The Canadian Olympic Committee have confirmed that two members of the women's coaching staff have been sent home from the Paris Olympics following a drone incident ahead of their opening game against New Zealand.
Head coach Bev Priestman, who led Canada to their maiden gold medal success in Tokyo, has also voluntarily withdrawn from coaching her team’s Group A opener in Saint-Etienne on Thursday.
Fifa said it has opened disciplinary proceedings against Canada Soccer after New Zealand's women's team said their training session on Monday had been disrupted by a drone ahead of their encounter.
Jasmine Mander, Priestman's assistant, was sent home along with "unaccredited analyst" Joseph Lombardi following the incident.
Lombardi is the director of the National Development Centre Ontario and Women’s U-20 program. Mander was Priestman's assistant at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the World Cup last summer.
Priestman apologised for what had happened and said the ultimate responsibility lay with her.
"I first and foremost want to apologise to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada," Priestman said.
"This does not represent the values that our team stands for. I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program."
The COC confirmed on Wednesday that a "non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer support team" was detained by authorities.
"The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair play and we are shocked and disappointed," it added in a statement.
"We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected, and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee."
Laura Muir hopes breaking the British 1,500m record in Paris earlier this month is a sign of things to come as she guns for gold at the Olympic Games.
Having finished seventh in the final at Rio 2016, Muir took silver at the last edition of the games in Tokyo, finishing behind Kenya's Faith Kipyegon with a time of 3:54.50.
The 31-year-old Scot has been tipped to go one better this year after running a British record of 3:53:79 at the Diamond League meeting in the French capital on July 7.
Speaking exclusively to Stat Perform, Muir outlined her hope that the 2024 Games will mark the culmination of her progress over the last few years.
"The record I broke was the record that I ran in the Tokyo Olympics, winning silver," she said, reflecting on her record time.
"So to break my British record that I ran winning silver, and to do it in the city that the next Olympics is going to be held in… it was just a 'this is meant to be' moment.
"It was really special, and to run the fastest I've ever ran just ahead of the Olympics was perfect and such a big confidence boost.
"I'm just going to go into the Games in the best shape I've ever been in."
Muir's silver medal in Tokyo came in front of no public spectators, with crowds in the Japanese capital limited to fellow athletes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She is excited about the chance to share her experience with others this time around, saying: "It was such a shame that nobody could watch the biggest events in Tokyo.
"It's just so nice that people can come and spectate now, not just athletics but lots of different sports.
"With it being so close to home it'll be really easy for people to travel out there, it's not a big time difference, so it'll be so much easier for people to watch. I'm just really excited that they can soak up that atmosphere."
Team GB managed five athletics medals in Tokyo (two silver, three bronze), having taken seven in 2016 and six on home soil at London 2016.
With the likes of Matt Hudson-Smith and Keeley Hodgkinson also tipped to be in medal contention, Muir has high hopes regarding Team GB's overall prospects.
"I think it's a fantastic team we've got out in Paris, so I'm just really excited to see how everybody gets on," she added.
"To see Matt get his European record, Keeley get her British record, I got my British record a couple of weeks before that… it's a really, really exciting place to be.
"I think we're so strong across so many different events as well, which is so exciting, and the depth of that within some events, especially in endurance running, it's really exciting to see."
The New York Knicks and head coach Tom Thibodeau have agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2027-28 season.
New York went 50-32 last season to earn the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference before losing to the Indiana Pacers in the semi-finals of the play-offs.
The Knicks were also ousted in the East semis in 2022-23 and reached the play-offs during Thibodeau’s first season in 2021-22, when he won his second NBA Coach of the Year award.
Prior to 2021-22, New York’s previous post-season appearance came in 2013.
The Knicks have gone 175-143 over the last four seasons under Thibodeau, who earned his first NBA Coach of the Year award in 2011 as a rookie head coach with the Chicago Bulls.
The 66-year-old Thibodeau owns a 527-389 record in 12 seasons as a head coach with Chicago, the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York.
His teams have gone 38-47 in the post-season, and Thibodeau’s only appearance in the conference finals came in his rookie head coach season.
Morocco were 2-1 winners over Argentina in their opening match at the Olympics, with Cristian Medina's potential equaliser disallowed as crowd trouble caused a two-hour delay.
Argentina looked to have salvaged a 2-2 draw from 2-0 down in Saint-Etienne, with Soufiane Rahimi netting twice before Giuliano Simeone pulled one back for La Albiceleste.
Medina appeared to have equalised when he nodded home following a goalmouth scramble 16 minutes into second-half stoppage time, but crowd trouble then broke out with cups, bottles and pyrotechnics being thrown at Argentina's players by spectators.
The referee took the teams off the pitch, and amid confusion over whether the final whistle had sounded, it was reported another three minutes would be played in an empty stadium.
It was subsequently announced Argentina's potential leveller had been ruled out after a VAR review showed Bruno Amione was offside in the build-up.
Another three minutes of stoppage time were then played out around two hours after the players had been taken off, with Morocco holding on to win 2-1.
While Morocco now sit top of Group B with three points, Javier Mascherano's side – who were among the pre-tournament favourites – remain on zero.
Erik ten Hag has included Jadon Sancho in his 29-man squad for Manchester United's pre-season tour of the United States.
Sancho, who spent the second half of the 2023-24 season on loan with Borussia Dortmund, played 45 minutes in United's 2-0 win over Rangers last Saturday.
The 24-year-old made three appearances for Ten Hag last season after an argument over his performances in training saw him banished from the first-team squad.
Sancho has since been back in training at Carrington, with the pair drawing a line under their drawn-out disagreement after holding a positive meeting earlier this month.
United travel to America as they continue their preparations ahead of the new season where they will play three matches stateside.
Ten Hag's side face fellow Premier League opposition Arsenal in Los Angeles on July 28, followed by fixtures against Real Betis and Liverpool.
Andre Onana, Harry Maguire, Mason Mount, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund are among the other senior players included in the travelling squad.
Hojlund, who scored 10 Premier League goals in his debut campaign at Old Trafford, will sport a different shirt number for the 2024-25 season.
The Denmark international wore the number 11 last term, but will replace Anthony Martial, who left the club following the end of his contract, as United's new number nine.
Jannik Sinner will not be participating in the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis, the world number one confirmed on Wednesday.
Sinner has not played since his quarter-final defeat against Daniil Medvedev, during which he left the court after saying he felt unwell.
The Italian wrote an emotional post on social media confirming his withdrawal from what would have been the 22-year-old's first appearance at the Olympics.
It read: "I am saddened to inform you that unfortunately I will not be able to participate in the Paris Olympic Games.
"After a good week of clay training I started to feel unwell. I spent a couple of days resting and during a visit the doctor found tonsillitis and strongly advised me against playing.
"Missing the Games is a huge disappointment as it was one of my main goals for this season. I couldn't wait to have the honor of representing my country in this very important event.
"Good luck to all the Italian athletes who I will support from home. Forza Italia."
The Italian has enjoyed a fantastic start to the 2024 season, winning his first major title at the Australian Open before being named the new world number one in June.
With Sinner out of the draw, beaten Wimbledon finalist Novak Djokovic is the highest ranked men's player competing in the Olympics, hoping to add to his 2008 bronze medal.
It is the first time that the ATP world number one will not take in the Olympics since Pete Sampras in Sydney 24 years ago.
Cristian Medina equalised 16 minutes into second-half stoppage time as Argentina fought back for a 2-2 draw with Morocco in their opening game at the Olympic Games in Saint-Etienne.
Morocco looked set to open their Group B campaign with a memorable win when Al Ain striker Soufiane Rahimi scored twice in a five-minute spell either side of half-time.
However, substitute Giuliano Simeone halved the arrears for Javier Mascherano's men, who twice hit the woodwork before Medina nodded home with the final contribution to an incredible game.
Morocco inched ahead two minutes into first-half stoppage time, Ilias Akhomach bamboozling the Argentina defence with a wonderful backheel that allowed Bilal El Khannouss to cross for Rahimi to tap home.
Within four minutes of the restart, Morocco had a chance to double their lead as the tricky Akhomach was pushed inside the area by Julio Soler. Rahimi stepped up to the spot and made no mistake, stroking his kick into the bottom-left corner.
Mascherano's team dragged themselves back into the contest with 22 minutes to play, though, as Soler's cross-shot was prodded in by the stretching substitute Simeone.
The Albiceleste struggled to carve out clear-cut chances to equalise, but Medina saved the day in dramatic circumstances with 116 minutes on the clock.
Munir Mohamedi spilled Thiago Almada's long-range shot then tipped Bruno Amione's follow-up onto the woodwork. Nicolas Otamendi then looped his header against the crossbar but Argentina made sure at the fourth attempt as Medina nodded into an unguarded net.
Data Debrief: Albiceleste leave it late
Medina's leveller was officially timed at 105 minutes and 24 seconds, the lengthy period of stoppage time a result of several heavy challenges and a number of supporters encroaching on the playing field throughout the match.
Few could argue they did not deserve their point, though, having ended the game with a tally of 2.41 expected goals (xG) to Morocco's 1.46.
Morocco upset Argentina for a 2-1 victory in the teams' opening match at the Olympic Games, with the contest ending in chaotic fashion after a two-hour delay caused by crowd trouble.
Morocco were on course for victory when Al Ain striker Soufiane Rahimi scored twice in a five-minute spell either side of half-time, before Giuliano Simeone halved the arrears for Argentina.
Cristian Medina appeared to have equalised deep into stoppage time, but crowd trouble caused referee Glenn Nyberg to take the teams off the pitch before a VAR review could take place.
It was ruled that Bruno Amione was offside in the build-up, and with the goal chalked off, the teams returned to play three further minutes in an empty stadium two hours later, Morocco holding on for a memorable win.
Morocco inched ahead two minutes into first-half stoppage time, Ilias Akhomach bamboozling the Argentina defence with a wonderful backheel that allowed Bilal El Khannouss to cross for Rahimi to tap home.
Within four minutes of the restart, Morocco had a chance to double their lead as the tricky Akhomach was pushed inside the area by Julio Soler. Rahimi stepped up to the spot and made no mistake, stroking his kick into the bottom-left corner.
Javier Mascherano's team dragged themselves back into the contest with 22 minutes to play, though, as Soler's cross-shot was prodded in by the stretching substitute Simeone.
It looked like Argentina had levelled 16 minutes into stoppage time as both Amione and Nicolas Otamendi struck the crossbar before Medina nodded home from almost on the goal line.
However, some spectators then threw cups, bottles and pyrotechnics at the celebrating Argentina players, causing the teams to leave the field for almost two hours as fans were told to leave the stadium.
With a VAR review ruling Amione was offside in the build-up to Medina's header, the game restarted at 2-1 to Morocco and the Atlas Lions clung on for a huge win.
Sergio Gomez led Spain to a winning start at the Paris Olympics, making amends for his penalty miss to score the winner in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Uzbekistan.
La Roja took the lead through Marc Pubill, only for Uzbekistan captain Eldor Shomurodov to level from the spot before the break.
Gomez would see his own spot-kick attempt saved, but dusted himself down to net the decisive goal for Santi Denia's side.
A teasing free-kick delivery from the left-hand side was flicked on at the near post by Abel Ruiz, with Pubill providing the telling touch to give Spain the lead in the 28th minute.
However, Timur Kapadze's side drew level in the third minute of injury time when a VAR review saw Pau Cubarsi penalised for a pull inside the box, with Shomurodov firing beyond Arnau Tenas.
Spain were rewarded for a bright start to the second half when Aimar Oroz was tripped by Abbosbek Fayzullaev.
Gomez assumed responsibility but saw his effort brilliantly saved. However, he atoned for his error three minutes later as he swept home from Juan Miranda's inviting cutback.
Uzbekistan had the opportunity to snatch a first point at the Olympics late on, only for Umarali Rahmonaliyev to slice his shot wide in the sixth minute of injury time.
Data Debrief: A mixed bag for La Roja
Former Manchester City defender Gomez was the standout for Spain, registering more shots (three), more shots on target (three) than anyone on the pitch, finishing the encounter with an xG of 1.01.
Barcelona youngster Cubarsi endured a difficult afternoon having given away a penalty, but was strong in possession, completing 54 of his 57 passes (94.7%).
Despite registering six shots on target from the eight they attempted, Spain underperformed their expected goals (xG) by 0.60, something that will need to improve should they want to win a second gold medal.
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz have been generating excitement as they prepare to represent Spain at the Paris Olympics, but have been tempering expectations despite their impressive credentials.
Alcaraz triumphed at Wimbledon for a second time against Novak Djokovic earlier this month, adding to the French Open title he claimed in June and becoming the youngest player to win major titles on three different surfaces (also the US Open in 2022).
Nadal, a 22-time grand slam winner, has struggled with injuries over the past two years but reached his first final since 2022 at the Swedish Open last week, only to fall to straight-sets defeat to Nuno Borges in Bastad.
The competition gets under way on July 27 at Roland Garros, but Nadal was cautious about Spain's chances of winning a gold medal.
"I understand a little bit the morbid illusion of seeing us play together but let's not think that this translates into success, I think it's a mistake," Nadal said.
"Carlos hasn't played many doubles and I haven't played many doubles or many singles lately."
"We are going to do our best to try, at least, to leave with the peace of mind of having done everything possible to get where we can get (but) obviously, we have not been able to prepare together for a tournament like this, where there are other doubles teams that have been preparing."
Nadal has previously triumphed in both the singles and doubles events at the Games, winning gold at Beijing in 2008 and in Rio eight years later.
Having missed the London and Tokyo Games due to injury, the Spaniard suggested the Olympics were even more special than grand slams.
"Unfortunately I have missed Tokyo and London due to injury and it is something that has hurt me more than missing Grand Slams," he said.
"In the end they are unique experiences, of which there are few in the world, in one's career.
"The others are very important tournaments for us, but in the end we experience them every year, and well, I value being here very much."
Alcaraz arrives in Paris full of confidence after claiming his first French Open title a month ago.
The 21-year-old believes his success at Roland Garros will be to his advantage heading into the Games.
"I have not had the opportunity to play many doubles tournaments, but obviously having the illusion of returning to Roland Garros, to these courts that I have always enjoyed playing... makes it easier," he said.
"We also have days of training, individually and doubles to adapt as best as possible again, for my part to return to clay and be able to gain confidence to start the tournament in the best possible way."
The Spanish pair will find out their opponents for the first round on Thursday, when the draw takes place.
Despite two crushing defeats to England so far in their ongoing ICC Test Championship three-match series, West Indies players remain on the up, at least where the ICC Men’s Test rankings are concerned.
Captain Kraigg Brathwaite leads the charge on the batting ranking, as he moved up two slots to 40th position, following scores of 48 and 47 in the second Test, which West Indies lost by 241 runs. They lost the first Test by an innings and 114 runs and will try to avoid a whitewash in the final Test in Edgbaston starting on Friday.
Wicketkeeper/batsman Joshua de Silva was rewarded for his first innings score of 82 in that match, as he jumped seven places to 61st, while Jason Holder’s 27 and 37 saw him inched up two places to 70th. Kavem Hodge’s 120, which was his maiden Test century, pushed him into the top 80.
The Dominican batsman moved 21 places up to 75th, one spot behind Kyle Mayers, who, despite being out of action, remains in 74th. Alick Athanaze held firm in 77th, while discarded Jermaine Blackwood (50th), Tagenarine Chanderpaul (83rd), Roston Chase (86th), and Kirk McKenzie (100) are the other Caribbean batsmen in the top 100.
On the bowling chart, new-ball bowlers Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales made the only notable improvements to their rankings. Joseph moved up two places to 33rd after finishing with five wickets in the match, and Seales moved up 10 places from 44th to 34th with six wickets.
Meanwhile, England batter Harry Brook has achieved a career-best third position after notching a century in the second Test.
Brook, who scored 36 and 109 in Nottingham, advanced four places, while his teammates Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope have also made significant gains in the latest weekly update to the men’s rankings, which are carried out on Wednesdays across formats.
Left-handed opener Duckett has progressed six places to 16th position after notching scores of 71 and 76, while Player of the Match Pope has advanced from 29th to 21st with scores of 121 and 51.
Chris Woakes is back into the top 20 of the bowling rankings for the first time since September 2021, after he finished with four for 84 and two for 28 in the match, while spinner Shoaib Bashir has advanced 18 slots to 53rd position after he took his third five-wicket haul in just his fifth Test.
In the ICC World Test Championship standings, England are placed in sixth place, while West Indies are ninth, as per the percentage points that determine qualification.
Saquon Barkley has accused the New York Giants of adopting a "disrespectful" approach during the failed contract talks that led to him joining the Philadelphia Eagles.
Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75million deal with the Eagles in free agency earlier this year, having failed to agree fresh terms with the Giants.
Having been taken second overall by New York in the 2018 NFL Draft, the running back managed 5,211 rushing yards and 2,100 receiving yards through 74 regular-season games with the team.
He only enjoyed one playoff run with the team, however, losing 38-7 to the Eagles in the divisional round to cap the 2022 season.
Barkley has repeatedly claimed he wished to stay with the Giants, only to be left feeling undervalued by the offers put forward by general manager Joe Schoen.
He reiterated those claims in an interview with The Athletic, saying: "I was a little fed up, to be honest.
"It felt like the only way the Giants wanted me was if I was able to go show my worth to someone else.
"I had to go prove that a team would want to pay me, so then, maybe, they would want to pay me.
"I felt like it was a little disrespectful, to be honest. Because it's kind of like a slap in the face. It was over after that phone call.
"I never felt like we really got a fair negotiation. Joe, he made a comment that negotiations took 10 years off his life. What do you think it did for me?"
The Eagles open their 2024 campaign against the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo on September 7, with their meeting with Barkley's former team set for October 20.
Jofra Archer says he wants to play in the 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia as he outlined his intentions for a return to Test cricket with England.
Archer has not been part of England's Test side since February 2021, with the paceman having struggled with numerous injuries over the last few years.
He performed well in the 2019 Ashes, taking 22 wickets at an average of 20.27, and his full involvement in England's recent T20 World Cup campaign hints at a return to the longer format.
His pace would be ideal on Australia's bouncy pitches and a real asset to captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum as they aim to win an Ashes series down under for the first time in 14 years.
Nevertheless, Archer's fitness is being carefully monitored by the management team and he will not play any red-ball cricket in 2024.
When asked about the possibility of being involved in the Ashes, Archer said: "I am going to use the rest of the year to make sure this is at least a possibility.
"I'm tired of going on Instagram and seeing posts saying 'He's going to be on the physio's bed in the next two weeks' and stuff like that.
"I want to spend the rest of the year proving some people wrong and hopefully play in another Ashes."
Archer himself also said that he would be keen to play first-class cricket for Sussex early next summer.
Speaking as part of BBC Sport's coverage for the opening match of the Hundred, the 29-year-old said: "I will manage myself as best as possible and get myself through until at least maybe the start of the Championship next year.
"I'll probably play a few of those games and keep building up and getting that workload ready for Test cricket."
He will make his debut in the 100-ball competition on Wednesday for Southern Brave against London Spirit at the Utilita Bowl.
Barcelona forward Ansu Fati has suffered a foot injury during a pre-season training session after returning from an underwhelming loan spell at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Hopes were high for Fati when he enjoyed a breakout 2019-20 season, eventually being handed the Blaugrana's iconic number 10 shirt when Lionel Messi departed in 2021.
However, he has struggled with injuries in the ensuing years, making a total of 21 starts in La Liga from the start of 2020-21 to the end of 2022-23.
Fati joined Brighton on loan last season in a move widely viewed as a coup for the Seagulls, but he only started three league games for the club, totalling 514 minutes across 19 appearances and scoring twice.
He has now been prevented from travelling to the United States for Barca's pre-season tour, which features fixtures against Manchester City, Real Madrid and Milan.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the club said: "In Tuesday's training session, first-team player Ansu Fati suffered a foot injury.
"He will undergo conservative treatment in Barcelona and his return to training will be determined by his recovery time."
Fati has expressed a desire to stay with Barca, where he has a contract until 2027, though he has been linked with a move to Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce in recent weeks.
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