The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday invited 22 Russian and 17 Belarusian athletes to compete at the Paris Olympics as neutrals even though some have already decided against taking part. A second list of names authorised to compete in the Games showpiece included competitors from tennis, shooting and rowing. 

Swimming icons like Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt took the stand on Tuesday and called out the World Anti-Doping Agency for its handling of 23 positive tests from Chinese rivals prior to the Tokyo 2002 Olympics. The global watchdog lashed back on Wednesday, as global tension keeps mounting.

Despite Elaine Thompson Herah’s recent and disappointing announcement that she will not compete in the upcoming Paris Games due to injury, both sprinters showcased their elite speed in the 100 metres at the Caribbean country’s Olympic ramp-up.

Skye Blakely is missing this week’s Olympic Trials after rupturing her right Achilles on Wednesday during practice. The 19-year-old top contender sustained the injury while practising a tumbling pass on floor exercise at the trial’s venue in Minneapolis. Blakely received medical attention and was later carried off the podium by staff, leaving the arena in a wheelchair.

The Grand Boucle will start this Saturday in Florence and, for the first time in its history, will end outside the gates of Paris. The best version of Pogacar will face the uncertainty of defending champion Vingegaard, who is coming back from a serious crash in April. 21 stages, 3,498 kilometres, two crossings of the Alps and a final time trial in Nice. A plot worthy of Alfred Hitchcock.

France should avoid voting for "extremes" in looming parliamentary elections, French basketball star Victor Wembanyama said Thursday, three days ahead of the first round of voting expected to be won by the far right.

IBA President Umar Kremlev met with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and agreed to the organisation of a sporting event that would showcase some of the country's young talent. The IBA also pledged to support the grassroots of national boxing by improving facilities and providing equipment to facilitate training.

Anthony Joshua will face Daniel Dubois in an all-British showdown for the IBF world heavyweight title on 21 September, after Oleksandr Usyk confirmed he had vacated the belt last Wednesday.

From 1 July 2024, around 86,000 German sports clubs can apply for the "Stars of Sport" 2025 award, which is jointly organised by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken. They can enter their initiatives in the areas of education and qualification, health and prevention, integration and inclusion, climate protection, digitalisation or democracy promotion. 

Max Verstappen confirmed on Thursday that he will remain with Red Bull next year, putting an end to speculation about a move to Mercedes, who had touted him as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who is moving to Ferrari.

The 2025 World Mixed Doubles and World Senior Curling Championships will be held at the Willie O'Ree Place in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada from 26 April to 3 May. The city is located on the east coast of Canada, between the provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and the US state of Maine.

Two-time World Cup winner Alex Morgan has been left out of the US women's team for the upcoming Paris Olympics by new coach Emma Hayes, who has opted for a younger squad.