was discovered at her homeCredit: Getty
      Her passing comes just two months after she finished fourth at the Games.
      Her death has been confirmed by Barnaba Korir, the chairperson of Athletics Kenya in Nairobi Region.
      Tirop made history in the adizero Road To Records event in Germany in September.
      She slashed 28 seconds from the 19-year-old women’s record for 10km after clocking a staggering 30:01.
      Tirop sped away from compatriot Sheila Chepkirui to break the mark of 30:29 which had been set by Moroccan Asmae Leghzaoui in 2002.
      Afterwards she said: “I’m so happy to have broken the world record. I felt the pace was good. The course was very good, too.”

      Tirop became the second-youngest medallist at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in the women’s race.
      She was a medallist at junior level at the World Cross Country and World Junior Championships and she was the junior champion at the African Cross Country Championships in 2014. 
      The long-distance star then won a bronze medal in the 10,000 metres event at the 2017 World Championships.
      Tirop represented her country at this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo and was one of the medal favourites.
      She eventually finished fourth in the 5,000m women’s finals after clocking 14:39.62.
      Dutch star Sifan Hassan won gold, with Kenya’s Hellen Obiri settling for silver and Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay pipping Tirop to bronze by less than a second.
      Award-Winning Sports Journalist Usher Komugisha, voted in Top 100 Most Influential Young Africans, tweeted: “HEARTBREAKING! Kenyan athlete Agnes Jebet “Tirop, who represented Kenya at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the 5000m, has been found dead in her house with stab wounds to her abdomen. 
      “She was just 10 days away from her 26th birthday. Rest in peace Queen!”
      Another devastated fan wrote: “Heartbreaking to lose such an amazing talent in Athletics under weird circumstances. Kenya has lost big! Rest well 2015 World Cross Country Champion Agnes Tirop.”
      Tirop (right) won a bronze in the 10,000 metres event at the 2017 World ChampionshipsCredit: Getty
      The star narrowly missed out on a bronze for Kenya at the Tokyo GamesCredit: Getty
      Team GB set to be stripped of Tokyo 2020 4x100m medal after CJ Ujah’s positive B sample drug test is confirmed More

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      in Athletics

      Denise Lewis admits she eavesdropped on stars having sex at Olympic Village in latest A League Of Their Own

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      GOLD medal winner Denise Lewis has opened up on Olympic Village romps – and admits she eavesdropped on athletes having sex.Heptathlete Lewis, 49, won the heptathlon gold at the 2000 Sydney Games and gave her take on the Olympic Village romps on the latest episode of A League Of Their Own.
      Denise Lewis couldn’t help but crack a smile when presenter Romesh Ranganathan asked about what goes on in the Olympic VillageCredit: ALOTO
      Lewis won heptathlon gold at the 2000 Sydney GamesCredit: REUTERS
      Presenter Romesh Ranganathan presses Lewis on the matter: “Denise, the Olympic Village is, you know, we all know it’s full of people just at it.”
      And Lewis recalls getting a phone call to say people were ‘at it’ in the room next door.
      Lewis said: “I do recall one occasion where there was someone literally at it, and I got a phone call.
      “And it was like ‘literally, so and so’ – she will remain anonymous.”
      Confused but very amused, Ranganathan probes for more answers.
      He asked: “What do you mean you got the phone call? So somebody was at it.”

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      Lewis then admits she and some Team GB athletes ran into the room next door to where the romp was taking place to listen along.
      She said: “Someone was in the next room to someone who was getting their groove on, and so we piled into the room next door.”
      Denise stubbornly refuses to name names.
      And she claims everyone was so bored with life in the village that listening to people having sex became a big deal.
      Ranganathan digs for more answers, saying: “So you got the phone call to say ‘somebody’s having sex, who wants to have a listen?’
      Lewis responds: “Yes. Who wants to have a listen. (Audience laughter) Well, we were bored. Bored.”
      Ranganathan was confused by amused by Lewis’ admissionCredit: ALOTO
      Ranganathan asks one final time: “So you all piled into the room and listened?”
      Lewis responds: “Yeah, and literally (cupping ear to listen).”
      Comedian Jimmy Carr then gets in on the act with a cheeky one-liner.
      The comedian chimes in saying: “And this is athletes, so they’ll be competing to see who can come first.”
      Lewis can’t help but applaud Carr’s ‘very good’ joke.
      Lewis recalled eavesdropping on athletes having sexCredit: ALOTO
      Comedian Jimmy Carr cracked a joke about the competitive nature of athletesCredit: ALOTO
      Lewis couldn’t help but applaud the comedian’s witty word playCredit: ALOTO
      Sex stories coming out from the Olympics isn’t anything new.
      And at the recent Tokyo 2020 Games, sex was actually banned due to the threat of coronavirus.
      Athletes were made to sleep on single beds made out of recycled cardboard, meaning the beds could break if two or more athletes got up to no good.
      Despite the sex ban at this summer’s edition, precautions were taken.
      Organisers distributed a staggering 160,000 condoms for the event to encourage romping athletes to at least be safe.
      Ex-athlete Susen Tiedtke claims officials are powerless to stop the alcohol-fuelled romps that are a fixture of every Games.
      The German, 52, told Bild: “[The ban] is a big laughing stock for me, it doesn’t work at all.
      Tokyo constructed the beds out of recycled cardboard which could break if too much weight is put on themCredit: AP
      “Sex is always an issue in the village.
      “The athletes are at their physical peak at the Olympics. When the competition is over, they want to release their energy.
      “There is one party after another, then alcohol comes into play. It happens that people have sex and there are enough people who strive for that.”
      A League of Their Own airs at 9pm on Thursdays on Sky Max and NOW  
      Olympics closing ceremony waves goodbye to a thrilling games in Tokyo More

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      in Boxing

      The vegan diet of an Olympic heavyweight boxer and how lack of meat gives Cheavon Clarke the edge in training

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      VEGAN boxer Cheavon Clarke has told promoters ‘show me the money’ before he cooks up a storm in the professional ranks. The Team GB star got to the quarter-finals in the delayed Tokyo Olympics but was knocked out on a split-decision by Russian Muslim Gadzhimagomedov.
      The vegan diet of an Olympic heavyweight boxer Cheavon Clarke
      Clarke was on the squad for five years and even acted as cook when his team-mates fancied a meatless meal.
      And the Jamaican-born boxer revealed silver medallist Ben Whittaker and flyweight champion Galal Yafai were among his happy diners.
      Clarke, 30, told SunSport: “When I cook, and the boys eat it in camp in Sheffield, they enjoy it, some of them can’t taste the difference.
      “I enjoyed it, for example Galal Yafai, Ben Whittaker, they’re my good friends and they used to eat my food all the time.
      “They’ll all tell you, I used to cook for them all the time, even the coaches, I’d invite them over for food.”
      Clarke turned vegan in October 2018, a year before winning bronze at the European Games.

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      Most boxers are told a rule of thumb would be to consume meals three hours before training.
      But Clarke’s super-speedy digestion means he can enjoy eating under an hour before heading to the gym.
      He said: “For me, the benefits for myself are my digestion has improved a lot.
      “For example I can cook up a meal, my favourite Birds Eye one is the Southern Fried Strips.
      “I could whip something like that up, eat it and I’m able to go and train again within half an hour, 45 minutes.
      “Whereas before, if I had like chicken or beef for example, I’d be chilled out for ages, I’d be tired, you know when you eat and feel tired?
      “So they were the benefits for me, and it adds nutritional value, a lot of fibre.”
      When on the GB squad, Clarke would wake up as early as 7am, weigh in, before heading to the running track half an hour later.
      Cheavon Clarke cooking up a vegan meal
      The Team GB boxer got to the quarter-finals in the Tokyo Olympics
      Afterwards, he would have oats for breakfast before going to the gym for a pads or strength and conditioning session.
      Lunch would then follow, usually consisting of a wrap with Birds Eye strips and vegan mayonnaise.
      Sparring in the afternoon would cap off the day’s training and Clarke opts for a stir fry or a green cuisine meal with sweet potatoes and gravy for dinner.
      But now, for the first time in half a decade, his usual routine is no more after his GB journey ended in Japan.
      Clarke is yet to turn pro and warned promoters will need to get their wallet and chequebook out to seal his signature.
      He said: “I’ve been enjoying my time off, to be honest.
      “People will be calling for conversations, but I’m just enjoying my break and if they want me to go pro, they best come with the money.
      “Show me the money!”

      GB athlete, Cheavon Clarke has partnered with Birds Eye Green Cuisine range, which helps ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things. The Birds Eye Green Cuisine range includes meat-free meatballs, grilled chicken pieces, burgers and sausages. The products are made from pea protein, so are rich in fibre and protein, as well as being a good source of iron.

      Team GB Olympic hero Galal Yafai bought PlayStation 5 by big brother Kal after winning Tokyo gold medal More

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      in Athletics

      Team GB set to be STRIPPED of Tokyo 2020 4x100m medal after CJ Ujah’s positive B sample drug test is confirmed

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      TEAM GB are set to be STRIPPED of their men’s 4x100m silver medals following confirmation of CJ Ujah’s failed drug test.The 27-year-old tested positive for the banned performance-enhancing drugs Ostarine and S-23 – which are Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators – during last month’s games.
      CJ Ujah tested positive for Ostarine and S-23Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Ujah’s ‘A’ sample contained traces of the banned SARMS, which were initially designed to combat muscle-wasting diseases.
      And both substances have been detected in his ‘B’ sample, which has all but confirmed that Team GB will be relieved of their medals.
      A statement from the International Testing Agency (ITA) read:
      “The ITA confirms that as per the athlete’s request, the B-sample analysis was carried out by the WADA-accredited laboratory of Tokyo on 19 August 2021 and the procedure confirmed the result of the A-sample.
      “The ITA has thus referred the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division (‘CAS ADD’) on 8 September 2021. 
      “The CAS ADD will consider the matter of the finding of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation and the disqualification of the men’s 4×100 relay results of the Great Britain team. 

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      “In this regard, pursuant to the IOC ADR and the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules: ‘where the athlete who has committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation competed as a member of a relay team, the relay team shall be automatically disqualified from the event in question, with all resulting consequences for the relay team, including the forfeiture of all titles, awards, medals, points and prize and appearance money’.
      “Once the matter is settled under the IOC ADR, the case will be referred to the Athletics Integrity Unit to follow up on sanctions beyond the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
      “Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments during the ongoing proceeding.”
      The fate of Team GB’s men’s 4×100 silver medals – which Ujah won with team-mates Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake – is now in the hands of Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division.
      I have never and would never knowingly take a banned substanceCJ Ujah
      Ujah has vehemently denied intentionally taking the PEDS, which can be ingested in pill, powder and liquid form.
      He said: “To be absolutely clear, I am not a cheat.
      “I have never and would never knowingly take a banned substance.”
      The sprinter was left heartbroken after being told of his doping violation.

      “I am completely shocked and devastated by the news.
      “I love my sport and I know my responsibilities both as an athlete and as a team-mate.
      “I am respecting the formal process and will not be making any further comment until it’s appropriate to do so.”

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      Team GB Olympic star CJ Ujah suspended over doping violation after helping men’s 4x100m relay team take silver in Tokyo
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      in Soccer

      John Terry grabs glory whilst posing with six Olympic medals won by equestrian ace Charlotte Dujardin

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      JOHN Terry grabs the glory again wearing equestrian ace Charlotte Dujardin’s six Olympic medals.The ex-England skipper, 40, who hoisted the 2012 Champions League trophy despite a final ban, posed with “inspirational” Charlotte and wrote “Dame…” next to the eyes emoji.
      Terry posted pictures with the dressage ace and her medals yesterday as he wished her luck for the forthcoming European Championships
      Dujardin, 36, became Britain’s second most successful female Olympian of all time after winning two bronzes at last month’s Tokyo Games.
      And Terry posted pictures with the Dressage ace and her medals yesterday as he wished her luck for the forthcoming European Championships.
      The former England football skipper, 40, posted on Instagram: “Congratulations on your recent success at the Olympics, and Good Luck at the upcoming European Championships.
      “So inspiring for both myself & @toniterry26 to see how much you love riding and what it takes to be the BEST ever.”
      But one wag wrote: “Surprised you didn’t put your full kit on for the photos JT.”

      Terry hoisted the 2012 Champions League trophy despite a final banCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      The ex-England skipper posed with “inspirational” Charlotte
      Charlotte Dujardin now most decorated female British Olympian of all time after winning bronze in dressage More

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      in Boxing

      Olympic boxer and European bronze medallist Vasile Belous dead at 33 after car crash in Moldova

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      VASILE BELOUS, a boxer who competed at the 2012 London Olympics, has died in a car crash at the age of 33.Police in his home country of Moldova have confirmed the tragic incident after he lost control of his Mercedes in the north of the country.
      Vasile Belous (left) has died at the age of 33 following a car crashCredit: AFP
      The car hit the wall of a monastery at high speed and local media pictures showed the high extent of the damage to the vehicle.
      Belous was pronounced dead at the scene, and is survived by a wife and two children.
      It is not currently known what caused him to come off the road, before he hit the brick wall of the monastery’s entrance in the town of Calaraseuca.
      Belous reached the second round of the London Games and won bronze in the Welterweight division at the 2017 European Championships.
      Petru Caduc coached the fighter for over 15 years and is quoted by Moldova’s Publika as saying: “He was a very technical athlete. There were few athletes with such technique in Moldova.
      “He was a personality, a very dedicated man. He fulfilled everything I asked of him. He trusted me, he never betrayed me.

      “He was a great fighter. We are very sorry that what happened.”
      Belous defeated Tanzania’s Seleman Kidunda in the London Olympics before falling to Ukraine’s Taras Shelestyuk at the last-16 stage.
      In 116 amateur contests, he claimed 72 wins and two KOs, losing on 44 occasions including his last fight in Poland only four months ago.
      Moldovan boxing national team coach Igor Untila added: “He was a performance athlete, the pride of Moldovan boxing.
      “He participated in the Olympic Games and it is a great tragedy what happened. Condolences to the grieving family and all his loved ones.” More

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      in Boxing

      Why Cuba’s Olympic champ boxers can’t turn pro with fighters disguising themselves as GIRLS to flee and sign contracts

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      CUBANS are kings of amateur boxing – but BANNED from turning professional. It has left some of the great champions of the past needing to flee the country, often on speed boats and even disguising themselves to do so.
      Yan Barthelemy Varela, right, of of Cuba in 2004Credit: AFP
      Odlanier Solis Fonte in the 2004 OlympicsCredit: Rex
      Turning pro in Cuba has been prohibited since 1962 because their late leader Fidel Castro regarded it as corrupt.
      Ever since, Cubans have been convinced to fight for country, not cash.
      So much so that heavyweight legend Felix Savon – a three-time Olympic gold medalist – turned down the chance to face Mike Tyson.
      Legendary promoter Don King offered Savon numerous multimillion-dollar offers to defect and fight superstar Tyson.
      But his response? “Why would I box for a $1m when I can fight for 10 million Cuban people?”
      Despite Savon’s loyalty to the amateur code, not all of his countrymen had the same ethos.

      Many of Cuba’s 2004 Olympic standouts in Athens took the plunge to leave and chase their world title dreams in America.
      Odlanier Solis, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Yan Barthelemy all sold their medals won in Greece for as little as £1,000 to buy food for their families.
      Then, while travelling to a team training camp in Venezuela in December 2006, they made a run for it, heading to Colombia.
      From there, they went to Germany and signed professional contracts while awaiting US visas.
      It inspired Guillermo Rigondeaux and Erislandy Lara both to do the same – but their efforts in 2007 were initially foiled.
      The pair disappeared while representing Cuba in the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro and were sent back to Cuba.
      Yuriorkis Gamboa won gold at the 2004 Athens GamesCredit: Bongarts – Getty
      Gervonta Davis beat Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2019Credit: AP
      According to The Independent, they were dressed up as women to slip through Brazilian security, but were captured in a BROTHEL.
      Both were then banned from ever representing Cuba again, which oly encouraged them to try to escape once more.
      And by 2009 they had each successfully defected to America, with Rigondeaux and Lara later going on to win world titles as pros.
      With five of their former Olympians tempted over to the paid ranks, Cuba suffered somewhat of a crisis at Beijing in 2008.
      For the first time since 1988, they left the Games without a single gold medal in boxing.
      But it did not last long, because in London four years later they twice won gold and another two bronzes.
      Erislandy Lara left Cuba and won titles in the professional gameCredit: Getty
      Guillermo Rigondeaux defected from Cuba and won a world titleCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription
      Perhaps what was even more appreciated, no one from the team immediately turned over.
      However, by the time the next Olympics finished in Rio, Lenier Pero, Robeisy Ramirez and Joahnys Argilagos all defected.
      Cuban authorities then had a fight on their hands to convince their latest stable to remain put after the 2020 Games in Tokyo was delayed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
      And they successfully did so and Cuba topped the medal charts with four golds and one bronze.
      Julio Cesar La Cruz, Arlen Lopez, Roniel Iglesias and Andy Cruz took gold while Lazaro Alvarez left with bronze.
      La Cruz, Lopez and Iglesias are all multi-medal winners, in a sign they are committed to the amateur code.
      But with Cuba back on top in Olympic-style boxing, it remains to be seen if future champs will be tempted into prizefighting careers away from home.
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      Julio La Cruz of Cuba poses at the medal ceremonyCredit: Rex
      Andy Cruz of Cuba with his gold medalCredit: Alamy More