The International Olympic Committee has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee on Tuesday and advised sports bodies to end neutral status vetting ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
This major policy shift eases entry requirements for athletes from the country aiming to qualify for the upcoming summer showcase.
The national Olympic body had been suspended since October 2023 after incorporating regional sports councils from occupied territories in Ukraine.
Terms of suspension no longer applicable
Officials in Lausanne determined that the specific conditions leading to the initial ban no longer apply.
Consequently, the three-year vetting programme designed to ensure competitors participated as strict neutrals will be discontinued for qualifying events.
However, approval has not yet been granted for these athletes to compete alongside their national flag and anthem.
Decisions on national symbols remain pending
“That decision will come at an appropriate time,” the Olympic governing body stated.
Attention will now turn to the imminent qualification pathways for various international sporting federations.
The next major competition on the global calendar is the 2026 Youth Summer Games, which open in Dakar, Senegal, on 31 October.
Elise Mertens has reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final in six years as a series of major upsets leaves the Wimbledon women’s draw wide open.
The 30-year-old defeated Marie Bouzkova in straight sets to secure her place in the last eight at the All England Club.
Her progression follows a stunning third-round victory over second seed and former champion Elena Rybakina.
The Belgian veteran had previously reached the fourth round on three occasions but had never advanced further on the London grass.
A tournament of major shocks
This year’s championships will crown a first-time winner for the ninth consecutive tournament following a wave of unexpected early exits.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek was stunned by Alexandra Eala, while six-time winner Serena Williams fell in the opening round of her wildcard return.
Recent victors have also vanished from the bracket, with Barbora Krejcikova losing on Sunday and 2023 winner Marketa Vondrousova currently serving a suspension.
The absence of heavyweights like Aryna Sabalenka and Mirra Andreeva has created a rare opportunity for the remaining contenders.
Wide-open bottom half
The bottom half of the draw guarantees a surprise finalist, featuring Mertens alongside Jasmine Paolini, Linda Noskova and Marta Kostyuk.
Italian world number 13 Paolini is the only player in that section with previous experience in a Wimbledon showpiece.
Noskova and Kostyuk are both bidding to reach their maiden Grand Slam final.
The top half of the draw remains packed with proven pedigree, featuring multiple-time major champions Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff alongside Jessica Pegula and Karolina Muchova.
Embracing a final opportunity
The former Australian Open semi-finalist acknowledged that her advancing age made this breakthrough particularly special.
“I was thinking maybe this is my chance, who knows, maybe my last chance.”
“I’m over 30 now. To eventually get it done, to make a quarter-finals, is something amazing.”
“I think I really had to believe in myself to do it today.”
The seasoned competitor will now prepare for Wednesday’s matches aiming to extend her remarkable run on the grass.
Newcastle United defender Dan Burn produced a heroic substitute performance to help a 10-man England secure a dramatic 3-2 World Cup victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.
The colossal 6ft 7in centre-back was introduced in the 75th minute by manager Thomas Tuchel to repel a relentless barrage of Mexican attacks.
His commanding presence proved vital in preserving the slender advantage for the Three Lions on the biggest stage of all.
From supermarket aisles to international stardom
The Ashington-born defender has taken a highly unconventional route to the pinnacle of international football.
Released from Newcastle’s youth system at the age of 11, the Blyth-raised youngster found himself working as a shelf-stacker at his local Asda while struggling to secure a regular place in amateur football.
He previously revealed that his experiences earning minimum wage helped drive his desire to succeed in the professional game.
I stacked shelves, did the freezer work, the bread and all that. I think it helped, because when I moved into football, I knew I never wanted to do that again.
Dan Burn
Climbing the football pyramid
A successful trial at Darlington in 2009 provided the towering defender with his first professional contract on just £55 a week.
He subsequently climbed through the English football pyramid with steady loan spells at Fulham, Yeovil Town and Birmingham City.
After excelling during a permanent stint at Brighton, the former trolley pusher secured an emotional return to his boyhood club Newcastle in 2022.
He became an integral part of the Magpies squad, famously helping them end a 70-year domestic trophy drought following EFL Cup success last year.
An unexpected World Cup call-up
Tuchel’s decision to include the veteran defender in his tournament squad was initially viewed as a surprise selection.
However, that faith has now been spectacularly rewarded following his monumental defensive display in North America.
The late cameo ensures his remarkable career trajectory will be remembered as one of modern football’s greatest underdog stories.
Norway have been hit by a camp-wide sickness bug ahead of Saturday’s 2026 World Cup quarter-final against England in Miami.
Manager Stale Solbakken confirmed that flu-like symptoms have circulated among his squad during the knockout stages of the tournament.
The Norwegian boss believes the relentless demands of playing and travelling between host cities has directly contributed to the viral outbreak.
“We’ve had a few players who haven’t been feeling well, but things are getting better,” Solbakken said.
“It’s not ideal during a tournament, but we’re managing the situation.”
Key absences and historic progress
The Scandinavian side have already felt the damaging impact of this illness during earlier stages of the global competition.
Striker Jorgen Strand Larsen missed their opening match after falling ill, while defender Marcus Holmgren Pedersen was completely unavailable for the stunning last-16 victory over Brazil.
Solbakken himself has also appeared visibly under the weather during his most recent media appearances.
Despite these continuous disruptions, the Norwegians have vastly exceeded expectations by reaching the last eight of the World Cup for the very first time.
A spectacular brace from Manchester City forward Erling Haaland secured a famous 2-1 win against the South American heavyweights, setting up this weekend’s highly anticipated showdown.
Tuchel’s England facing injury crisis
The Three Lions are dealing with their own severe selection headaches after edging past Mexico 3-2 in a dramatic knockout encounter.
Manager Thomas Tuchel will be forced into defensive changes as Jarell Quansah must serve a mandatory suspension following his red card.
Experienced midfielder Jordan Henderson is heavily expected to miss the remainder of the campaign after sustaining a suspected broken wrist.
Furthermore, national team medical staff are closely assessing full-back Reece James after he suffered another frustrating hamstring injury.
Semi-final permutations
England are aiming to reach the semi-finals of international football’s premier competition for the first time since their memorable run in 2018.
Whoever triumphs in Miami will advance to face either Argentina, Egypt, Switzerland or Colombia for a coveted place in the final.
Six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry has retired from basketball after signing a ceremonial one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday to end his 20-year NBA career.
The 40-year-old announced his decision on social media, fulfilling a long-held promise to bow out as a member of the Canadian franchise.
Choosing July 7 to confirm the news served as a deliberate nod to the iconic number seven jersey he wore during his transformative nine-year stint up north.
The veteran point guard leaves the sport as one of only 12 players in NBA history to complete two decades in the elite league.
A Canadian basketball icon
Revered by fans as the ‘Greatest Raptor of All-Time’, the Philadelphia native was instrumental in securing the team’s first and only NBA Championship in 2019.
All six of his All-Star appearances came during his prolific tenure in Toronto, cementing his undeniable status as a franchise legend.
“This was home,” the former Villanova standout said in his farewell video. “Home is a feeling. It’s a comfort. It’s a place that you continue wanting to be there.”
He further thanked his family, teammates, and Canadian supporters for embracing him throughout a career that consistently defied early expectations.
An elite statistical legacy
Drafted 24th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2006, the tenacious playmaker also enjoyed successful spells with the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, and his hometown Philadelphia 76ers.
He concludes his professional journey with formidable career averages of 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists across 1,187 regular-season appearances.
Furthermore, the 2016 Olympic gold medallist ranks 14th on the NBA’s all-time list for three-pointers, having connected from beyond the arc 2,209 times.
Alongside Chris Paul, he is currently one of just two point guards to reach the 20-season milestone in the Association, standing as a testament to his remarkable durability and elite basketball intelligence.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell agreed a new four-year, $273m maximum contract extension with the NBA franchise on Tuesday.
The lucrative deal, negotiated by his representatives at CAA, includes a player option for the 2030-31 season and a full trade kicker.
By committing now, the 29-year-old replaces his previous 2027 player option and secures his long-term future in Ohio.
‘Unfinished business’ in Cleveland
The former Utah Jazz standout could have waited until next summer to sign a five-year deal worth $353m.
However, he opted to sign on the first day of eligibility to demonstrate his loyalty and commitment to the city.
The seven-time NBA All-Star recently guided his team to the Eastern Conference finals, where they suffered a sweep at the hands of the New York Knicks.
“I’m sorry for the city of Cleveland,” he told reporters following the series defeat.
“For it to be like this and the sweep… but I told y’all last year, and I’ll say again, we’ll be back.
“We’ll be ready. We’ll be hungry. And we’ll be locked in.”
LeBron James reunion on the horizon?
Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and president of basketball operations Koby Altman moved swiftly to finalise the agreement.
The franchise cornerstone is heavily involved in ongoing discussions to improve the team’s roster ahead of the new campaign.
Reports suggest the guard would welcome a reunion with LeBron James, should the NBA’s all-time leading scorer choose to return to his home state.
Cleveland face stiff competition for James’ signature, with Miami, Golden State, Philadelphia and Minnesota all reportedly interested.
A transformative impact
Since arriving from Utah in 2022, the dynamic scorer has completely transformed the organisation’s fortunes.
He has averaged 26.7 points, 5.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game during his impressive tenure.
This stellar form has propelled the team to the play-offs in four consecutive seasons, ending a bleak four-year postseason drought.
With three All-NBA selections now under his belt, the franchise’s talisman is cementing his legacy as one of the league’s elite talents.
Oscar Piastri is considering activating a release clause to terminate his McLaren contract ahead of the Formula 1 summer break following growing frustrations with the team.
The Australian driver’s current deal with the Woking outfit runs until 2028.
However, a performance-based exit clause reportedly allows him to leave if he sits outside the top five in the drivers’ championship by the summer break.
The 24-year-old currently occupies sixth place with just two races remaining before the mid-season shutdown.
Reports in the motorsport media state the driver is weighing up “activating his release clause and terminating his contract” to secure an immediate exit.
Fractured relationships and team orders
Tensions have been mounting within the McLaren camp over the application of their internal ‘papaya rules’.
These guidelines are designed to ensure clean racing between teammates, but they have controversially been used to order Piastri to yield to Lando Norris.
The situation was exacerbated at the end of the 2025 season when the Melbourne-born racer lost out on the championship to his British counterpart.
Furthermore, a failure to maintain their previous pace this year has exposed internal friction between the team’s leadership and Piastri’s manager, Mark Webber.
Could Verstappen replace Piastri?
A departure for Piastri could trigger a seismic driver swap, paving the way for Max Verstappen to join McLaren.
The Dutch world champion has cut an equally frustrated figure at Red Bull while openly criticising their RB22 car.
Like his McLaren counterpart, the Red Bull star possesses a similar performance clause that permits a mid-season departure.
Verstappen is already eligible to activate his own exit option after failing to secure a top-two championship position ahead of the impending break.
Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz is missing this year’s Wimbledon tournament to rehabilitate a wrist injury in his secluded Spanish hometown of Murcia.
The world number two has maintained a low profile since confirming his withdrawal from the prestigious grass-court event in May.
Instead of the hectic environment of the ATP Tour, the Spanish star has found sanctuary in the quiet village of El Palmar.
This peaceful retreat allows the multiple major winner to focus entirely on his physical recovery away from the sporting spotlight.
Finding peace away from the ATP Tour
El Palmar offers a stark contrast to the grueling international tennis circuit, boasting serene streets, vegetable patches, and historic olive groves.
The region is renowned for its landmarks, including the Church of the Immaculate Conception and the breathtaking vistas of the Sierra de El Puerto.
“Murcia is greatly underrated. We’ve got beaches, mountains, a lovely climate and great food,” he explained on the Iguales podcast.
It is understood that the young talent enjoys tranquil walks through the Jardín de los Chorletes, where Mediterranean flora aids his relaxation.
Building a legacy in native Spain
The reigning Wimbledon titleholder is not just resting in his homeland but actively investing in its future through the Carlos Alcaraz Tennis City facility.
This elite training complex is designed to transform the region into an international hub for tennis development while nurturing the next generation of athletes.
“To put Murcia on the map, because I love my city and my home, and that’s what we’re trying to convey,” he stated regarding his local ambitions.
Wrist injury halts summer schedule
Prior to his Wimbledon absence, the powerful right-hander was forced to withdraw from both the Barcelona Open and the French Open.
The ongoing wrist issue has left supporters disappointed during a crucial phase of the European grass-court calendar.
“My recovery is going well, and I’m feeling much better, but unfortunately, I’m still not ready to compete, which is why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen’s and Wimbledon,” he wrote in a recent social media update.