Veteran Sky Sports golf commentator Ewen Murray will retire later this year, citing the disgraceful abuse directed at Rory McIlroy’s family during the recent Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
The 71-year-old has been the defining voice of the sport on British television for 35 years following his own professional playing career.
However, the intensely hostile atmosphere witnessed during Europe’s recent victory in New York prompted the broadcaster to bring forward his departure.
‘Disgraceful’ scenes in New York
McIlroy and his wife Erica were repeatedly targeted by aggressive sections of the American crowd in September.
The Northern Irishman eventually received a formal apology from the PGA of America after an event MC led abusive chants and his wife was struck by a beer can.
“I heard stuff in that half-hour that I can’t repeat to you, it’s that bad,” Murray told the Sliced Podcast.
“Not fired at Rory but at Rory’s family. I walked back and I thought, ‘Do you really need to be part of this any more?'”
“By the time I got on the plane on the Monday, I looked out over New York and thought it’s been a fantastic journey, but if that’s our future I really don’t want any part of it.”
A fitting finale in Scotland
The former European Tour player confirmed he will fulfil his contractual duties at next month’s Masters tournament.
He plans to cover The Open Championship in July before potentially calling time on his illustrious career at the Senior Open.
The Gleneagles venue holds deep personal significance for the Scottish broadcaster, as it is where his parents first met.
“I just feel that after the Ryder Cup I lost a little bit of respect for the game,” he added.
“I will be doing the Masters, I will do The Open and I may finish at the Seniors because my father was an assistant pro and my mother worked in the hotel.”
Olympic featherweight champion Lin Yu-ting has been cleared to compete by World Boxing after undergoing the governing body’s newly implemented mandatory sex testing protocols.
The 30-year-old won gold for Chinese Taipei at the Paris 2024 Games but found herself at the centre of a global eligibility row alongside Algeria’s Imane Khelif.
Both fighters were previously disqualified from the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
The IBA had controversially claimed both athletes failed to meet the necessary criteria for participating in women’s competition.
New Governance and Testing Protocols
The International Olympic Committee subsequently stripped the IBA of its global status following severe integrity and governance issues.
World Boxing has since taken over the sport’s administration at the Olympic level and sought to clarify participation rules.
The new governing body introduced a strict eligibility policy in 2025 that includes mandatory genetic testing for all athletes.
This procedure specifically detects the presence of the SRY gene, which acts as a primary indicator of a male biological Y chromosome.
Medical Evidence Secures Return
The Chinese Taipei athlete was required to undergo the new screening process, which prompted her national association to initiate a formal medical appeal.
Following the submission of extensive biological documentation, the World Boxing Medical Committee evaluated the evidence and conclusively ruled her eligible for the female category.
The governing body confirmed that the Olympic gold medallist, who missed several recent competitions, can immediately resume her international career.
Relief and Official Reactions
World Boxing secretary general Tom Dielen praised the cooperative and transparent approach taken during the evaluation.
“We recognise that this has been a difficult period for the boxer and the CTBA, and appreciate the way they have approached the appeal process.” – Tom Dielen
The Chinese Taipei Boxing Association released a swift public statement expressing their profound relief over the final verdict.
“We are pleased that World Boxing’s independent medical experts thoroughly reviewed all evidence and confirmed that she has been female since birth.” – Chinese Taipei Boxing Association
Jon Rahm has dropped his appeal against DP World Tour sanctions for playing in conflicting LIV Golf events, but the two-time major winner continues to refuse to pay his outstanding fines.
The Spaniard’s stance significantly jeopardises his chances of representing Europe in future Ryder Cup tournaments.
It is understood the 31-year-old owes financial penalties in the region of £2.5m for competing on the breakaway Saudi-backed circuit without official permission.
Ryder Cup eligibility in the balance
Last month, the European circuit granted releases to eight players to participate in LIV Golf events this year.
That conditional waiver allowed them to retain their memberships and remain eligible for the prestigious biennial transatlantic contest.
However, the agreement explicitly required players to pay all outstanding fines, withdraw pending appeals, and commit to stipulated DP World Tour tournaments.
While Rahm has now satisfied the appeals condition, he remains stubbornly opposed to handing over the requisite funds.
Extorting players claim
The former Masters and US Open champion recently expressed his frustration with the governing body’s financial demands.
“The DP World Tour is extorting players.”
This ongoing refusal casts serious doubt over whether the former world number one will add to his four previous European squad appearances.
His initial appeal had previously allowed him to continue competing on the traditional tour and effectively maintain his active status.
Precedent set by Sports Resolutions panel
The governing body’s authority to enforce these financial penalties was firmly established during a landmark legal arbitration case.
In April 2023, an independent Sports Resolutions panel ruled that the DP World Tour was entirely within its rights to sanction members who violated conflicting-events regulations.
Rahm must now decide whether to finally pay the seven-figure sum or risk permanent exclusion from Europe’s Ryder Cup team.
Australian swimmer Cameron McEvoy has broken Cesar Cielo’s 15-year-old men’s 50m freestyle world record by clocking 20.88 seconds at the China Swimming Open in Shenzhen.
The 31-year-old Paris Olympic champion narrowly bettered the historic mark of 20.91 seconds set by the Brazilian in 2009.
Cielo’s time was established during swimming’s controversial ‘supersuit’ era, which featured high-tech, friction-reducing garments that have since been banned from the sport.
Targeting a personal best
The Australian entered the event on the back of impressive training sessions, aiming simply to improve his previous personal best of 21.06 seconds.
“I knew I had a chance to do a PB,” he said.
“My old PB was 21.06, so maybe 20.99, but doing 20.88 is unreal. It’s crazy.”
Strength peaking later in life
Despite being a veteran competitor, the reigning world champion believes his age is a distinct advantage in the shortest sprint event.
“The 50m, I look at it as a strength-based skill. It’s different to the other events in swimming,” he explained.
“A lot more strength and power is involved, and men peak in strength into their 30s, well into their 30s.”
Praise from a swimming legend
Following the monumental achievement, the retired Cielo took to social media to congratulate his successor.
The former record holder graciously described the blistering performance as a “lightning fast swim”.
Tyson Fury has reiterated his desire to fight domestic rival Anthony Joshua before retiring, insisting the long-awaited showdown must happen following his upcoming bout against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
The undefeated heavyweight champion remains determined to settle the score with his fellow Briton before calling time on an illustrious career.
Speculation surrounding a potential blockbuster clash between the two fighters has dominated the sport for the better part of a decade.
The 36-year-old issued a direct challenge to the former unified champion regarding a future meeting.
Let’s get it done! – Tyson Fury
Focus remains on Makhmudov
However, the self-styled Gypsy King must first navigate a challenging test against formidable Russian-Canadian contender Makhmudov.
He knows that any unexpected slip-up in his next outing could permanently derail the prospect of an all-British super-fight.
Joshua, meanwhile, continues his own rebuilding phase as he looks to re-establish himself at the pinnacle of the heavyweight division.
A legacy-defining domestic clash
Boxing fans have grown increasingly frustrated over the years by previous failed negotiations between the two rival camps.
Despite those past contractual setbacks, the Mancunian’s latest comments will reignite hopes that a historic stadium spectacle can finally be agreed.
A successful victory over Makhmudov would ultimately clear the path for what promises to be one of the most lucrative events in British sporting history.
Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey and Scotland winger Kyle Steyn have been shortlisted for the 2026 Six Nations Player of the Championship award.
Italy centre Tommaso Menoncello and France wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who claimed the accolade last year, complete the four-man nomination list.
The winner of the prestigious prize will be determined by a public vote that closes on Thursday, 26 March.
McCloskey shines after injury setbacks
Following an injury-impacted autumn campaign, McCloskey was instrumental in helping his country secure their fourth Triple Crown in five years.
The 33-year-old orchestrated the Irish attack brilliantly, registering a tournament-high six try assists alongside eight crucial turnovers won.
The robust Ulster midfielder also topped his national side’s statistical charts for carries, offloads, defenders beaten and post-contact metres.
His stellar domestic form for a club currently sitting third in the United Rugby Championship clearly translated to the international stage.
Steyn stars in impressive Scottish campaign
Steyn was an ever-present figure for the Scottish squad, starting all five matches as the team secured a commendable third-place finish.
Two of the 32-year-old’s three tournament tries came during a thrilling 50-40 victory over eventual championship winners France at Murrayfield.
The prolific wing becomes the first Glasgow Warriors player to be nominated for the individual accolade since 2017.
Team of the Championship representation
Both nominees have unsurprisingly been named in the official Six Nations Team of the Championship.
The Irish contingent is heavily represented up front, with Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris and Jack Conan joining their influential back-line star in the select XV.
Meanwhile, the Scottish flyer lines up alongside instrumental team-mates Finn Russell and Rory Darge in the elite squad.
American sprinter Jordan Anthony has developed a severe blood clot in his arm following a botched anti-doping test at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland, but still managed to win his opening 60m heat.
The 21-year-old arrived in Torun as the overwhelming favourite for the men’s 60m title after setting a world-leading time of 6.43 seconds earlier this year.
However, his preparations were severely disrupted when a pre-competition blood draw went drastically wrong.
‘The size of a football’
An official administering the routine test failed to correctly locate a vein, leaving the athlete with significant swelling and requiring heavy strapping on his left arm.
“Yesterday I had drug testing, they took blood, but he didn’t stick my vein, he stuck outside,” the sprinter told reporters in Poland.
“I got a clot, the size of a football. Luckily, I’m still running.”
Remaining focused on gold
Despite restricted mobility in his arm, the former Arkansas collegiate star comfortably won his opening heat in 6.54 seconds to advance to the semi-finals.
The sprint sensation recently claimed the United States title, defeating Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles and Trayvon Bromell in the process.
It was Lyles who provided vital advice to his younger compatriot ahead of the global event.
“Noah told me before I got here, ‘get used to the unexpected, you never know what might happen’, this is the unexpected,” he added.
“But it’s not going to stop me. Nothing is going to affect me from winning a gold medal for Team USA.”
The American remains the primary contender for gold, though Great Britain’s defending champion Jeremiah Azu and Jamaican Kishane Thompson pose significant threats to his campaign.
Teenage amateur wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi has been publicly executed in Iran on Thursday following allegations of his involvement in anti-government protests.
State media confirmed the 19-year-old was put to death in the northern Qom province.
The execution was carried out after the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence alongside two other men, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported the trio were found guilty of killing two police officers during separate attacks.
Authorities also convicted the men of “moharebeh” – a charge translating to waging war against God that is frequently used against political opponents.
Amnesty International condemn compromised trial
Human rights organisations have heavily criticised the judicial process leading to the young athlete’s death.
Amnesty International stated the amateur competitor was sentenced following a severely compromised trial based on coerced testimonies.
Reports indicate the teenager was forced into making self-incriminating confessions during the initial investigation phase before retracting them in court.
Despite testifying that his admission of guilt was obtained under severe torture, the presiding judge dismissed his claims.
The court allegedly relied on statements made during a staged crime scene reconstruction and disputed eyewitness accounts.
He had been sentenced to death following an unfair trial, based on confessions obtained under torture.
Amnesty International
Broader crackdown on civilian protests
The wrestler’s execution occurred just 24 hours after Iranian-Swedish national Kouroush Keyvani was hanged on espionage charges.
Widespread anti-government demonstrations have recently swept across 180 cities in all 31 Iranian provinces.
Public anger was initially sparked by a devastating collapse of the national currency and a soaring cost of living.
A near-total shutdown of internet services has severely restricted the flow of information regarding the ongoing civil unrest.
The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency estimates that over 7,000 individuals lost their lives during January’s demonstrations.