Veterans Derek Chisora and Robert Helenius have called for stronger bans for drug cheats ahead of their respective fights at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday.
Anthony Joshua will step into the ring with last-minute opponent Helenius after Dillian Whyte was pulled from the Matchroom show last weekend following a failed drugs test.
Whyte has vowed to prove his innocence but the “adverse analytical findings” detected in his test by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) almost saw the bumper card cancelled before Helenius was drafted in.
Helenius is not the oldest fighter on the card with British heavyweight Chisora set to turn 40 in December.
Chisora, who lost a contentious split decision to Helenius in 2011, will take on Australian Demsey McKean this weekend but waded into the doping debate during Wednesday’s press conference.
“Boxing is already a hard, hard sport without people taking drugs,” Chisora stated.
“I think they should put a new rule in now. If you get caught, this is for the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), it’s going to have to be a 10-year ban straight away.”
Meanwhile, Helenius insisted a laidback approach is taken in certain countries to doping in the sport.
Whyte previously served a two-year doping ban in 2012 and several other high-profile boxers in Tyson Fury, Jarrell Miller, Alexander Povetkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvaraz have served suspensions for failed tests.
British duo Amir Khan and Conor Benn have also been given doping bans during the past year, although Benn’s suspension was lifted last month, subject to an appeal from UK Anti-Doping.
Helenius added: “Of course it’s a problem because I don’t think everybody is on the same level. Some have privileges that others don’t have.
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“It’s a very difficult topic and I think anti-doping should be the same in every country. For example in your country, when Dillian gets caught, everybody just thinks ‘oh it’s boxing’ and nobody cares.
“In Finland, if I would be caught, I would be lynched for my whole life. Two-year minimum (ban), nothing. I would never get a licence again.
“I know (of) Povetkin, Fury, Canelo. If I would do that, I would never be able to box in Finland anymore.”
After Helenius stepped in to face Joshua at the last minute, he has been warned the former two-time world heavyweight champion is getting better and better.
That’s according to Joshua’s highly-respected trainer Derrick James, who saw his new boxer begin their partnership with a laboured display in a unanimous points decision victory over Jermaine Franklin in April.
James said: “He has bought into the process and is constantly getting better and better and better. Helenius is now here and it is time for us to implement everything we’ve been working.
“Finding it out (about Whyte), you realise you have to move forward.
“It was then all about Robert Helenius, who is a pretty good fighter but you’ll see everything that AJ has been working on throughout camp implemented into this fight.
“The only thing different was the fact we have to change the trajectory of the punching. From shorter and lower, so now it is a little higher because I think Helenius is 6ft 9in or 6ft 8in, but it is good.
“It will be good and will show his ability to transition from fighting one guy to a week later fighting another guy.”
Adrian Keatley already has Classic aspirations for Richmond Stakes runner-up Ballymount Boy, who is likely to step up to seven furlongs for the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes later this month.
The Irishman, who now trains in North Yorkshire, saddled Jet Setting to beat Minding in the 2016 Irish 1,000 Guineas and believes he has found another candidate to tackle the biggest races over a mile next term.
Although sent off 25-1 at Goodwood for his first taste of Group action, the son of Camacho confirmed Keatley’s high opinion of the colt to get within a length of toppling 11-8 favourite Vandeek.
And now he is keen to step up in trip with his talented two-year-old at York’s Ebor Festival, for a race won 12 months ago by subsequent 2000 Guineas hero Chaldean.
“It was what we were expecting, we wouldn’t have taken him down to Goodwood if we weren’t expecting a big run and that’s the level we hold him at,” said Keatley.
“I think he will improve again and he can step up another grade again.
“He will probably go for the Acomb next and then we will go from there. It’s seven furlongs and we’ll try to get him to win at Group Three level before stepping up again.
“He’s a very good horse who we hold in high regard and hopefully he will be my next Guineas horse. It’s been a while since I’ve had my last one, so I could do with another one.”
However, one of Keatley’s string who will not be seen on the Knavesmire is the prolific Kihavah, who will miss the rest of the season through injury.
The six-year-old has won four times on the level during the current campaign and was being pointed towards the £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor, but will now be on the sidelines until the new year when he could be sent on some international assignments.
“Kihavah has picked up an injury and won’t be running for the rest of the Flat season,” continued Keatley.
“We might look at campaigning him abroad in the new year with a view to going back for the Ebor or some of the big mile-and-a-half handicaps next season.”
Captain Jamie Ritchie is back in the Scotland starting XV for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up match against France in Saint-Etienne.
The inclusion of the skipper, who has missed the previous two Tests with a calf issue, represents one of six changes to the team that started last weekend’s 25-21 victory over Les Bleus.
There is no place in the squad, however, for Ben White, who was forced off in the first half last weekend with an ankle issue. The scrum-half is replaced in the number nine jersey by Ali Price.
On the wing, Kyle Steyn takes over from Darcy Graham, who has been given the weekend off after scoring tries in each of the previous two warm-up matches.
Veteran prop WP Nel, 37, will fill in for Zander Fagerson, who is suspended following his red card against the French last Saturday, while George Turner replaces fellow hooker Ewan Ashman.
There are two changes to the back three, with flankers Ritchie and Rory Darge coming in for Matt Fagerson and Hamish Watson.
Stuart McInally, Rory Sutherland, Javan Sebastian, Scott Cummings, Sam Skinner and Josh Bayliss are the six forwards named on the bench, while George Horne and Ollie Smith are the replacement backs.
Olympic triathlon champions Jonny Brownlee and Alex Yee are putting their faith in organisers of this month’s Games Test Event in Paris to ensure the Seine is safe for swimming.
The world’s best triathletes are set to take to the water in the French capital on August 17 and 18 for a preview of next year’s Olympics.
Parisian authorities have ploughed huge sums of money into cleaning up the Seine in time for the Games but last weekend’s Open Water Swimming World Cup was cancelled because of poor water quality following heavy rainfall.
The spotlight has intensified, meanwhile, after more than 50 people reported falling ill following last month’s World Triathlon Championship Series event in Sunderland.
World Triathlon said in a statement after the cancellation of the swimming world cup that it would monitor water quality carefully ahead of its event but expected conditions to be safe.
Yee, who won individual silver and relay gold for Britain in Tokyo in 2021, told the PA news agency: “We have 100 per cent faith in the organisers of the event.
“If they put the health and safety of the athletes first, then we give them our 100 per cent trust. If they say it’s safe to swim, then we’ll swim. If they don’t say it’s safe, then we’ll deal with the consequences.
“I think also the fact that they’re even making the attempt to clean up the Seine and leave a legacy behind is an amazing thing and shows they have the right intentions. That’s all we can really ask for.”
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If the water is not deemed to be safe, the race will be shifted to a duathlon format, with the swim replaced by a second running leg.
Brownlee, one of the most experienced competitors in the sport, echoed Yee, saying: “I’ve swum in the Seine before. All we can do as athletes is prepare for a triathlon and then put our faith in the organisers to ensure that it is a safe environment.”
Sunderland was hosting a world series event for the first time, taking over the British round from Leeds, and the headlines generated were certainly not what local authorities or British Triathlon would have wanted.
The governing body said tests taken in the swim area ahead of the race were within acceptable guidelines but a nearby test showing high levels of E. coli bacteria was highlighted by Australian Jake Birtwhistle, who was among those that fell ill.
He argued the swim should have been cancelled, while another triathlete to suffer was Britain’s Olivia Mathias.
She shrugged it off, saying: “I’m fine now. It was just 24 hours. These things happen with racing. We put our bodies through quite a lot and we’re bound to get ill at some point. I’ll just move on from it.”
Both Brownlee and Yee said they had never experienced illness after swimming in British waters but levels of pollution in rivers and along the shoreline have prompted nationwide criticism and alarm.
Brownlee, who missed the Sunderland race to focus on Paris, said: “It’s a shame that’s what came out of it because the course and the event looked great.
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“On the whole we put on great events in the UK. One of the challenges of organising outside events is that sometimes it’s out of your control. There are risks and challenges of swimming in open water.
“We want to keep our planet as clean as we possibly can and having clean water is one of the fundamental things. I might be wrong but I genuinely believe the vast majority of the places we can swim are clean and safe.”
Brownlee is eyeing a fourth Olympic appearance having won individual bronze and silver in London and Rio before claiming his first gold medal as part of the mixed relay team in Tokyo.
The 33-year-old had intended for that to be his Olympic swansong but changed his mind and set his sights on Paris.
Whether he actually races in the French capital depends on how he performs during the rest of 2023 and into 2024, and he said: “I only want to go to Paris if I can be competitive in the individual and the mixed team relay.
“I’ve been to three Olympic Games so I don’t want to go and just get the kit, make up the numbers. We’ll see hopefully over the next couple of months but maybe into next year whether that’s genuinely going to be the case.”
Yee has built on his success in Tokyo with four world series victories and double Commonwealth gold over the past two years and would tick the selection box for next summer by finishing on the podium in Paris next week.
“It’s really exciting that there’s that opportunity there but, for me, the biggest goal of going to this race is to learn as much as I can about next year and about the course,” said the 25-year-old.
Michael Lorenzen made quite the first impression to the Philadelphia Phillies fans.
Lorenzen threw the 14th no-hitter in Phillies' franchise history on Wednesday in Philadelphia's 7-0 win over the Washington Nationals in his first start at Citizens Bank Park in a Phillies' uniform.
Acquired by Philadelphia from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline, Lorenzen struck out five and walked four while throwing a career-high 124 pitches in just his second start for the Phillies (63-52).
He got Dominic Smith to fly out to shallow centre field to record the fourth no-hitter in MLB this season and the first by a Philadelphia pitcher since Cole Hamels in 2015.
Selected to his first All-Star Game this year, the 31-year-old Lorenzen improved to 5-1 with a 1.11 ERA and 0.76 WHIP in six outings since the start of July, which includes his final four appearances for the Tigers.
While Lorenzen shut down Washington (50-65), a couple of Philadelphia batters hit milestone home runs.
Nick Castellanos hit a pair of homers to give him 200 in his career, while Weston Wilson homered in his long-awaited first major league plate appearance.
The 28-year-old rookie had 2,836 plate appearances in the minor leagues before being called up Sunday.
The Phillies have won four of five, scoring seven, eight, eight and nine runs in those victories.
Raleigh's eighth-inning homer powers Mariners to seventh straight win
The Seattle Mariners continued their August surge, extending their season-high winning streak to seven games with a 6-1 win over the visiting San Diego Padres.
The score was tied 1-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning before the Mariners (62-52) erupted for five runs, taking the lead on Cal Raleigh's tiebreaking two-run homer with one out.
Mariners top pitching prospect, Emerson Hancock had an impressive major league debut, allowing a run and two hits over five innings.
The 24-year-old right-hander struck out three and walked three, and combined with five Seattle relievers to four-hit the Padres (55-60), who have lost four in a row.
Seattle, meanwhile, has lost just four games since July 20, going a major league-best 15-4 in that span to move a season-high 10 games over .500.
Ohtani earns 10th win as Angels top Giants
Shohei Ohtani picked up his 10th win of the season, yielding one unearned run over six innings of three-hit ball in the Los Angeles Angels' 4-1 victory over the visiting San Francisco Giants.
The major league leader in home runs, Ohtani struck out five and walked three, becoming the first player in MLB history to have multiple seasons with 10 or more homers and 10 or more wins.
The two-way sensation, who won 15 games in 2022, has not allowed a run in 19 innings over his last three starts, lowering his season ERA to 3.17.
Ohtani has been stuck on 40 homers since August 3, and went 0 for 2 with two strikeouts at the plate against the Giants (62-53), though he did walk twice and scored on Mike Moustakas' tiebreaking three-run homer in the sixth inning.
Moustakas had two hits, and has driven in 10 runs in his last seven games for the Angels (58-58), who have won two in a row following a season-high seven-game losing streak.
Carlos Alcaraz edged past Ben Shelton 6-3 7-6 (3) in his first ATP Tour match since the world number one’s Wimbledon victory over Novak Djokovic.
The Spaniard will face Hubert Hurkacz in the round of 16 of the National Bank Open in Toronto after defeating the fiery American in a competitive affair.
After an even start, a break of serve in the fourth game gave Alcaraz enough of a gap to wrap up the first set in 42 minutes.
The second set was even more competitive, with neither man able to break his opponent until the world number one sealed the victory in a tiebreak.
Meanwhile, American qualifier Marcos Giron upset fifth seed Holger Rune 6-2 4-6 6-3 to set up a third-round clash with compatriot Tommy Paul.
Earlier, veteran Gael Monfils stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 6-3, while home favourite Milos Raonic continued his resurgence by seeing off qualifier Taro Daniel 6-4 6-3.
American Mackenzie McDonald knocked out sixth seed Andrey Rublev 6-4 6-3, and second seed Daniil Medvedev is safely through after a 6-2 7-5 win over Matteo Arnaldi.
Nicole Cooke won Great Britain’s first medal of the Beijing Olympics when she took gold in the women’s road race on this day in 2008.
The Welsh rider overcame the competition and heavy rain to cross the line first at the end of the 126km route from the city centre to a section of the Great Wall of China.
It was the first Olympic gold medal won by a British female cyclist, the country’s 200th Olympic gold across all sports and the first by a Welsh athlete since 1972.
Cooke, 25, had stated her intentions when she formed a breakaway with four other riders 6km from the finish.
She went on to beat Sweden’s Emma Johansson and Tatiana Guderza of Italy in a sprint for the finish. Her winning time was three hours 32 minutes 24 seconds.
“It’s just like a dream come true, and I hope everyone one can share in this dream,” said Cooke, who took up competitive cycling at the age of 11 and had finished fifth in Athens in 2004.
Cooke went on to win World Championship gold later in 2008, becoming the first racer to achieve the world and Olympic double in the same year.
She also won the Tour de France twice in her career and retired in 2013.
Andy Murray overcame a tough fightback from Australian qualifier Max Purcell to reach the round of 16 in Toronto.
The Scot won 7-6 (2) 3-6 7-5 in two hours and 47 minutes to set up a meeting with Italy’s Jannik Sinner for a spot in the quarter-finals.
There was little separating Murray and Purcell in the first set, each man breaking and breaking back en route to a tiebreak.
Murray was finally able to put some distance between himself and his opponent by wrapping up the first set, but Purcell refused to lie down.
The world number 78 rebounded strongly in the second to force a third and deciding set.
Purcell went up a break early in the third, but a crucial service hold down 4-2 was enough to spur Murray on to once again even things up.
Neither man was able to gain a decisive advantage as the set wound down, until Murray broke Purcell’s serve in the 12th game to win the match.
Cardiff manager Erol Bulut felt his team should have put away League Two Colchester long before requiring a penalty shoot-out to advance to the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Bulut presided over his first home match as Bluebirds manager since taking over earlier this summer but saw his side squander a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 before advancing 3-0 on penalties.
“We could have scored four or five with the chances we created but we made individual mistakes,” said Bulut.
“The youngsters did quite well and generally I was satisfied with the way we kept the ball. But we have to get better, we have to continue to work.”
A smart finish by Welsh international Rubin Colwill put the home side ahead in the 19th minute and it was 2-0 10 minutes before the break when Kion Etete pounced to fire home a loose ball.
But lethargic defensive lapses allowed the visitors to haul themselves level before half-time, as two close-range tap-ins in the 40th and 44th minutes by forwards John Akinde and Joe Taylor changed the complexion.
Bulut offered qualified praise of Colwill, who saw his penalty saved after opening the scoring.
“Rubin is a good young player who has to learn more things,” he said. “I hope he continues like this and he will then get his chance to prove himself.
“I see Rubin playing as a number 10 mostly but sometimes he forgets his defensive duties.
“He is now keeping his position much better instead of running everywhere.”
No representatives from Colchester were available to speak after the game.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke needed to make half-time adjustments to avoid a Carabao Cup upset as his side edged past League One Shrewsbury 2-1 to give him his first win in charge.
The Championship side, who play at Salford in the second round, hit back through goals from Joe Gelhardt and Pascal Struijk after trailing at the break at Elland Road.
And Farke said: “I didn’t like our first-half performance. Our structure was not good in order to open them up.
“We made a few changes in personnel (at half-time) and also talked about tactical changes in the second half.
“We were much tidier on the ball and it was a much better performance.
“If we had scored a third it would have made life easier.”
Farke had made six changes following the 2-2 home draw against Cardiff on Sunday and added: “Tonight I had to make some big decisions.”
One player absent was forward Wilfried Gnonto, who reportedly asked to be left out because he wants a move away from the club.
Farke said the Italian “was not available” but was not injured.
Leeds trailed to Taylor Perry’s deflected first-half opener but were level seven minutes into the second half as Gelhardt directed the ball into the net off his thigh and Struijk volleyed home shortly after.
Shrewsbury head coach Matt Taylor praised his players for their effort.
He said: “They gave everything, we couldn’t ask for any more.
“If the players keep giving performances like they did tonight, then we will reap the rewards.
“I thought we were diligent outside of possession, I thought the goal that we scored was excellent and it came from stuff we’ve worked on earlier in the week.
“I felt that the goals we gave away were avoidable. It’s an element of luck with the first one. (The) second one I felt we should’ve dealt with better.”
Ipswich assistant manager Martyn Pert was delighted with the performance from a changed team in a 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Bristol Rovers.
The goals came from Jack Taylor and Sone Aluko to confirm the Tractor Boys’ progress to the second round where they have been drawn against Reading.
The visitors had their chances and Ipswich goalkeeper Cieran Slicker helped to keep a clean sheet for Town when he stuck out a foot to deflect a shot from Jevani Brown.
Pert said: “We changed the whole team and it shows the level that the lads have been working at for the last six weeks that they can work and understand the structure and everything we want and they can go and deliver the performance like that.
“So very pleasing and it was a good night. A lot of the players have been here a while and understand the way we play.”
Asked about goalkeeper Slicker, Pert said: “He is a confident lad, his qualities suit the way we play, he is a good young goalkeeper.”
Bristol Rovers’ first-team coach Andy Mangan said: “There were so many positives, we’ve just got to be better in certain areas on the counter mentality wise.
“When Ipswich have got the ball our shape was difficult to break down and our lads have got to trust the process and be confident in those situations but all in all a positive performance.
“I think we had more chances in the first period of the second half and like I said we just have to better in those moments.”
Nigel Pearson confirmed Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott was speaking to Bournemouth after seeing his side reach the Carabao Cup second round.
The Robins thrashed Oxford 5-1 thanks to Jason Knight’s brace and goals from Harry Cornick, Nahki Wells and Kal Naismith.
Afterwards Pearson was asked to comment on reports that Scott had undergone a medical at Premier League club Bournemouth prior to big-money move.
He said: “The club has given Alex permission for that and I really don’t have anything more to say on it.”
Pressed on whether he had been planning without Scott for the campaign, Pearson added: “No, I have been planning to keep him.
“It’s nothing to do with me, it’s a club decision.
“I’m disappointed because we have a better chance of being successful if we keep our best players.”
On the game, which saw Billy Bodin equalise for Oxford before Knight’s double either side of half-time put City in charge, Pearson said: “I’m delighted for the players.
“One difference from our opening league match on Saturday was that our full-backs were more positive in getting forward.
“The scoreline sounds comprehensive, but Oxford were always in the game and caused us some problems.
“We were able to penetrate down the flanks and got in plenty of crosses, which wasn’t the case on Saturday.
“It’s always nice to blood young players and we were able to send on Ephraim Yeboah at a good time in the game for him. The hard work starts for Ephraim now.”
Oxford manager Liam Manning did not attend the post-match press conference.
Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson praised the structure of his side after Ryan McLean’s late strike saw the League Two team down Coventry and reach round two of the EFL Cup.
Championship Coventry were ahead inside 20 minutes, Matty Godden converting from the spot after Joe Lewis chopped down Haji Wright in the box.
And that had looked enough to claim victory, until two late strikes from the Dons turned the contest on its head, Omar Bugiel with the equaliser before McLean’s winner.
“It’s early days, obviously, but any successful team has that base of solidity and defensive structure and I think we looked like that,” said Jackson.
“Coventry had their moments – they’ve got quality players – but if we want to do anything, you got to have that base.
“We’re trying to build a squad where you’ve got competition for places and you’ve got people that are tough to leave out.
“But, when you’re looking behind you to make changes, you know they’re going to come on and have a positive influence on the game.”
Meanwhile, Sky Blues boss Mark Robins rued silly mistakes as his makeshift side snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
He added: “I don’t think we deserved anything – we could have won if we’d done things right, but we didn’t.
“We didn’t pick the right passes out, we went too long at times and it was just unlike us. Really, they should have been a couple of goals up before the penalty, so we’re a little bit lucky coming in 1-0 up.
“So we speak about that at half time and how we can be better and we end up looking poor in the second half too.
“It’s a new team so I’ve got to be careful what I say; I’m making substitutions for physical reasons rather than tactical reasons at the moment because I’m trying to get everyone fit.”
Michael Beale was left frustrated by his “wasteful” Rangers side in their narrow 2-1 win over 10-man Servette in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round at Ibrox.
Skipper James Tavernier scored a penalty in the sixth minute before striker Cyriel Dessers knocked in a second eight minutes later with his first Gers goal.
Sam Lammers missed a great chance to make it 3-0 and, just before the break, Servette attacker Chris Bedia reduced the deficit from the spot after the VAR intervened to flag up a Dessers handball.
Servette were reduced to 10 men in the 59th minute after David Douline was sent off for picking up the second of two yellow cards for a foul on Todd Cantwell.
But the visitors defended resolutely and will fancy their chances of turning the tie around in Switzerland next Tuesday night.
Beale said: “We started really well and I thought the energy from the team was really good in and out of possession.
“The desire shown by Nico and Todd before the first goal to go chase a couple of lost causes down was fantastic.
“I felt Borna Barisic had a good night and put some great crosses in.
“Playing with the two nine’s gives you that opportunity that we got when Danilo went across the first post and Cyriel scores.
“At that moment we were in a great place. But after that I thought we were wasteful.
“Then comes the VAR decision for the penalty. I thought it was harsh but that’s the ruling.
“The second half, their keeper made a fantastic save from Sam and Cyriel and we had other moments again where we were wasteful on a night when we played well in my opinion for a long period of time.
“What it does is keep our wits about us. We know it will be difficult going to Geneva. It’s going to be a full house and we’ll see a different game like we always do in Europe.
“I’ll never knock a win in European competition because I know they’re so difficult to come by.
“But as a team, we do a lot of good things and create enormous opportunities and we have to be more decisive.
“I’ll give our forwards [a break] at the moment because they’re new coming into the club and it’s early in the season.
“But if we keep creating chances like that then we have to take them if we’re to put teams away.”
Beale believes there is still more to come from his revamped squad.
He said: “We are not using it as an excuse but 13 players left and nine came in.
“Danilo has trained with his team-mates for four days and has had a pre-season which was all over the shop at Feyenoord.
“We are not the sum of our parts right now but I thought we had more forward running and more energy.
“I thought the front three were exciting and they will get better with each game.”
Servette boss Rene Weiler is relishing the return game.
He said: “The result leaves the door open for the second leg next week.
“It was a tough start for us when we went 2-0 down and they played at a high level but we got a bit of luck with the penalty.
“But overall the first half was balanced. We tried to attack but when we got a red card it was tough but it leaves us with the possibility for next week.”
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