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.
Duke forward Cameron Boozer has been named a unanimous selection to the Associated Press All-America first team, headlining a historic group of college basketball freshmen.
The highly-touted first-year player joins BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. in a prestigious line-up dominated by new arrivals to the collegiate game.
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg and Texas Tech’s injured forward JT Toppin complete the five-member roster chosen by a 61-voter panel.
Freshmen live up to the hype
Boozer secured a first-place vote on every single ballot, replicating the achievement of former Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg last season.
The dominant 19-year-old guided his side to both the ACC regular-season and tournament titles, securing the top overall seed for the upcoming NCAA tournament.
“He’s not about numbers, he’s about winning,” said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer.
“I think when your best player’s that way, it becomes contagious, and it has a big effect on the rest of the group.”
Historic selections across the board
Dybantsa earned his spot after establishing himself as the nation’s top scorer with an impressive 25.3 points per game.
The prolific BYU guard joins former NBA players Jimmer Fredette and Danny Ainge as the only first-team selections in the history of the Cougars.
Meanwhile, Acuff ends a decades-long drought for Arkansas, becoming their first top-tier All-American since Sidney Moncrief in 1979.
Lendeborg also achieved a notable milestone, securing Michigan’s first selection since point guard Trey Burke during the 2012-13 campaign.
Toppin honoured despite season-ending injury
Toppin made Texas Tech history as the programme’s inaugural first-team pick, despite suffering a torn ACL in his right knee last month.
The resilient forward was previously a second-team selection last year after helping the Red Raiders reach the Elite Eight.
“JT Toppin is genuine, he’s an unbelievable competitor,” said Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland.
All five selected players successfully guided their respective programmes into this year’s NCAA tournament bracket.
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has dismissed suggestions that the club’s players have stopped caring amid their Premier League relegation battle as “the biggest nonsense”.
The Dutch centre-back was suspended for Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Liverpool, a result which leaves the North London side just one point above the relegation zone.
That hard-fought stalemate at Anfield earned newly appointed head coach Igor Tudor his first point in charge.
‘We care so much about the situation’
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Atletico Madrid, the 24-year-old expressed deep frustration at the recent media narrative.
“Reporters just say things sometimes and it’s like ‘how did you come up with this?'” Van de Ven stated.
“They say players are going to leave either way, but it’s just nonsense and it’s only a problem when people start believing it.”
The Netherlands international warned that fabricated rumours create unnecessary friction with the fanbase.
“It brings so much more trouble because fans are starting to believe this,” he added.
“All the people involved care so much about the situation we’re in, and that’s the most important thing right now.”
European distraction and domestic survival
Spurs face a monumental task in Europe as they attempt to overturn a 5-2 first-leg deficit against the Spanish giants.
However, domestic survival remains the ultimate priority for a squad desperately searching for form.
“I just want to stay fit and turn things around,” the defender insisted.
“I know the last games haven’t been my best, but the most important thing is that I give 100 per cent to this club.”
Manager Igor Tudor echoed his player’s sentiments, insisting the squad is fully committed as he searches for his first victory.
Tottenham will face a crucial bottom-of-the-table Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest this weekend following their European commitments.
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has admitted their 2026 Formula 1 car possesses “significant shortcomings” following a disastrous Chinese Grand Prix for Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar.
The Milton Keynes-based squad have endured a nightmare start to the sport’s new era of technical regulations.
Operating as an independent power unit manufacturer for the first time, they have accumulated just 12 points across the opening two race weekends in Australia and Shanghai.
That meagre tally represents the team’s lowest points return to start a campaign since 2015.
Reliability woes plague new engine era
Engine-related reliability issues have hampered both drivers in the early stages of the season.
Hadjar was forced out of the season-opener in Melbourne, while reigning world champion Verstappen suffered a coolant fault that ended his race in China.
“We knew that just getting onto the grid in Melbourne with our own PU was a major achievement in itself and it would have been naive not to expect we would encounter reliability issues.”
Mekies acknowledged that the problems extend far beyond just keeping the engine running.
“We had to retire Max because of a coolant fault. However, this was not our only issue as overall, performance-wise, our package showed some significant shortcomings.”
Despite the severe setbacks, the team principal remains optimistic that data gathered over recent weeks will make them more competitive at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.
Verstappen frustrated by handling struggles
Verstappen has not hidden his frustration regarding the drivability of the newly designed RB21 machinery.
The Dutch driver failed to score any points in either the Sprint or the main race at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Compromised by poor starts from eighth on the grid, he described the car as incredibly tough to drive and complained that every lap felt like a fight.
“A big problem for us is tyre degradation. We are graining a lot, probably more than the people around us. So that’s one thing we need to solve.”
The multi-time title winner highlighted that sweeping regulation changes have caused chaos up and down the pit lane.
“Then getting on top of our problems. But that’s not easy. You can see that all over the grid. Some cars are not even starting. It’s all very complicated.”
While acknowledging the immense effort from his garage, the lead driver conceded the current situation is deeply painful as they are not where they want to be.
Fifa has partnered with YouTube in a major broadcasting agreement to stream live action from the 2026 World Cup, aiming to engage younger global audiences.
Rights-holding broadcasters will be permitted to show the opening 10 minutes of tournament fixtures on the video platform.
The digital strategy is designed to serve as an appetiser that directs young fans towards traditional television channels.
Select matches will also be broadcast in their entirety online by these official rights holders.
“They will be able to stream a select number of matches in full on their YouTube channel, engaging global audiences and promoting where to watch more of the competition.” Fifa
Historical archives and creator access
Financial details surrounding the partnership with the international governing body remain undisclosed.
The organisation has committed to sharing extensive historical footage from its vast archives.
This content will feature full-length classic encounters alongside iconic moments from previous tournaments.
A global group of digital content creators will also receive unprecedented access throughout the expanded 104-game event.
The American video-sharing service previously acted as a lower-tier sponsor during the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Tuchel’s side prepare for North America
The upcoming competition, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, runs from 11 June to 19 July.
This streaming deal ensures that portions of matches featuring the Three Lions will be freely accessible to fans online.
Thomas Tuchel’s squad are looking to end a six-decade wait for senior men’s international silverware.
They begin their Group L campaign against Croatia on 17 June.
Subsequent group-stage fixtures against Ghana and Panama will follow on 23 June and 27 June respectively.
The national team previously reached the quarter-finals in Qatar before suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat to France.
Captain Sam Kerr scored a decisive late winner as Australia defeated China 2-1 in Sydney to secure their place in the Women’s Asian Cup final.
The Chelsea striker fired home from a tight angle in front of a passionate 35,170 crowd to seal victory for her nation.
Caitlin Foord had earlier put the hosts ahead with a powerful first-time strike, before Zhang Linyan levelled the tie from the penalty spot.
A historic quest for the Matildas
The host nation will now face either tournament favourites Japan or South Korea in Saturday’s showpiece event as they target a second continental crown.
Kerr remains the sole surviving member of the squad that famously lifted the trophy in 2010.
The 32-year-old was just a teenager when she scored her second international goal in that historic final triumph over North Korea.
“I can’t really gather my emotions right now. We’ve taken the long road to be here and it just feels so good to be in the final.”
Sam Kerr
“These girls are like family to me so it would be a dream come true to win it.”
Premier League pedigree shines through
Australia showcased their top-flight European quality during a dominant opening spell.
A sweeping passing move involving Ellie Carpenter and Mary Fowler allowed the Manchester City forward to perfectly set up Foord for the opening goal.
Despite the positive result, Matildas head coach Joe Montemurro demanded a higher standard from his players.
“The second half was better, but the first half was disappointing. We scored a very good goal and I thought we were starting to find our rhythm, and then we just backed off.”
Joe Montemurro
“We just need to play higher, we need to be braver – but we got the result we wanted.”
Double joy following World Cup qualification
This hard-fought semi-final victory caps a momentous week for the Australian side.
The Matildas had already made history days earlier by becoming the first country to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Their continued success in the Asian Cup does create logistical headaches for several major English clubs.
Exactly half of the 26-player national squad currently ply their trade in the Women’s Super League.
Crucial upcoming domestic fixtures, including a high-stakes Champions League quarter-final between Arsenal and Chelsea, could now be severely impacted by player availability and travel fatigue.
Trent Alexander-Arnold could become the undisputed right-back at Real Madrid, with the Spanish club reportedly planning a major summer overhaul that includes the departure of rival Dani Carvajal.
The England international has endured a challenging start to life in the Spanish capital following his £10m switch from Liverpool last summer.
Two separate injuries have significantly curtailed his playing time at the Bernabeu.
The 27-year-old has also faced media scrutiny regarding his defensive capabilities during his sporadic appearances.
Veteran right-back among potential departures
According to German outlet Bild, the Champions League holders are preparing to offload as many as six first-team players during the upcoming transfer window.
Legendary full-back Carvajal is believed to be the most prominent name on the chopping block.
The 34-year-old Spaniard was preferred ahead of his English counterpart for the weekend’s domestic La Liga fixture against Elche.
Removing the veteran defender would clear a path for the former Anfield favourite to secure a permanent starting berth.
A consistent run of starts is viewed as the key to helping him rediscover the world-class form that earned him the transfer.
High-profile names face uncertain futures
Carvajal is not the only established star reportedly facing the exit door in Madrid.
Defenders David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia have all been linked with summer moves.
French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga completes the reported list of potential departures.
Focus shifts to European duties
Despite the swirling transfer rumours, the immediate focus for the Spanish titans remains firmly on their European campaign.
They travel to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening to face Manchester City in the second leg of their round-of-16 tie.
The visitors hold a commanding 3-0 aggregate advantage following Federico Valverde’s first-half hat-trick in the opening encounter.
Alexander-Arnold started that initial fixture before being replaced by Carvajal in the closing stages.
Six-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea will return to competitive racing with Honda in Portimao this March, just seven months after announcing his retirement.
The 39-year-old steps in to replace the injured Jake Dixon, who is currently recovering from wrist surgery.
He originally walked away from full-time racing at the conclusion of the 2025 season following a stint with Yamaha.
However, the motorsport legend rejoined Honda last November to serve as a test rider for their upcoming 2026 campaign.
A fitting circuit for a comeback
The scheduled Portuguese round holds special significance, as it was the exact venue where the veteran made his championship debut back in 2008.
He returns to the manufacturer that helped launch his career, having previously amassed 15 race victories and 42 podiums for Honda between 2007 and 2014.
Following that initial chapter, the iconic rider cemented his legacy by winning six successive world titles with Kawasaki from 2015 to 2020.
Record-breaking pedigree
The returning test rider brings unmatched experience to the grid, holding the all-time championship records for race starts, victories, and podium finishes.
His staggering career statistics include 470 starts, 119 race wins, and 264 podiums across nearly two decades of elite competition.
Dixon is fully expected to reclaim his factory seat once his rehabilitation is complete, making this a temporary but highly anticipated cameo.
Track action for the Portimao round of the championship is officially scheduled to take place between 28 and 29 March.