Jonathan Crane

Olympic champion Caster Semenya: 'It's never the end' – DW – 10/07/2025 Speaking to DW, the South African runner vows to continue her fight against sex eligibility rules and calls out 'weak leadership' from World Athletics.

NEW: Caster Semenya tells DW she is NOT stopping her legal battle against World Athletics.

Speaking at Play the Game, the two-time Olympic champion said: "We are forever fighting."

www.dw.com/en/olympic-c...

Brilliant piece, Gavin.

Dissident Belarusian sports official thought to be in Russia – DW – 08/29/2025 Anatol Kotau has been unreachable for over a week. Those who know him suspect foul play, with the Belarusian secret service warning dissidents of retribution.

NEW: DW has discovered that Anatol Kotau traveled to Sochi in Russia on the day he went missing.

It raises the possibility he may have left Turkey voluntarily or under some kind of coercion.

www.dw.com/en/dissident...

Dissident Belarusian sports official goes missing in Turkey – DW – 08/29/2025 Anatol Kotau has been unreachable for over a week. Those who know him suspect foul play, with the Belarusian secret service warning dissidents of retribution.

Wrote this about Anatol Kotau's disappearance, but still so many unanswered questions.

Why was he in Turkey in the first place? Did he leave the country, as Turkish media have reported? If so, where is he now?

www.dw.com/en/dissident...

Protests earlier against the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the world fencing championships in Tbilisi, Georgia.

I've been sent this video showing around 100 people at the protest and a sizeable police presence outside the venue of the championships.

Ukraine's Olga Kharlan worries for fencing's Olympic future – DW – 07/17/2025 Six-time Olympic medalist Olga Kharlan has hit out at recent decisions on Russian fencers, telling DW that she will "never shake hands with them."

🇺🇦 Olga Kharlan has hit out at fencing's governing body for allowing Russian military athletes back to competition.

🖊️ She's one of more than 440 fencers to have signed an open letter calling for the decision to be reversed.

www.dw.com/en/olga-khar...

Russian army major to compete at fencing world championships – DW – 07/11/2025 Sofya Velikaya is one of the world's most successful fencers, having won multiple Olympic medals. Now, after a long absence, she is allowed to return to competition — despite her military rank.

🤺 Sofya Velikaya is a 5-time Olympic fencing medalist. She's also a major in the Russian army.

🟢 Despite this, she's now allowed to compete at the world championships - a decision one fencing source told DW was "a total no-go."

www.dw.com/en/russian-a...

'Crying with the lights off:' Life as a tennis pro – DW – 06/30/2025 With the Wimbledon tennis championships underway, one ex-player has laid bare the struggles faced by many tennis pros.

🎾 Another Wimbledon is here, and it promises to be a bumper payday for those involved.

💰 But away from the glamour and riches of the Grand Slams, 100s of tennis pros struggle to make ends meet, with consequences for their mental health.

www.dw.com/en/crying-wi...

Coco Gauff calls on social media platforms to tackle abuse – DW – 06/18/2025 After women's professional tennis organizers the WTA detailed abuse against nearly 500 female players, French Open champion Coco Gauff says more action needs to be taken against online abusers.

In Berlin today, Coco Gauff spoke candidly about the "gross" abuse she receives on social media - and about what she thinks social media companies need to do to fix it.

dw.com/p/4w9WQ

BREAKING: World Boxing to introduce mandatory sex testing for its competitions.

It means Imane Khelif won't be able to take part in next month's Eindhoven Cup. Part of the World Boxing statement below...

Truly unprecedented behavior now from Gianni Infantino. Because of his trip to the Gulf, his own Congress, which members have been present in Paraguay for since Monday, has now been delayed for 3 hours. Folks in Asuncion fuming. Paraguay, not a wealthy country, has put in a huge effort.

BBC Verify analyses video showing Israel's killing of Gaza medics The IDF's killing of 15 emergency workers has drawn international condemnation. BBC Verify examines new footage of the incident.

Watch this BBC Verify video on the shocking incident where the Israeli army killed 15 emergency workers, buried them in a mass grave, and only admitted its version of events was false when mobile phone footage was retrieved from one of the bodies. www.bbc.com/news/videos/...

🗣️ "His advertisement is the biggest for the war because he's the most famous Russian player right now." - Dominik Hasek, NHL Hall of Famer

Alexander Ovechkin has just broken the NHL goals record.

But can we separate the player from his pro-Putin politics?

Powerful words from Shevchenko on his rejection as a candidate for UEFA’s Exco:

uaf.ua/en/article/5...

World Boxing promises 'fair playing field' for women – DW – 02/27/2025 After a gender controversy at the Paris Olympics, boxing's newest organization says an imminent policy will address "significant welfare concerns" in the sport.

NEW:

🥊 World Boxing will announce a transgender and DSD policy in the "coming weeks."

🚨 After the gender controversy in Paris, boxing's likely Olympic saviour says safety is "absolutely paramount."

www.dw.com/en/world-box...

Sebastian Coe: Transgender athletes threaten women's sport – DW – 01/30/2025 Sebastian Coe is hoping to become the new Olympics chief. He spoke exclusively to DW about his issue with transgender athletes competing in the female category.

I asked Sebastian Coe whether he thought transgender athletes were a threat to women's sport.

His response: "At the elite level, yes, they are."

An exclusive interview with the IOC presidential candidate.

www.dw.com/en/sebastian...

Zverev refuses to discuss domestic violence accusations at Australian Open * German shouted at by protester while on the podium * Zverev denies allegations after two parties settle the case Alexander Zverev says he will no longer discuss the accusations of domestic violence against him after he was heckled by an…

Zverev refuses to discuss domestic violence accusations at Australian Open

Just as Zverev is about to speak at the trophy ceremony, a woman repeatedly shouts:

“Australia Believes Olya and Brenda! Australia Believes Olya and Brenda!”

Broke through the silence.

#AusOpen

NEW:

Ulla Koch, former head coach of the Germany women's team, has temporarily stepped down as vice president of the German Gymnastics Federation while an investigation into the abuse allegations continues.

She served as head coach from 2005 to 2021.

'From one hell to another:' Ex-Germany gymnast details abuse – DW – 01/17/2025 A dozen former German gymnasts have opened up about their mistreatment in the sport and are calling for change. Two of them spoke to DW.

🗯️ "When I was 8 or 9, I was told I was too fat."

I spoke to Kim Janas and Michelle Timm about the abuse they suffered in German gymnastics.

Shocking testimony and things no young child should ever have to go through.

www.dw.com/en/i-went-fr...

'From one hell to another:' Ex-Germany gymnast details abuse – DW – 01/17/2025 A dozen former German gymnasts have opened up about their mistreatment in the sport and are calling for change. Two of them spoke to DW.

🗯️ "When I was 8 or 9, I was told I was too fat."

I spoke to Kim Janas and Michelle Timm about the abuse they suffered in German gymnastics.

Shocking testimony and things no young child should ever have to go through.

www.dw.com/en/i-went-fr...

FIFA apologizes to Ukraine soccer body for Crimea map error at 2026 World Cup draw FIFA has apologized to the Ukrainian soccer federation for displaying a map during its World Cup qualifying draw that excluded Russia-occupied Crimea from the country’s territory.

FIFA apologizes to Ukraine soccer body for Crimea map error at 2026 World Cup draw

(AP) #FIFA #Crimea #Ukraine #Russia
apnews.com/article/fifa...

Banner by Nürnberg fans: “You voted for Saudi Arabia yesterday and already ordering the One Love armband today? Your spine is exactly as flexible as your morals!”

1. FC Nürnberg‘s ultras with a message towards the German FA (DFB) re their vote in favor of holding the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia:

“You voted for Saudi Arabia yesterday and already ordering the One Love armband tomorrow? Your spine is exactly as flexible as your morals!”

YouTube video by thegreatbriton Footballers Bohemian Rhapsody

Remembered this during work Xmas karaoke last night.

Bohemian Rhapsody sung to the names of footballers (e.g. "Duff Ling Sealey Mathers, Benni McCarthy" = "Nothing really matters, anyone can see.")

Was on Danny Baker's show back in the day. Still genius!

youtu.be/ZGHrjBan3vA?...

Democracy, FIFA-style

The money shot

Germany’s players wearing shirts with “human rights” on them.

Gladbach Fans presenting “Human rights” shirts

Gladbach fans holding a banner which reads “Saudi Arabia follows Qatar: empty words, not actions.

Banner by Gladbach fans: “f*** you and you World Cup.”

Gladbach ultra group Sottocultura protested against the German FA (DFB) for voting in favor of handing the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia by using Germany’s players‘ own trick: “Human rights” shirts

On the banners:

“SA follows Qatar: empty words, not actions!”

“F*** you and your World Cup!”

FIE-Präsident Alischer Usmanow: Gewählt – und schon wieder weg Rückzug zum Zweiten: Alischer Usmanow lässt sich als neuer Präsident des Internationalen Fechtverbandes wieder vertreten. Die Öffentlichkeit erfährt vom Verband nicht, was in Taschkent passiert ist.

Sat: Alisher Usmanov elected FIE president.
Sun: Alisher Usmanov suspends his functions as FIE president.

What happened? And what were those Swiss lawyers advising on the bit with the asset freeze against sanctioned individuals & potential risks for organizations...

www.faz.net/aktuell/spor...

This is what Usmanov's challenger on Saturday makes of the move:

This story is getting wilder and wilder.

Statement to me from Usmanov's spokesperson: