Independent prosecutor Eric Cottier appointed to review case In 2021 23 swimmers were cleared of doping after positive tests The World Anti-Doping Agency has dismissed allegations that it is biased in favour of China as “damaging and baseless” and asked an independent prosecutor to review its handling of the case of 23 Chinese swimmers who were cleared of doping. Wada said that the Swiss prosecutor, Eric Cottier, would be granted “full and unfettered access” to all its files and documents related to the case before reporting back in the next two months before the Paris Olympics ..read more

SIA boss David Sharpe seeks clarity and reassurance from Wada Cyclist Chloe Hosking says ‘different anti-doping realities’ at play Australia’s sports integrity watchdog has joined international calls for the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) to undertake an independent review of its processes that allowed 23 Chinese swimmers to record positive doping tests but still compete at the Tokyo Olympics. Reports last week said the athletes were found to have traces of the banned substance Trimetazidine (TMZ) in their system in 2021 ..read more

The 19-year-old climbing protege is backed by dad Tristian, who built a wall in the garden and coached his son to the top When climbing’s Tokyo 2020 debut was announced in 2016, 12-year-old Toby Roberts from Surrey was “instantly hooked” by an Olympic dream but he would be too young to compete in Japan. Instead he hatched an eight-year plan targeting the 2024 Games, with non-climber dad Tristian supporting as rope-holder, coach, taxi “and bank” – even building a climbing wall in the garden of the family home. This summer their shared ambition will culminate high on the Olympic walls in Paris ..read more

Dance, yoga and work-out sessions to be held inside museum Move aimed at whipping up enthusiasm before Games begin The Louvre museum in Paris is planning to organise yoga and sport sessions in its famed galleries as part of a city-wide cultural programme ahead of the Olympics. The world’s biggest museum is to offer visitors the chance to take part in dance, yoga and work-out sessions with instructors and coaches while gazing upon its world-renowned paintings and sculptures ..read more

The swimmer is ‘slippery in the water’ while her ‘underwaters are phenomenal’ – and she is being backed to win six golds in Paris There’s something about Mollie O’Callaghan, and everyone inside Australian swimming knows it. The world 100m and 200m freestyle champion is shaping as one of the most important athletes for Australia at this year’s Olympic Games – one who could return with at least a fistful of medals. O’Callaghan has just turned 20 but is on track to becoming an international star. At last year’s world championships in Fukuoka, she claimed both the 100m and 200m freestyle titles, d ..read more

Wada has defended its process as aggrieved athletes claim the anti-doping system only works if everyone is subject to same rules Australian swimmer Shayna Jack has always denied consuming ligandrol, a banned performance enhancing drug. But, when Jack was subject to an out-of-competition anti-doping test at Tobruk Pool in Cairns in 2019, she returned an adverse analytical finding. As is protocol, Jack was issued a provisional suspension, the suspension was made public and the swimmer was ultimately handed a four-year ban from the sport. On appeal, Jack insisted that she had not knowingly taken ..read more

Australia held to goalless draw by Qatar in final qualifying game Men’s team will not join Matildas at Paris Games this year Australia’s Olympic football hopes will rest solely with the Matildas after the men’s team failed to qualify. The Olyroos were held to a goalless draw by hosts Qatar in their final group match in the Asian Under-23 Cup, which serves as the Olympic qualifying tournament, leaving them with two points and no goals from their three matches. Australia pressed for much of the match and created a series of chances, but as in their previous matches, were unable to make those c ..read more

As the uniforms for the Olympics and Paralympics are revealed to the world, we cast an eye over the threads that different countries will be wearing at Paris 2024 ..read more

Faced with competition from rival sporting events, the future of the Games hung in the balance. A century on, new hurdles are looming Paris 1924 was the sixth and last Olympics presided over by Baron de Coubertin, the modern movement’s founder. He had good reason to be pleased with his work. The French government had enthusiastically backed the enterprise, providing a budget of 20m francs and a new stadium. The Olympic rituals – the parade of nations, the rings, the oath, gold, silver and bronze medals – had been established. Above all, the Games remained the preserve of amateur athletic gentl ..read more

Lewis surges to shock 200-metre triumph at Diamond League Teen star defeats world champion in lead-up to 2024 Olympics Australia’s fastest woman Torrie Lewis has made another stunning sprint breakthrough in the run-up to the Olympics by beating the world 100 metres champ and powering to a stunning 200m triumph at the season’s opening Diamond League meeting in China. On a night in Xiamen when Armand Duplantis was setting another world pole vault record of 6.24 metres, Australia’s own soaring star led the undercard with her brilliant half-lap victory over two American stars ..read more