Olympic swimmer Ben Proud has joined a new event called the Enhanced Games, where athletes can use banned performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision. The event offers high prize money, and Proud expressed that earning from traditional sports doesn't provide enough financial stability. The Enhanced Games has faced criticism for potentially risking athletes' health and fairness in sports.
Key Facts
Ben Proud is an Olympic swimmer who joined the Enhanced Games.
The Enhanced Games allow athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs legally under medical guidance.
Prize money at the Enhanced Games is much higher than some traditional competitions.
Proud stated it would take 13 years of winning World Championships to earn the same as winning one race at the Enhanced Games.
The Enhanced Games offers athletes an appearance fee and up to $1 million for breaking a world record.
The Enhanced Games faces criticism from governing bodies, including the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The inaugural Enhanced Games event is scheduled for May 2026 in Las Vegas.
Proud emphasized he is not required to take drugs and will rely on medical advice if necessary.
Venezuela's national football team coach, Fernando Batista, was fired after the team lost a World Cup qualifying match against Colombia. The decision came after Venezuela's president called for changes following the team's failure to qualify for the World Cup. Batista and his entire coaching staff were dismissed as a result.
Key Facts
Venezuela's football coach, Fernando Batista, was fired after a World Cup qualifying loss.
The team's qualifications hopes ended after losing 6-3 to Colombia.
Venezuela has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup.
President Nicolas Maduro requested changes to the coaching staff after the loss.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will expand from 32 to 48 teams, raising hopes for more teams to qualify.
Bolivia, not Venezuela, secured a spot in the intercontinental playoffs.
Another team, Peru, also fired their coach after failing to qualify for the World Cup.
Two British tennis players, Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic, both 16 years old, are ready to move from junior to senior professional tennis after notable achievements in junior tournaments. Klugman has achieved high junior rankings, while Stojsavljevic has won a junior Grand Slam and recently competed in professional matches. Both athletes express their readiness to compete at higher levels.
Key Facts
Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic are 16-year-old tennis players from Britain.
Klugman reached the finals of the French Open and the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in junior competitions.
Stojsavljevic won a junior Grand Slam and competed well in a professional WTA match, taking a top-60 player to a tie-break.
Both players debuted in the professional circuit at age 14.
Klugman can still compete in junior tournaments but feels ready for senior competitions.
Stojsavljevic won a $35,000 tournament on the ITF World Tennis Tour and is coached by Jeremy Bates.
Klugman has been coached by Ben Haran and works with a fitness trainer and physiotherapist.
The WTA's age rules limit competition for 16-year-olds, allowing only 12 professional tournaments per year.
Former Leicester City player Jamie Vardy has joined the Italian football team Cremonese at 38 years old. He signed on a free transfer and is set to debut against Verona. Vardy aims to keep playing as long as he feels physically capable.
Key Facts
Jamie Vardy is a former striker for Leicester City.
Vardy played for Leicester for 13 years, scoring 200 goals in 500 games.
He was part of Leicester's Premier League-winning team in the 2015-16 season.
Vardy joined Cremonese, a team newly promoted to Serie A, on a free transfer.
Cremonese will play against Verona, and Vardy might make his debut in that match.
Vardy believes age does not impact his ability to play well.
He plans to learn Italian but feels that football itself has a universal language.
Cremonese started their season by beating AC Milan 2-1 and Sassuolo 3-2.
Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson says she has improved since last year as she gets ready for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. She shared this update with Jessica Ennis-Hill in an interview on BBC Sport.
Key Facts
Keely Hodgkinson is an Olympic 800m champion.
She believes she is better than she was last year.
Hodgkinson is preparing for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
She shared her thoughts in an interview with Jessica Ennis-Hill.
The interview is available on BBC iPlayer for UK users.
The content was published recently, 4 minutes ago.
Former Liverpool football player Andre Wisdom was stabbed in 2020 during a robbery after attending a house party in Liverpool. Despite recovering from the attack, which involved multiple stab wounds, Wisdom's football career changed direction. He now plays for a lower-league team, but still experiences physical pain from the incident.
Key Facts
Andre Wisdom is a former Liverpool football player.
He was stabbed in 2020 by masked men who stole his watch.
The attack happened after a house party in Liverpool.
Wisdom had surgery and recovered, but his career was affected.
He played for Derby County and was released in 2021.
In 2023, he signed with non-league Warrington Town and later played for Derry City.
Wisdom currently plays for FC United of Manchester in the seventh tier of English football.
Wisdom still feels physical pain from the stabbing.
Everton has undergone a major turnaround, spending a record £97 million to recruit nine new players. The club, once close to relegation, is now fifth in the Premier League and has moved to a new stadium. Their financial health has improved thanks to profits from player sales and a takeover by the Friedkin Group.
Key Facts
David Moyes returned as Everton's manager in January when the team was near relegation.
Everton bought nine players this summer, spending £97 million.
The club avoided relegation by 23 points and is now fifth in the Premier League.
Previously penalized for breaching financial rules, the club has changed its spending strategies.
The takeover by the Friedkin Group has stabilized Everton's finances.
Everton moved to Hill Dickinson Stadium, which holds over 52,000 people.
The club made £86 million from player sales between 2021 and 2025.
Everton plans to generate more income through the new stadium's expanded capacity and facilities.
Medals from the 2025 Great North Run mistakenly featured an image of the wrong location and are being sold online as rare collectibles for high prices. The Great Run Company apologized for the mistake and warned potential buyers about scams. They encouraged people who want a medal to participate in the 2026 race.
Key Facts
The 2025 Great North Run medals showed an outline of Sunderland and the River Wear instead of the correct Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields, and River Tyne route.
Some medals are listed for sale online for as much as £5,000, with other prices as low as £35.
The Great North Run organizers apologized for the error and emphasized that each medal should be a meaningful memento for participants.
The organization warned people to be cautious of potential scams when buying the medals online.
People interested in obtaining a Great North Run medal are encouraged to apply for the 2026 event, which is open for applications.
The Great Run Company promises future medals will have special designs.
The error was notably not noticed by the event’s founder, Sir Brendan Foster, who admired the designs.
The Great North Run has been held annually since 1981, drawing thousands of participants each year.
Keely Hodgkinson, an Olympic 800m champion, went through a challenging year with two severe hamstring injuries but made a strong comeback in August. She aims to achieve her first World Championship gold at the upcoming event in Tokyo, despite setbacks that previously affected her competitive season.
Key Facts
Keely Hodgkinson is a 23-year-old Olympic 800m champion.
She suffered two hamstring tears in a year, delaying her return after winning at Paris 2024.
Her first injury was a left hamstring tear before an indoor world record attempt in February.
A second, more severe tear in May almost jeopardized her World Championships hopes.
She returned competitively in August, running the year's fastest 800m in 1:54.74.
Hodgkinson aims for a World Championship gold at the Tokyo event.
Her coaching team played a crucial role in her recovery and motivation.
Hodgkinson acknowledges the past year's difficulties but values the lessons learned.
India and Pakistan will face off in a cricket match during the T20 Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai. Although India holds the official hosting rights, the match takes place in the UAE due to tensions between the countries. India recently defeated the UAE in the tournament, while Pakistan comes off a series win against Afghanistan and the UAE.
Key Facts
The India vs Pakistan match is scheduled for Sunday at 6:30 pm local time in Dubai, UAE.
India could not host the match at home due to conflicts with Pakistan, so it's held in a neutral location.
The Indian government does not allow Indian athletes to play bilateral tournaments in Pakistan.
India defeated the UAE in their first Asia Cup match, winning by nine wickets.
Pakistan recently won a tri-nation series against Afghanistan and the UAE.
The weather forecast for the match is hot and humid, with temperatures around 41°C during the day.
Historically, India has beaten Pakistan 10 times in Asia Cup matches, while Pakistan has won 6 times.
Pakistan last won against India in an Asia Cup match in 2022, with Mohammad Rizwan as the top scorer.
The T20 cricket match between England and South Africa in Cardiff was shortened due to rain, leading to a reduced game. England captain Harry Brook described the night as chaotic and noted the challenges of a shortened match. South Africa won by scoring 97-5, setting a target England could not reach in their five allotted overs.
Key Facts
The match in Cardiff between England and South Africa was shortened because of rain.
The game started late and was reduced to nine overs per side.
South Africa scored 97 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in their 7.5 overs.
Rain further reduced England's playing time to five overs, with a target of 69 runs.
England finished with 54 runs for 5 wickets, losing the match.
Harry Brook, England's captain, called the rain-shortened match chaotic.
A change in the playing team saw Jofra Archer replaced by Luke Wood, who took 2 wickets for 22 runs.
The series will continue at Old Trafford, with uncertain weather expected.
England lost to South Africa by 14 runs in a cricket match played in Cardiff. The game was shortened to nine overs per team because of rain, and South Africa scored 97-5. England needed 69 runs from five overs but reached only 54-5.
Key Facts
The cricket match between England and South Africa was affected by rain.
Each team played only nine overs due to delays.
South Africa scored 97 runs with the loss of 5 wickets in 7.5 overs.
England's revised target was 69 runs in five overs.
England ended their innings at 54-5, losing by 14 runs.
South African players Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen each took two wickets.
Jos Buttler from England scored 25 runs from 11 balls, hitting three sixes.
The players are set for the next match in the series at Old Trafford on Friday, with more rain expected.
A fan using crutches caught a cricket ball in the crowd during the first T20 match between England and South Africa at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Fans were enjoying the match despite reduced overs.
Key Facts
A fan with crutches caught a cricket ball in the crowd.
The event took place during a T20 cricket match.
The match was between England and South Africa.
The match was held at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
The game had reduced overs, meaning they played fewer sets.
Fans were still enjoying the match despite the changes.
A school in Dundee bought 45 tickets for a Champions League game between Newcastle United and Barcelona. The high demand for tickets caused frustration among local Newcastle fans who find it hard to get tickets themselves, even with club memberships.
Key Facts
A school in Dundee bought 45 tickets for a Newcastle United vs. Barcelona game.
Over 110,000 people tried to buy tickets online for this game.
The tickets were bought through an "approved provider" as part of a group package.
Local Newcastle fans are frustrated because they struggle to get tickets.
The Newcastle Supporters' Trust expressed concern over ticket availability.
Buying tickets through group packages is common in sports.
Newcastle United season ticket holders can guarantee their tickets by joining a cup scheme.
The club is considering expanding their stadium due to high ticket demand.
India won their opening match of the Asia Cup, beating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by nine wickets. Kuldeep Yadav took four wickets, helping India bowl out UAE for 57 runs. India chased the target in just 4.3 overs with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill leading the batting.
Key Facts
Kuldeep Yadav took 4 wickets for just 7 runs in the match.
UAE scored only 57 runs in 13.1 overs after India elected to bowl first.
Abhishek Sharma scored 30 runs off 16 balls for India.
Shubman Gill remained not out with 20 runs to finish the match.
India defeated UAE by nine wickets in the Asia Cup opener.
Shivam Dube also took 3 wickets for India.
The match was a T20 game played in Dubai.
This tournament is preparation for next year’s T20 World Cup.
Tyrrell Hatton, an English golfer, talked about his wild celebration after making Europe's Ryder Cup team, which included a night of heavy drinking. Despite thinking he might not qualify, Hatton secured his spot on the team playing against the United States. The Ryder Cup will take place from September 26-28 in New York.
Key Facts
Tyrrell Hatton celebrated qualifying for Europe's Ryder Cup team with a night of heavy drinking.
Hatton is 33 years old and will appear in the Ryder Cup for the fourth time.
The Ryder Cup is a golf competition between Europe and the United States.
The event will happen from September 26-28 at Bethpage Black in New York.
Hatton initially thought he might not qualify after playing poorly at The Open.
He automatically made Europe's team when no one else earned more points.
The Ryder Cup in 2012 was notable for Europe’s comeback win, known as the 'Miracle of Medinah.’
England's national football team, led by manager Thomas Tuchel, has won all five of their World Cup qualification matches without conceding a goal. Despite a loss in a friendly against Senegal, Tuchel has implemented various tactical formations that appear to strengthen the team's performance. His approach uses flexible positioning and key player roles to adapt to different challenges on the field.
Key Facts
England has won all five of their World Cup qualifiers and hasn't conceded any goals in these matches.
Thomas Tuchel lost one friendly match against Senegal with England.
Tuchel uses different formations, including 4-4-1-1, 2-3-5, 3-2-5, and 2-1-7.
Full-backs are crucial in Tuchel's formations, often joining the attack or defense depending on the game.
The team's build-up play involves shifting player positions to handle opposing teams' strategies.
Harry Kane, the main striker, drops back to collect the ball, creating space for other players to advance.
Against Serbia, England employed a tactic called 'double width,' which involves using two players on each side to stretch the opposing defense.
Italy's Giulio Pellizzari won the 17th stage of the Vuelta a Espana, with Britain's Tom Pidcock coming in second. Race organizers made changes to upcoming stages due to safety concerns, while rider protests have occurred due to disruptions caused by pro-Palestine demonstrations. Jonas Vingegaard maintained his lead in the overall race standings.
Key Facts
Giulio Pellizzari won stage 17 of the Vuelta a Espana bicycle race.
Tom Pidcock from Britain finished second in this stage.
Jonas Vingegaard remains the leader in the overall competition.
Recent race stages have been disrupted by pro-Palestine protests.
In response, organizers shortened the individual time trial in stage 18.
Riders agreed to stop the race if more disruptions occur.
On stage 15, a protestor caused a crash by holding a Palestine flag.
A report highlights the lack of black, Asian, and minority ethnic managers in English football clubs. Nuno Espirito Santo's recent departure from Nottingham Forest means there are currently no black managers in the Premier League. Efforts like the Football Leadership Diversity Code aim to improve diversity in coaching and leadership roles.
Key Facts
Nuno Espirito Santo was the last black Premier League manager before his recent exit.
Previously, the Premier League had no black managers between March and August 2023.
Kick It Out is concerned about losing diverse coaching talent and urges transparent recruitment practices.
A 2022 report found 43% of Premier League players were black, but only 4.4% of former players in managerial positions were black.
The FA's Football Leadership Diversity Code encourages clubs to increase diversity in leadership roles.
FA Rule N requires clubs to publish diversity data covering various demographics.
The Premier League's No Room For Racism Action Plan provides programs to help minority coaches into coaching roles.
Over 80 coaches have used diversity and inclusion programs, with 75 securing full-time jobs.
