More than 80 human rights and sport advocacy organisations have urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to abandon reported plans for universal genetic sex testing of female athletes.
Multiple sources claim the IOC’s Protection of the Female Category Working Group has recommended the testing alongside a sweeping ban on transgender and intersex competitors.
The global sports body has not publicly confirmed the proposals and is expected to reveal official findings in the first half of 2026.
‘Catastrophic erosion of women’s rights’
A joint statement from groups including the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) and ILGA World warned that the measures would severely undermine gender equity.
Andrea Florence, executive director of the SRA, fiercely condemned the reported policy recommendations.
“Gender policing and exclusion harms all women and girls, and undermines the very dignity and fairness the IOC claims to uphold.”
Payoshni Mitra, executive director of Humans of Sport, added that mandatory testing violates privacy and exposes child athletes to safeguarding risks.
Advocates also argue that prohibiting transgender and intersex athletes disregards the significant barriers and systemic disadvantages they already face.
Reversing decades of policy
The Olympic governing body previously ceased universal sex testing after the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Human rights groups contend that reinstating these protocols would directly contradict the organisation’s own 2021 framework on fairness and non-discrimination.
International bodies such as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the World Medical Association have previously denounced related interventions as discriminatory.
However, other major governing bodies have recently tightened their own regulations regarding female competition categories.
World Athletics introduced an SRY gene test for all female competitors prior to the World Championships in Tokyo.
British Paralympian Jo Butterfield is targeting historic gold medals at both the Summer and Winter Games following her return to elite sport after recovering from breast cancer.
The 46-year-old recently made her Winter Paralympics debut in Milan-Cortina.
She finished fifth alongside Jason Kean in the wheelchair curling mixed doubles.
The Rio 2016 champion now hopes to become the first Briton to top the podium in both Paralympic seasons.
Dual-sport ambitions
With her F51 club throw discipline restored to the summer programme, the dual-sport athlete plans to compete at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
She then intends to reunite with Kean for the 2030 Winter Paralympics in the French Alps.
“My plan is to try and do both in the next cycle.” Butterfield
“It should be easy to balance. I think curling are massively supportive, athletics is individual so it’s a little bit easier to fit in around the team sport.”
Overcoming adversity
Her journey to the ice followed a turbulent period of severe health challenges.
Left paralysed from the chest down in 2011 after surgery to remove a spinal tumour, the resilient competitor initially forged a highly successful career in para-athletics.
She pivoted to curling in 2022 after her throwing event was temporarily removed from the Paris 2024 schedule, only to be diagnosed with breast cancer the following year.
“It was two years ago I got the all-clear but the two years before that if someone said to me that you would be at Milan-Cortina, I don’t know if I ever really believed it.”
“I was going day by day thinking, ‘am I even going to be here next week?’ almost, never mind at a Paralympic Games.”
Milan-Cortina heartbreak
The newly formed British duo narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot in Italy.
After losing their opening two matches, they won three of their next four before suffering an agonising 11-10 defeat to the host nation.
“It was within grasp and that’s what’s really frustrating and really annoying because it’s quite an open competition.”
Despite the heartbreaking exit, her ambition to conquer both sports on the ultimate stage remains completely undimmed.
Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC title against Dutch kickboxing superstar Rico Verhoeven in a highly anticipated crossover bout on 23 May.
The Ukrainian titleholder faces an unusual challenge as his opponent transitions from a decade of dominance in the Glory kickboxing promotion.
Verhoeven has only competed in one professional boxing bout prior to securing this unexpected championship opportunity.
Crossover challenge sparks debate
British bantamweight world titlist Jonathan Haggerty believes the challenger has earned his shot despite the monumental task ahead.
“He’s been a champion for years, undefeated,” Haggerty said.
“He’s just a beast of a guy really. He goes in there, demolishes people.”
The ONE Championship star acknowledged that fighting the best heavyweight on the planet will be incredibly difficult for the kickboxing specialist.
“I don’t think he’s got a chance really. Usyk’s the best in the world for a reason.”
Physicality against technical mastery
At 39 years old, the defending champion is entering the final stages of his illustrious career.
The younger Dutch challenger will attempt to use his significant physical advantages to disrupt the rhythm of the master technician.
Expert boxing trainer Peter Fury has been enlisted to help prepare the kickboxing legend for this unprecedented world title attempt.
“He is a unit, so Usyk’s just going to have to move,” Haggerty advised.
“Get stuck in, make it uncomfortable.”
Boxing world reacts
Former WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith expects the technical gap between the two disciplines to be the deciding factor.
“It’s two different sports and I’d be surprised if Usyk doesn’t handily beat him,” Billam-Smith noted.
The veteran fighter admitted that while the matchup is unorthodox, it provides the kind of unique storyline that continually draws fans to the sport.
Having previously dismantled giants like Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, the former undisputed cruiserweight king possesses a proven track record of neutralising larger opponents.
Former world champion Richie Woodhall praised the southpaw’s exceptional ability to counter-punch while maintaining relentless forward pressure.
France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey broke his own Six Nations try-scoring record with a stunning four-try performance to help Les Bleus secure back-to-back titles with a 48-46 victory over England in Paris on Saturday.
Antoine Dupont is widely regarded as rugby’s greatest current player, but a new attacking star is stealing the limelight in the French capital.
The 22-year-old speedster has emerged as an unstoppable force, taking his tournament tally to nine tries and surpassing the previous landmark of eight he set last season.
Chasing O’Driscoll’s all-time record
The Bordeaux Begles star has now crossed the whitewash in 10 consecutive Six Nations matches.
It is an unprecedented scoring streak that he will look to extend in next year’s competition.
Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll holds the championship’s all-time record with a historic 26 tries.
However, the phenomenal French flyer is already just eight scores behind that landmark despite having played only 14 games in the competition.
‘The Erling Haaland of the rugby world’
During the epic weekend finale, the dynamic back demonstrated incredible footballing ability to chip the ball past Jack van Poortvliet for his crucial fourth try.
“He is running at over 10 metres per second – the fastest player in the Six Nations – and he has the deftest of touches. Dennis Bergkamp would be thrilled with that,” former England wing Ugo Monye told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.
“He is the Erling Haaland of the rugby world. Give him the ball and he will finish.”
More than just a lethal finisher
In terms of pure numbers, the prolific wide man scored 33 times for club and country last season.
That impressive return was just one shy of Manchester City striker Haaland’s total during the same period.
This season, the young talent has already registered 27 tries across all competitions and is aiming to better his previous campaign.
While some elite finishers are criticised for a lack of all-round contribution, the 22-year-old offers substantial value in defence.
“His defence is very good, and he is so busy,” Monye added.
Elana Meyers Taylor has become the oldest-ever individual Winter Olympic gold medallist after winning the women’s monobob at the Milan-Cortina Games aged 41.
The historic victory secures a sixth Olympic medal for the American, 16 years after she first claimed bronze at the Vancouver Games.
This latest triumph firmly cements her legacy as the most decorated black athlete in the history of the Winter Olympics.
A monumental two-decade journey
Achieving this career pinnacle required immense perseverance and a dedicated support system away from the ice track.
The veteran bobsledder balances her elite sporting career with raising two sons, both of whom are profoundly deaf.
Her eldest son also has Down syndrome, and she credits their wider community for providing invaluable backing throughout her pursuit of gold.
Speaking to the BBC’s More than the Score podcast, the new champion emphasised that her long-awaited victory was ultimately a massive collective effort.
Activism and climate concerns
Beyond her remarkable athletic achievements, the 41-year-old continues to be a prominent advocate for black athletes competing in winter disciplines.
The pioneering Olympian has consistently used her global platform to push for greater diversity and inclusion across the international circuit.
During her in-depth interview, she also highlighted the severe disruptions that climate change is already inflicting on modern bobsleigh racing.
Rising global temperatures present a growing threat to ice tracks worldwide, prompting urgent questions about the sport’s future and her ongoing role within it.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has dismissed reports suggesting it is rewriting rules to ban United States government officials, including Donald Trump, from attending the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Proposals to sanction nations for unpaid financial contributions have reportedly been discussed by the global doping watchdog.
Washington has withheld its annual dues since 2023 following a dispute over the handling of a doping case involving Chinese swimmers.
Financial dispute and potential sanctions
The United States currently owes approximately $7.3m in arrears for the previous two calendar years.
Draft proposals suggested a tiered sanctioning system for non-paying nations, which could theoretically exclude government representatives from major sporting events.
Such a prohibition would prevent the incoming US President, Vice President J.D. Vance, and members of Congress from attending global showcases.
However, agency spokesman James Fitzgerald strongly refuted the narrative that these discussions are directly targeting the new American administration.
‘Entirely misleading’ claims
Fitzgerald stated that conversations regarding how to manage governments withholding funding have been ongoing since 2020.
The Montreal-based organisation further clarified that any newly introduced measures would not be applied retroactively to upcoming tournaments.
This means the 2026 World Cup, the LA 2028 Games, and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City would remain unaffected by the proposed regulatory updates.
Despite these assurances, American authorities maintain a steadfast position regarding their financial boycott of the international testing body.
Sara Carter, director of the US Office of National Drug Control Policy, emphasized that their funding freeze is tied directly to demands for institutional reform.
“In spite of WADA’s increasing threats, we continue to stand firm in our demand for accountability and transparency from WADA to ensure fair competition in sport.”
Relations between American regulators and the global anti-doping authority plummeted earlier this year after it emerged that multiple Chinese swimmers were cleared to compete despite returning positive tests for a banned substance.
American Cameron Young has birdied the penultimate hole to narrowly beat English teammate Matt Fitzpatrick and claim the £3.4m top prize at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
Young dramatically conquered the iconic island 17th hole to shatter his playing partner’s hopes of lifting the prestigious trophy.
The 28-year-old then secured his landmark victory with a composed two-putt for par from just under ten feet on the 18th green.
Fitzpatrick agonisingly missed an eight-foot par putt on the final hole that would have otherwise forced a thrilling three-hole playoff.
A rivalry rooted in mutual respect
Despite the devastating final-hole defeat, the British major champion secured a solo second-place finish worth more than £2m.
The tense final-round battle was played out in front of a raucous crowd, with both competitors having to ignore occasional jeering from outside the ropes.
However, the intense pressure did not affect the clear camaraderie between the two New York Golf Club TGL teammates.
Fitzpatrick was full of praise for the eventual champion despite missing out on the biggest financial payday of his career.
“I love Cam, he’s such a nice guy and he’s so laid back,” Fitzpatrick told broadcasters following his narrow defeat.
Young credits comfortable pairing for success
The American victor was equally complimentary about his English counterpart after clinching the lucrative Florida tournament.
Young admitted that navigating the treacherous final holes was made significantly easier by walking the fairways alongside a familiar face.
“He is an excellent playing partner, very polite, very kind and enjoyable to talk to,” Young remarked.
“We had every right to both be nervous and found ourselves in some tricky spots, but I feel like for the both of us it was a comfortable one.”
Looking ahead to the major season
The Players Championship is widely considered golf’s unofficial fifth major due to its consistently stellar field and notoriously difficult course layout.
Fitzpatrick, who famously secured his maiden major at the 2022 US Open, will now look to channel this impressive form as the highly anticipated major season approaches.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will soon hold discussions with the Irish Rugby Football Union regarding his long-term future following a successful Six Nations campaign.
Speculation surrounding the 48-year-old’s position intensified during the tournament amid recent links to Premiership side Saracens.
The English club recently released a statement dismissing reports that suggested they had offered the former dual-code international a coaching role after the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Focus turns to impending negotiations
Following a resounding 43-21 victory over Scotland, attention has firmly shifted back to the manager’s contract situation.
The Wigan native reiterated his commitment to the national setup while humorously noting the immense pressures of elite management.
“We’ve already spoken about having a conversation, and that won’t be too far away, so we’ll see how that goes,” Farrell said.
“You know that I love this, but there’s all sorts of stuff that needs to be talked about.”
Building momentum for the Nations Championship
Despite retaining the Triple Crown with four wins from five matches, the Irish squad narrowly missed out on the overall championship title to France.
The coaching staff are now tasked with priming a 35-player group for the inaugural summer Nations Championship.
This upcoming tournament features high-profile fixtures against Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.
In order to guarantee selection, the head coach expects his team to replicate their dominant international form upon returning to their provincial clubs.
“We’ll see what the momentum is when the lads go back to their provinces now,” he added.
“People have to grow through this, and the lads who have had a sniff of it, it’s up to them to keep competing to show they’ve learned some lessons.”