Team GB’s Georgia Bell is set to have her World Indoor Championships bronze medal upgraded to silver after Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji was handed a two-year ban for an anti-doping violation.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld an appeal by World Athletics regarding a missed test by the Ethiopian runner in March 2025.
Welteji had originally finished second in the 1500m in Nanjing, China, forcing the British athlete to settle for third place.
Welteji banned over missed test
Doping control officers attempted to conduct an out-of-competition test at Welteji’s home, but no sample was collected.
The athlete’s husband reportedly informed officials she was sleeping, leading to a failure to comply with testing protocols.
While a disciplinary panel initially overturned a provisional suspension citing a language barrier between the husband and officers, CAS determined the conduct was negligent rather than intentional.
Consequently, all results achieved by the 23-year-old since 25 February 2025 have been annulled.
Continued rise for British star
The retrospective disqualification means Bell climbs to second on the podium, adding another accolade to a stellar period in her career.
The 1500m specialist previously claimed bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics, setting a national record of three minutes 52.61 seconds.
Australia’s Georgia Griffith is also set to benefit from the ruling, moving from fourth place to take the bronze medal.
Welteji will remain banned from competition until 30 June 2027.
Tadhg Beirne has warned Ireland against complacency following their historic victory over England as they prepare to host Wales in the Six Nations on Friday.
The 34-year-old lock maintains that Andy Farrell’s side must prioritize improvement over reflection despite the euphoria of their recent triumph at Twickenham.
Ireland return to action in Dublin (20:10 GMT) seeking to build on the momentum of that comprehensive 42-21 success.
“A better performance against Wales is what we’ll be chasing,” said the Munster forward.
“You can’t just pat yourselves on the back and think it’s going to happen again. You have to focus on what went well, bank it, and then also focus on what to improve on.”
The second row believes relying on past glory is a dangerous trap in tournament rugby.
“There’s no point saying that was a good performance, we’ll just do it again next week. It doesn’t work like that,” he added.
“You have to work incredibly hard to get those performances and it’ll be no different next week.”
Expecting a reaction
While the defending champions were dominant in London, Warren Gatland’s Wales arrive in Dublin desperate for a result.
The visitors were denied a first championship win since 2023 by Scotland in a tight encounter in Cardiff last week.
Beirne believes recent scorelines have been misleading regarding the threat posed by the struggling Welsh side.
“Wales, much like us, are improving game on game,” said the British and Irish Lion.
“A lot of the scorelines against the teams they’ve played against have probably not painted them in the best picture in terms of how well they played in parts of those games.”
He expects the visitors to draw strength from their near-miss against the Scots.
“They’re chasing better 80-minute performances and they were very close to getting the win against Scotland. I think that performance will give them a lot of confidence coming in against us.”
‘Incredibly sad’ times for Welsh rugby
Friday’s fixture holds significant personal resonance for Beirne, who revived his career during a transformative two-year spell with Scarlets.
Having lifted the Pro12 title with the Llanelli-based region in 2017, the Ireland international expressed sympathy regarding proposals to reduce the number of Welsh professional sides.
Plans are currently being discussed to cut the regions from four to three amid a financial crisis.
“I feel incredibly sad for all those individuals who have families and everything at home and it’s going to create a lot of pressure for those guys,” he said.
Beirne admitted that financial uncertainty was present even during his tenure in Wales.
“I do remember when I was there, there were whispers of the same thing happening,” he recalled.
“It just seems a little bit more serious at this point.”
Jiri Prochazka will face Carlos Ulberg for the vacant light-heavyweight title at UFC 327 after Alex Pereira relinquished the belt.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the 205lb championship bout will headline the event at the Kaseya Center in Miami on 11 April.
The announcement confirms that Pereira has vacated the strap, following the Brazilian’s previous suggestions that he intends to move up to the heavyweight division.
Pereira’s reign ends
White did not explicitly comment on the circumstances surrounding the former champion’s decision to end his title reign.
Pereira’s representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding his immediate future.
The kickboxing specialist leaves the division at the summit, having defended the title three times in 2024.
Prochazka seeks redemption
Prochazka, a former holder of the belt, famously vacated the title himself in 2022 after suffering a severe shoulder injury.
The Czech fighter fell short in two attempts to reclaim the crown against Pereira, suffering second-round knockouts in both 2023 and 2024.
However, the 32-year-old has re-established his contender status with consecutive finishes against Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr since that last defeat.
Ulberg’s rapid rise
Ulberg enters his first UFC title fight in excellent form, currently riding a nine-fight winning streak.
The New Zealander, who trains alongside former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, secured his opportunity with a first-round knockout of Dominick Reyes in September.
After losing his promotional debut in 2021, the 34-year-old has remained unbeaten inside the octagon.
A growing number of nations have vowed to boycott the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Paralympics in protest against Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags.
Finland and the Czech Republic are the latest countries to confirm they will skip the event in Verona next week.
They join Ukraine, Latvia, Poland, and the Netherlands in refusing to attend the curtain-raiser for the Games.
The diplomatic row threatens to overshadow the start of the winter showpiece, which runs from 6 March to 15 March.
Controversial IPC ruling
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) made the decision in September 2025 to allocate 10 combined slots to competitors from the two nations.
Critically, this ruling allows them to participate with their national anthems and flags, rather than as neutrals.
This contrasts sharply with the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games held earlier this month, where athletes from the region competed without national symbols.
Many National Paralympic Committees, particularly from Europe and host nation Italy, have voiced strong disagreement with the stance given the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Nations clarify positions
While the Czech Republic initially cited scheduling conflicts for their absence, they have since reversed their stance to declare a formal boycott.
However, not all absences are politically motivated.
Great Britain and Canada will miss the ceremony due to logistical challenges rather than protest.
Their athletes are scheduled to compete in Alpine skiing the following day in Cortina, which is approximately 250km away from the ceremony venue in Verona.
Organisers promise visibility
Despite the boycotts, the IPC remains committed to ensuring all qualified participants receive recognition during the broadcast.
Craig Spence, the IPC’s chief brand and communications officer, addressed the situation regarding the protesting nations.
“The IPC is not aware of any other nations choosing not to participate or to boycott the ceremony.”
Craig Spence, IPC Chief Brand and Communications Officer
Spence confirmed that organisers would film content featuring athletes who do not attend in person to ensure they have strong visibility.
The Games are expected to feature a record turnout, with more than 600 athletes from over 50 countries awaiting final confirmation.
England leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed made a sensational start to his campaign by dismissing Rachin Ravindra with his very first delivery at a T20 World Cup.
The Leicestershire youngster was introduced into the attack and made an immediate breakthrough against the Black Caps.
Immediate impact
It was a dream introduction for the spinner as he began his spell on the global stage.
Ravindra fell victim to the talented bowler’s very first legal delivery in the competition.
The wicket provided a significant lift for Jos Buttler’s side during the encounter.
History made
Ahmed’s instant success places him in a select group of bowlers to strike immediately upon their tournament debut.
His ability to deliver under pressure validates the management’s faith in his selection for the squad.
England captain Jos Buttler’s struggles at the T20 World Cup have deepened after he was dismissed for a two-ball duck against New Zealand.
The wicketkeeper-batter was caught behind early in the Super 8s clash, extending a worrying sequence of low scores for the defending champions.
It marks the fifth consecutive innings in which the 33-year-old has failed to reach double figures with the bat.
A captain under pressure
Buttler looked on in disbelief as he edged the delivery, with his dismissal leaving England in a precarious position early in the innings.
Commentators described the current run of form as "miserable" as the white-ball skipper walked back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers.
The dismissal against the Black Caps adds further scrutiny surrounding his output at the top of the order during a crucial stage of the tournament.
Super 8s significance
England are looking to secure a vital victory to boost their hopes of reaching the semi-finals in the Caribbean.
However, the lack of runs from their experienced leader remains a significant concern for the management team.
Buttler will be hoping to turn his fortunes around quickly if England are to retain their global crown.
Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has told fans to expect a major announcement “very soon” following a turbulent week of news in the sport.
The Ukrainian took to social media on Friday to promise an update, fueling intense speculation regarding his next move inside the ring.
“Very soon, everyone will learn what they’ve been waiting for… Don’t miss it,” Usyk wrote on X.
Earlier in the week, the unbeaten 39-year-old had posted a similarly cryptic message, stating he was “getting ready for something big”.
Rumours of Zuffa deal dismissed
This tease comes shortly after Usyk’s camp moved to quash rumours linking him with Zuffa Boxing.
Speculation had intensified after Conor Benn left Eddie Hearn to join Dana White’s new venture, but Sergey Lapin, Usyk’s team director, firmly rejected reports of a similar switch.
“Friends, there are reports circulating in the media, claiming that Oleksandr Usyk has allegedly signed a contract with Zuffa Boxing,” Lapin stated.
“This information is not true. We ask that you rely exclusively on official statements from our team.”
A seismic week for boxing
Usyk’s comments arrive during a period of significant upheaval and headline-grabbing stories within the boxing world.
Alongside Benn’s promotional shift, Frank Warren has reportedly launched a substantial lawsuit regarding lost income against Zuffa’s owners.
Furthermore, a rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao has been confirmed, more than a decade after their record-breaking initial encounter.
Usyk’s recent dominance
The former cruiserweight king has been out of action since July, when he stopped Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
That victory cemented his status as a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
Usyk subsequently vacated his WBO title in November, allowing Fabio Wardley to be elevated from interim holder to full champion.
Wardley is now scheduled to defend that belt against Dubois in Manchester on 9 May.
Traditional promotion and relegation within the Premiership will be scrapped from the start of the 2026-27 season following a vote on landmark changes to the structure of English rugby.
The current system, which offers the second-tier Championship winner a route to the elite level via a play-off provided they meet minimum standards, is to be dismantled.
Instead, ambitious clubs hoping to join the top flight will submit applications to be judged on a specific range of criteria.
Expansion plans and criteria
Bids from potential new entrants will be assessed based on their standard of play, financial health, and investment potential.
Infrastructure and the ability of a club’s geographical location to broaden the competition’s appeal will also be key factors in the selection process.
English rugby’s top tier currently operates with 10 teams but aims to expand to 12 sides for the 2029-30 campaign.
‘Proof will be in delivery’
The decision moves the domestic game closer to a franchise model, prioritizing economic viability over purely sporting merit.
Mike McTighe, chair of the Men’s Professional Rugby Board, insists the old structure failed to provide necessary security.
“It’s long been clear that the previous system was not delivering the financial sustainability or long-term confidence the professional game needs.”
Mike McTighe, Chair of the Men’s Professional Rugby Board
McTighe acknowledged that the move to effectively ring-fence the league would likely face questions regarding sporting integrity.
“We know there will be scrutiny, and rightly so. The proof will be in delivery: in improved stability, in renewed investor confidence, in tangible benefits to the women’s game and in sustained support for community rugby.”