Former 100m world champion Fred Kerley has been banned for two years after a tribunal found he committed three anti-doping whereabouts failures.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed the sanction on Thursday, stating the American sprinter was found to be “negligent and, to a certain extent, reckless” regarding his obligations.
The 30-year-old’s period of ineligibility will run until 11 August 2027.
Kerley had been provisionally suspended by the AIU in August last year, causing him to miss the World Championships in Tokyo.
Tribunal findings and disqualification
The independent tribunal determined that Kerley recorded three whereabouts failures between 11 May and 6 December 2024.
Under the World Anti-Doping Code, athletes face a ban if they record three missed tests or filing failures within a rolling 12-month period.
Consequently, all competitive results achieved by the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist between 6 December 2024 and 12 August 2025 have been disqualified.
This retrospective action includes the forfeiture of any titles, ranking points, prize money, and prizes won during that timeframe.
The AIU noted that a Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal did not need to consider a fourth alleged failure on 7 December, as the violation was already established by the previous three instances.
‘Technical issues’ defence
Kerley did not dispute the whereabouts failure recorded on 13 June.
However, the Paris 2024 bronze medallist contested the other instances, attributing a missed test on 11 May to technical issues with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) app.
He further blamed the Doping Control Officer (DCO) for the missed tests occurring on 6 and 7 December.
Despite these claims, the tribunal ruled against the sprinter, noting that given his experience in the testing pool since 2017, he “should have exercised more care”.
In addition to the ban, the 2022 world champion has been ordered to pay World Athletics £3,000 to cover legal fees and expenses.
Integrity of the sport
Brett Clothier, head of the AIU, emphasised that strict adherence to whereabouts rules is essential for catching sophisticated doping violations.
“Unfortunately, sophisticated doping substances may only be detectable within an athlete’s sample for a few days or even hours after administration.”
Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU
“Anti-doping organisations need to be able to test athletes without notice on the day and hour of our choosing, otherwise anti-doping programmes will not work, and dopers will easily avoid detection.”
Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU
Clothier added that the rules remain fundamental to the integrity of the sport and must be respected by all competitors.
Enhanced Games context
Kerley had previously generated significant attention by becoming the first track athlete and American male to sign up for the controversial Enhanced Games.
That event, which proposes to allow performance-enhancing drugs, has drawn criticism from World Athletics and the International Olympic Committee.
The Texas-born athlete last competed at the Grand Sprint Series in Norwalk, California, in July 2025.
This decision is subject to appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
India will attempt to become the first team to retain the Men’s T20 World Cup when they face New Zealand in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad.
The hosts are aiming to secure a record third title in the tournament’s history.
Success on home soil would see them become the first side to successfully defend the trophy, two years after defeating South Africa in the 2024 showpiece.
New Zealand arrive in the final seeking to silence the home crowd and lift the trophy for the very first time.
Expectation weighs heavy on home side
A capacity crowd of over 100,000 is expected at the Narendra Modi Stadium for the blockbuster clash.
New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips believes the burden of history rests squarely on the home favourites.
Glenn Phillips, New Zealand all-rounder“I mean I guess that means only one team can fail, doesn’t it?”
The Black Caps star insisted his side would focus on enjoying the occasion rather than fearing the hostile atmosphere.
“We go out and do our best for our country and obviously a packed crowd is fantastic. We play to entertain the people and, whether they’re supporting us or whether they support India, it is fantastic for cricket in general.”
Redemption for 2023 heartbreak?
For the defending champions, Sunday represents a chance to banish the ghosts of the 2023 50-over World Cup.
India dominated that tournament on home soil only to suffer a painful defeat by Australia in the final at the same venue.
Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik believes this adds an extra layer of significance to the contest.
Dinesh Karthik, former India wicketkeeper“It’s redemption time in a way. That 2023 campaign was amazing. They were flawless all the way to the final that day and then had one bad day.”
Do not write off the Black Caps
India enter the contest as firm favourites, having beaten the Kiwis 4-1 in a T20 series earlier this year.
The holders also showed resilience to bounce back from a record defeat by South Africa in the group stages before edging past England in the semi-finals.
However, former England captain Nasser Hussain has warned against underestimating the tourists.
Nasser Hussain, former England captain“All the focus will be on India. New Zealand will do what they always do – rock up and play their best cricket. India are definitely the favourites, but do not write off New Zealand in any format.”
Steve Borthwick has abandoned his philosophy of continuity by selecting a new-look England backline to face Italy in the Six Nations in a bid to arrest a brewing crisis.
While rivals France launch glossy retro kits for the tournament’s climax, England have turned to the training ground bibs for inspiration.
The Red Rose’s back division for this weekend has virtually no shared match experience.
Look for established partnerships within the selection and you will find only the thinnest threads of understanding.
Training form over Test cohesion
Fly-half Fin Smith and inside centre Seb Atkinson last played together regularly in the Worcester youth system five years ago.
Northampton’s Tommy Freeman joins Smith in the set-up, though he usually operates on the wing rather than his deployed role at outside centre.
Sale Sharks wing Tom Roebuck offers some familiarity, having toured Argentina with Atkinson, but connections remain scarce.
Seven players from six different clubs represents a significant gamble on unknown quantities.
The head coach has previously prioritized the "white heat" of Test match cohesion but is now citing different evidence for his selection.
"Much of this backline has trained for four or five weeks together and trained very, very well," said Borthwick.
"I say again how much I value what I see in training. I say it to the players, that I’m watching every bit of training and I value performance in training."
"This is a very strong message about the ethos within the England team, that you will be rewarded for performing in that sense."
Stopping the slide
This strategic pivot follows a dramatic downturn in form during the current campaign.
Comprehensive defeats by Scotland and Ireland saw England lose by 11 and 21 points respectively.
Those losses were defined by a lack of power, low energy, and a high error count that undermined the gameplan.
Two defeats have shaken belief in the long-term project, despite the 12 wins that preceded this slump.
Captain Maro Itoje addressed the squad following the Ireland defeat, insisting progress is rarely a straight line.
"Success isn’t always linear… success doesn’t always go like that," Itoje told his team-mates.
"Sometimes it goes like that. Through hard work, though consistency, we’ll get it back on track. Keep faith in what we’re doing, keep faith in each other."
Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue will defend his titles against unbeaten compatriot Junto Nakatani at the Tokyo Dome on 2 May.
The highly anticipated all-Japanese showdown was formally announced at a news conference in Japan following months of speculation.
It pits two of the sport’s most destructive punchers against one another, with both men entering the ring boasting perfect 32-0 records.
Battle of the pound-for-pound stars
‘The Monster’, widely regarded as the world’s second-best pound-for-pound fighter, enjoyed a stellar 2025 campaign.
Inoue competed four times last year, culminating in a unanimous decision victory over David Picasso in December.
Nakatani, currently ranked sixth in the pound-for-pound standings, is aiming to become a four-weight world champion.
The challenger previously held world titles at bantamweight, junior bantamweight and flyweight before moving up to the 122lb division.
He secured his shot at the undisputed crown with a gritty, tougher-than-expected win over Sebastian Hernandez on the same December card as his upcoming opponent.
Tokyo Dome stage set
This blockbuster event marks a significant return to the iconic Tokyo Dome, a venue reserved for only the most prestigious martial arts contests in Japan.
While domestic coverage has been confirmed on Lemino pay-per-view, broadcast rights for the United States have yet to be announced.
Family affair on the undercard
The main event will not be the only major title fight of the evening involving the Inoue family.
Naoya’s younger brother, Takuma Inoue, is set to defend his WBC bantamweight title against former four-division king Kazuto Ioka.
Iran’s only representative Aboulfazl Khatibi has been forced to withdraw from the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games because he cannot travel safely amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed the news on Friday, mere hours before the opening ceremony was scheduled to begin in Verona.
Travel risks force withdrawal
Khatibi had been set to compete as a cross-country skier and was the solitary athlete registered to represent his nation at these Winter Games.
However, the IPC stated that it was impossible to secure safe passage for him to travel to Italy.
This disruption follows the intensifying military situation in the region, occurring less than a week after reports of strikes involving the United States and Israel.
Sole representative absent
The enforced absence leaves Iran without any active participants for the duration of the competition.
The skier had been preparing to compete on the global stage, but geopolitical tensions have curtailed his participation just as the Games get underway.
Events are scheduled to take place across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo following the opening formalities.
Russian soldiers injured in the war in Ukraine will be eligible to compete at future Games according to International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons.
Reports indicate that Moscow is actively fast-tracking veterans of the conflict into elite disability sport structures.
An investigation by Poland-based outlet Vot Tak found that “at least 70” former combatants are already competing within national teams.
Parsons addressed the controversial subject while speaking to BBC Sport in Italy ahead of the Winter Paralympics opening ceremony.
‘Possibility after war’
When asked if those wounded in the ongoing invasion would be barred, the IPC chief confirmed they would be treated like athletes from any other member nation.
“There are many countries that recruit athletes from the armed forces, so if Russia does that, they won’t be the only one,” Parsons explained.
He emphasised the historical roots of the movement, which began at Stoke Mandeville following the Second World War.
“We have to remember where we come from,” the Brazilian official said.
“Our movement started after World War Two, specifically with injured military personnel.”
Parsons insisted that while the organisation opposes conflict, it exists to offer social reintegration through sport.
“It doesn’t matter to us what they have done in the past in the combat field,” he added.
“Of course crimes of war are something different, but what we offer with the movement is a second chance.”
Boycotts overshadow Winter Games
The comments come as the event in Italy faces significant disruption due to the reinstatement of Russia and Belarus.
Seven nations, including Ukraine, are set to boycott the opening ceremony in protest at the full inclusion of the two countries.
It marks a significant shift from 2022, when both nations were suspended following the launch of the full-scale invasion.
Restrictions were eased for Paris 2024 to allow participation as neutrals, before the ban was lifted entirely last year.
Consequently, the Russian flag will fly at a Paralympic Games for the first time since Sochi 2014.
However, Parsons warned that the global governing body would intervene if the event was utilised for political messaging.
When asked if the IPC would step in if sport was used as a propaganda tool, he confirmed: “When it comes to our members doing that, yes.”
England Women’s preparations for the home T20 World Cup have been thrown into disarray after their pre-tournament training camp in Abu Dhabi was cancelled due to security concerns.
The hosts are now facing a period of uncertainty with less than 100 days to go until the tournament begins.
Team management had scheduled the camp in the UAE for next week, but the plans were abandoned following an escalation in regional conflict.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is currently seeking alternative venues to ensure the squad can convene.
Squad separation concerns
This disruption is particularly problematic as the side has not been in the same room together for five months.
England were the only major nation opting against a bilateral series during the winter window.
Instead, the squad has been scattered globally since reaching the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup in India last October.
While some players attended skills camps in Oman and South Africa, the majority of the centrally contracted stars have been occupied with franchise commitments.
Fifteen English players featured in Australia’s Big Bash League, with others securing lucrative deals in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in India.
The franchise balancing act
The lack of international cohesion is a growing trend driven by the economics of the modern game.
Top players can now earn significantly more in franchise tournaments than they do through central contracts, often in a fraction of the time.
Nat Sciver-Brunt, the England captain, acknowledges the shifting landscape of the sport.
We’ve had five months between international duties, which is pretty unusual. But I think it will probably become a bit more common now with the windows for franchise cricket.
Nat Sciver-Brunt, England captain
The all-rounder herself has been active, scoring more than 300 runs for the Mumbai Indians during the break.
New era under pressure
This will be Sciver-Brunt’s first global tournament at the helm since taking the captaincy permanently 12 months ago.
The leadership change followed a difficult Ashes campaign in Australia, which resulted in a significant restructuring of the team hierarchy.
Former head coach Jon Lewis departed, while the previous long-serving captain stepped down after nine years in the role.
Charlotte Edwards has since taken charge as head coach, tasked with preparing the side for a tournament on home soil.
History weighs heavily on the hosts, with England having won all four previous Women’s World Cups staged in the country.
Despite the logistical setbacks and historical expectations, the skipper remains outwardly calm.
So, no pressure for me.
Nat Sciver-Brunt
BBC Sport has launched an in-depth investigation into the Enhanced Games, exploring the controversial proposal to allow performance-enhancing drugs in competitive sport.
The concept represents one of the most divisive topics currently facing the global athletic community.
Proposed as a libertarian alternative to the Olympic Games, the event has drawn sharp criticism for its stance on doping.
Challenging the status quo
The Enhanced Games explicitly plans to forgo traditional drug testing for its participants.
Organisers argue that the current anti-doping systems in elite sport are failing, restrictive, and costly.
Instead, the disruptive venture aims to celebrate “science and humanity” by allowing athletes to use medical enhancements openly.
This radical approach has sparked a fierce debate regarding ethics, fair play, and the definition of natural ability.
Health risks and condemnation
Safety remains the primary concern for governing bodies and medical experts worldwide.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has previously warned athletes against participating in the unsanctioned competition.
Critics fear that legitimising performance-enhancing substances could have catastrophic long-term health consequences for competitors.
The new BBC Sport investigation delves into whether this project represents a sporting revolution or a dangerous precedent.