In a letter to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Team USA Athletes’ Commission demands a “truly independent” investigation on the handling of the Chinese swimmers scandal, while the UNI Global Union-based association underlines the agency’s “systemic failures, need for  reform”.

If Paris 2024 organisers were hoping for a headliner tennis event in their upcoming Games schedule, Carlos Alcaraz was happy to provide a grand slam billboard on Tuesday, when he speculated on a possible dream duo with fellow Spaniard Rafa Nadal in the men’s doubles brackett.

 The World Anti-Doping Agency first warned the Tunisian National Anti-Doping Organization that it was not complying with international guidelines back in November, yet the local association repeatedly failed to take the necessary measures in order to avoid being added to the international watchlist.

Just about everything came out golden for Russia in the European Amateur Boxing Championships. Fans did have to sing along the winner’s anthem because of an alleged technical error, but that was it for its boxers in Belgrade, where they took 11 wins from the host country, who totalled only four.

Like a dizzying coast-to-coast fast break, Victor Wembanyama hit the ground running in his first season in the NBA, which delivered record-breaking numbers across digital platforms in Europe and the Middle East. The French wonder leads all Europeans among the 10 most-viewed players globally on social media.

It’s been a rough couple of seasons for Rafael Nadal, and this Wednesday was no different. The all-time tennis great, now 37 years old and marred by injuries, announced that he will only play at the upcoming French Open, his signature tournament, if he feels "capable enough to compete well".

The World Anti-Doping Agency has faced fierce backlash over its handling of positive test results from China's swimming team ahead of the 2021 Olympic Games. Accusations of a cover-up by national associations, "fake news" dismissals by China and denial of any double standard by the global watchdog ensued.

Again citing "no credible evidence of wrongdoing” in the handling of the positive tests of 23 swimmers from China before Tokyo 2021, World Anti-Doping Agency president Witold Banka referenced the case of Sun Yang, currently serving a four-year ban, and reprimanded “politically motivated” USADA.

The NY Times and ARD were the first to report on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s alleged mishandling of positive doping tests from Chinese swimmers before Tokyo 2021. Then came harsh pushback by the international governing body. Mounting uproar followed from USADA, Global Athlete and now Germany.

With four Sportsman of the Year awards, Novak Djokovic is one behind the record held by his former rival Roger Federer. The Serbian is on a shortlist of six alongside the likes of Armand Duplantis, Lionel Messi and Max Verstappen, while fellow tennis player Faith Kipyegon and Aitana Bonmati head the women's nominations.

In a growing tide of international backlash, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa has expressed its disapproval of World Athletics' initiative to offer prize money to gold medallists in Paris 2024. A move it described as "repugnant to the fundamental principles of the Olympic Movement."