International media reported on Wednesday that the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) had exonerated athletes who tested positive for doping in exchange for them acting as “informants.” The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) subsequently issued a statement criticizing this practice for its “contravention of World Anti-Doping Code”. This news quickly garnered widespread attention from the media, athletes and sports officials at the Paris Olympics, raising common concerns. Question 1: Why did the U.S. shift from recognizing cannabis as a banned substance…

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is collaborating closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a “good and robust” global anti-doping system, according to IOC spokesman Mark Adams. Adams made these remarks on Thursday at an IOC daily briefing at Paris 2024, addressing questions from journalists in the wake of a recent scandal involving the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The scandal was exposed by a statement issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Wednesday, which revealed that USADA had allowed…

American sprinter Erriyon Knighton, embroiled in a doping controversy, finished fourth in the men’s 200-meter final at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. However, his abrupt departure from the media zone without taking interviews has only fueled further suspicion regarding his eligibility to compete. Knighton tested positive for the banned steroid trenbolone during an out-of-competition test on March 26. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) opted not to impose a suspension, attributing the positive result to contaminated meat. This decision allowed…

Breaking, also known as breakdancing, has made an extraordinary journey from street corners to the prestigious stage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. For the first time, breaking will be included as an Olympic sport, a milestone moment for dance culture worldwide. Behind China’s impressive rise in the breaking arena stands the legendary French breakdancer, Mounir Biba. A 13-time breaking world champion, Biba now serves as the head coach of China’s breaking team. His journey to legend status began with…

Cycling has many benefits, but for Amir Ansari, the first rider off the ramp in the men’s time trial race at the Paris Olympic Games, it is more than just a sport. The 24-year-old Afghan competes in the colors of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, highlighting how cycling gave him hope during his darkest moments while striving to build a new life. “My ambition is to represent 120 million refugees around the world and think about those who have lost…

After a century-long wait, Paris welcomes back the Olympic Games with a splashy and “Seine-sational” opening ceremony, making itself a truly moveable feast. French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Games open before the waterborne ceremony reached its climax when Teddy Riner and Marie-Jose Perec lit the cauldron with the Olympic flame. The iconic River Seine glistened with cheers and shouts around 7:30pm when the audacious Paris Olympics opening ceremony, featuring global sports stars parading on a flotilla, was finally brought…

The fact that names of Chinese swimmers involved in a contamination case were leaked by certain media organizations has caused concerns for athletes, said Olivier Niggli, director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Thursday. His comments followed a case involving 23 Chinese swimmers, in which names and other private details of the swimmers were disclosed, some of whom were minors, although they were later proved as no-fault and committed no violations. According to Article 14 of the World…

From June 11 to 24, Kazan will host the BRICS Games, an international multi-sport event that will bring together about 5,000 athletes from the countries of the association and invited states. Bricsik the leopard has been chosen as the mascot of the Games. The programme includes not only sports competitions and a meeting of BRICS sports ministers, but also a summit of partner ministers. It is noted that 380 sets of awards will be competed for in Kazan. Countries participating…

Bricsik the leopard has been chosen as the mascot of the BRICS Games to be held in Kazan from 11 to 24 June. The presentation of the event took place in Moscow at the forum “We are together: Sport” during the round table “Sport in the BRICS countries. Development of a multipolar sports world”. “Bricsik was born in Asia, just like the first BRICS Games, and then grew and developed with the tournament. His name symbolises agility, strength, speed and…

A two-year cycle of qualifying tournaments for the FIFA World Cup 2026 began in Africa on 15 November 2023. It is the first qualifying round after a significant change in FIFA rules that raised the number of teams competing at the finals of the World Cup to 48 from 32.   This means more African teams can take part in the coveted tournament and, therefore, greater chance for Africa’s footballing stars to shine brightly, particularly the Moroccans led by Walid Regragui,…