Category Archives: Sport

AFL and Fifa must rethink concussion rules amid Paul McCrory plagiarism claims, says expert

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Another generation is at risk of developing fatal brain disease, says Dr Chris Nowinski. ‘Whether you’re hitting your child in the head or letting them get tackled, their brain can’t tell the difference’

A leading international concussion expert has said “anything Paul McCrory has touched” must be reviewed in the wake of plagiarism allegations against the Australian-based neurologist who has advised global sporting bodies on the effects of concussion.

American neuroscientist and chief executive of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, Dr Chris Nowinski, said the advice that McCrory gave to some sporting bodies that participants of collision-based sports are not necessarily at risk of developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy was damaging and wrong. He accused McCrory of “sowing doubt” about the link between head impacts in sport and CTE in a way that has substantially damaged efforts to prevent another generation from developing the brain disease.

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Cycling journalist believes governing body blocked him from world championships for critical reporting

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Iain Treloar says Union Cycliste International blacklisted him after he examined its links to a Turkmen autocrat and a Russian billionaire

A respected cycling journalist who was twice blocked from attending the Wollongong world cycling championships believes he has been blacklisted for reporting on the governing body’s links to a notoriously repressive regime and a Russian billionaire under sanctions.

Investigative journalist Iain Treloar’s recent reporting has posed uncomfortable questions for the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) – the powerful governing body for world cycling.

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Author of Hawthorn review says alleged mistreatment of Indigenous players ‘like a nightmare’

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Phil Egan says he has not heard anything like those allegations before at a football club and there should now be an audit of all clubs

The author of a damaging review into Hawthorn Football Club that contained allegations of serious mistreatment of First Nations former players has described the findings as “like a nightmare”.

The club engaged consultant Phil Egan, a former Richmond player, to conduct an external review of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s experiences with the Hawks. The review will not be publicly released but the ABC has reported some of its findings.

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Bay Area man becomes second ever to kayak from California to Hawaii

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Cyril Derreumaux, 46, spent 91 days on a ‘magnificent adventure’, traveling 2,400 miles from Monterey to Hilo

After three months at sea, rationed meals and a brush with a tropical storm, a San Francisco Bay Area man became the second person to successfully kayak from California to Hawaii.

Cyril Derreumaux reached Hilo early Tuesday morning on his second attempt to complete the 2,400-mile journey, which he documented on social media.

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US congressman accuses LIV CEO Greg Norman of pushing Saudi ‘propaganda’

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  • Australian visits Capitol Hill in attempt to promote rebel tour
  • LIV’s role questioned by Democrats and Republicans

Greg Norman faced accusations of promoting Saudi “propaganda” following meetings with Washington lawmakers, in which the Australian golfer sought to garner support for the Saudi-backed LIV Series in its bitter dispute with the PGA Tour.

Norman, who serves as LIV’s CEO and has been the public face of the breakaway tour, ostensibly came to the US capital this week to criticise what he has called the PGA’s “anti-competitive efforts” to stifle LIV.

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AFL greats shocked at Hawthorn report into alleged racism

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Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Shaun Burgoyne react to allegations First Nations players were mistreated

Hawthorn greats Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge and Shaun Burgoyne have expressed shock at allegations First Nations players were mistreated by the club, including distressing claims they were separated from their families.

The ABC on Wednesday reported the contents of a Hawthorn-commissioned review based on interviews with First Nations players, with the ABC’s report including an allegation that Hawthorn pressured one couple to terminate a pregnancy.

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Moses Kibet wins Sydney marathon in record time on Australian soil

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  • Cosmas Matolo and Chalu Deso Gelmisa come second and third
  • All three better previous fastest time in Australian races

Kenyan Moses Kibet has claimed a historic victory in the Sydney marathon as the top three finishers all bettered the previous fastest time on Australian soil.

Kibet clocked a winning time of two hours, seven minutes and three seconds on Sunday, crossing the line just two seconds ahead of countryman Cosmas Matolo.

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Ellen van Dijk pips Grace Brown to win Road World Championships opener

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  • Dutchwoman defends time trial crown in Wollongong
  • Australia’s Brown set blistering early pace on first day of cycling

The sun was shining, the waves were rolling in and a Dutch woman was winning the opening race of 2022 UCI Road World Championships. It was seemingly the natural way of things – a predictable result in a flawless setting on the beachside streets of Wollongong, as Ellen van Dijk defended her women’s individual time trial crown and the Dutch national team won the sixth edition of the race over the past decade.

But if the 35-year-old’s victory on Sunday seemed predestined – her third world title since first winning the discipline in 2013, alongside four European time trial titles – it almost wasn’t to be. Australia’s Grace Brown sat in the hot-seat all day, after starting in the opening wave of riders and setting a blistering pace over a technical, undulating 34.2-kilometre course.

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Sydney Swans ready for ‘team of the year’ Geelong in AFL grand final

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  • Swans book place in decider with thrilling win over Collingwood
  • Cats await in Saturday’s premiership decider at MCG

John Longmire always expected his Sydney side to surge back into contention, but the Swans’ coach concedes they will be facing “the best team for the year” in the AFL grand final.

The Swans’ blend of battle-hardened veterans and electrifying young guns have set up a first-ever decider against Geelong just two years after back-to-back bottom-four finishes.

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AFL preliminary final 2022: Sydney Swans beat Collingwood Magpies – as it happened

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Sydney will meet Geelong in the AFL grand final, after the Swans held off a courageous comeback by one point to win a thriller

1st quarter, 10 minutes remaining: Sydney 4.2 (26) to Collingwood 0.0 (0) Swans putting a lot of pressure on Collingwood whenever the Pies have possession, and it’s pressure by Reid on Noble, rushing from standing the mark after giving away a free kick, that forces a kick out on the full on Sydney’s half-back flank. The Swans by contrast are clean with disposal, and a long kick finds Papley on the 50 arc. His set shot goes a long way, straight through.

1st quarter, 13 minutes remaining: Sydney 3.1 (19) to Collingwood 0.0 (0) Heeney has been prominent early, but a kick slews off the outside of his boot as he tries to pump it inside 50. The Pies escape trouble for a time, but get back into trouble as Hickey gets a 50-metre penalty at half-back when the player on the mark doesn’t move back. Hickey bombs it to the goalsquare, Franklin brings it to ground, and Ryan Clarke is there front and centre to snap it home.

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‘It’s special to be here’: David Beckham joins queue to pay tribute to Queen

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Ex-England captain recalls receiving his OBE as he waits with thousands of mourners in central London

The former England football captain David Beckham joined the queue for the Queen’s lying-in-state on Friday, saying it was “special to be here”.

He joined other high-profile figures to have been seen waiting to pay tribute this week, including the former prime minister Theresa May, This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield and the Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid.

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New South Wales government ‘ready and willing’ to discuss bringing rebel LIV golf tour to Australia

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Exclusive: State’s sports minister says NSW is ‘the perfect place’ for major tournaments, with Greg Norman believed to be scouting Sydney courses

The New South Wales government is “ready and willing” to have discussions with Greg Norman in a bid to bring the Saudi-backed LIV golf tour to Sydney, the state’s sports minister has said.

Amid increasing speculation Norman is seeking to bring the controversial breakaway tournament to Australia, the minister, Alister Henskens, confirmed he was open to hosting the multi-million dollar rebel series.

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Australia set New Zealand target of 268 to win third ODI – live!

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Out strides Aaron Finch, leading the Australian XI onto the field for the final time in 50-over cricket. Both teams take the oval and stand by the boundary for a minute’s silence in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

It’s 30 degrees, bright and sunny in Cairns with a southerly breeze taking the edge off the sun’s intensity.

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Storm Sanders and John Peers break Australia’s 21-year drought with mixed doubles title

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  • Sanders & Peers defeat Flipkens & Roger-Vasselin 4-6 6-4 [10-7]
  • Old friends win Australia’s first US Open mixed doubles title in 21 years

John Peers and Storm Sanders have produced a memorable triumph at the US Open, becoming the first Australian pair to win the mixed doubles title in 21 years in their first grand slam together.

The new combination had to battle from a set down to defeat Belgian Kirsten Flipkens and Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin 4-6 6-4 [10-7] in Saturday’s high-quality final in New York.

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Brisbane stun Melbourne with second-half comeback in dramatic AFL final

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  • Lions beat reigning premier Demons 14.8 (92) to 11.13 (79)
  • Brisbane head back to MCG for preliminary final with Geelong

Eric Hipwood kicked four goals to help Brisbane bury their MCG hoodoo with a thrilling AFL semifinal comeback win over bogey side Melbourne. The Lions rallied from 28 points down late in the second quarter, kicking 11 goals to five after half-time to snatch a 14.8 (92) to 11.13 (79) victory in front of 62,162 fans.

The see-sawing affair continued a bumper finals series after a thrilling opening week. It was Brisbane’s first win at the MCG since 2014, ending an 11-match losing streak, and came after four straight defeats to the Demons by an average of 44 points over the last two years.

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AFL semi-finals 2022: Brisbane Lions defeat Melbourne by 13 points – as it happened

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  • Brisbane knock out premiers in upset at the MCG
  • Melbourne 11.13 (79) defeated by Brisbane Lions 14.8 (92)

A busy start for Petracca. Three touches in the first three minutes. Remember that he’s playing tonight with a fracture in his leg; the fitness test will come in time.

1st quarter (18:50 remaining) Melbourne 0.1 (1) vs Brisbane 0.0 (0) Luke Jackson deep into the AFL Members pocket gets a left boot on a snap and it snaked around like a Damien Fleming outswinger all the way to the goal mouth but is touched on the line. That would have been a brilliant goal from the big man to start this final.

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Over 250 women to receive honorary degrees at University of Bedfordshire

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They studied between 1940 and 1978, when their courses were not acknowledged as degree level studies

Over 250 women in their 70s and above are to receive honorary degrees at the University of Bedfordshire this weekend, decades after they completed their studies in physical education.

The women, who studied at Bedford College of Physical Education between 1940 and 1978, are receiving honorary degrees after a six-year campaign to prove the three-year courses they completed were worthy of degree status.

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Australia defeat New Zealand by 113 runs in second one-day international – as it happened

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4th over: Australia 14-2 (Smith 6, Labuschagne 3) Marnus joins his mentor at the crease with green and gold backs against the wall. He’s away straight off with a pretty on-drive for three. Smith then repeats the shot bit gets a bit more oomph on it and it goes to the rope.

I’ve not had time to slurp my Kenco with this rapid start, it’s now tepid at best. Tough gig eh. It’s creeping up to 6am here in London, if you are out there then do drop me a line with your thoughts and/or theories.

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Cam Green guides Australia out of dire straits in ODI win over New Zealand

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  • New Zealand 232-9; Australia 233-8 | Australia win by two wickets
  • Green (89 no) shares 158-run partnership with Alex Carey (85)

Cameron Green and Alex Carey have steered Australia to an unlikely victory over New Zealand in their opening ODI in Cairns with the hosts languishing at 44-5 at one stage.

Chasing 233 to win, Australia’s innings under lights began abysmally when skipper Aaron Finch fell once again to a left-arm seamer, scoring just five for a second consecutive innings.

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Australia 1-2 Canada: international football friendly – as it happened

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Out come the two sides onto a dramatically lit Allianz Stadium pitch. There’s firework smoke haze, spotlights, and the feel of a pop concert.

The new Allianz Stadium is resplendent tonight, all shiny and new and filled with fancy lights and noise from the PA system, which is alternating between loud pop music and interactions with fans.

With 20 minutes to go before kick-off, fans are still making their way in (and risking missing the firework display), possibly stopping off for a quick cheeseburger spring roll or two from one of the many concourse outlets (disclaimer: I have not seen a cheeseburger spring roll and know not what they are, nor can I vouch for their tastiness and/or health benefits).

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