Lamar Jackson tied a career high with five touchdown passes as the rolling Baltimore Ravens earned a fifth consecutive win with Monday's 41-31 victory over the injury-riddled Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Baltimore (5-2) overcame a 10-0 deficit after one quarter to extend its streak behind big performances once again from Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. Jackson completed 17 of 22 passes for 281 yards without an interception, while Henry had one of the Ravens' five touchdown grabs while adding 169 rushing yards on just 15 attempts.
Mark Andrews hauled in two of Jackson's touchdown throws and Rashod Bateman accounted for another receiving score while finishing with a career-high 121 yards on four catches.
The Ravens amassed 508 total yards against Tampa Bay (4-3), which lost its top two receivers in addition to its defensive woes with both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin exiting with injuries.
Evans aggravated a previous hamstring injury while attempting to make a touchdown catch in the second quarter, while Godwin was carted off in the final minute after suffering a likely season-ending injury to his left leg.
Baker Mayfield threw for 370 yards and three touchdowns - two to running back Rachaad White - but was intercepted twice by Marlon Humphrey in the first half. The first of those picks occurred in the end zone with the Bucs looking to extend a 10-7 lead.
Evans had a 25-yard touchdown catch before exiting for the game's first points, while Cade Otton topped Tampa Bay with 100 receiving yards on eight catches.
Baltimore scored on all six of its possessions in the second and third quarters - four Jackson touchdown passes and two Justin Tucker field goals - to erase its early deficit and make head coach John Harbaugh a winner in the opener of a Monday night doubleheader that also featured the Los Angeles Chargers, coached by his brother Jim.
Ryland's final-play field goal lifts Cardinals over Chargers
The Arizona Cardinals prevented a Harbaugh family sweep, however, as Chad Ryland's 32-yard field goal as time expired dealt the Chargers a 17-15 loss.
After Cameron Dicker's fifth field goal of the game gave the Chargers a 15-14 lead with 1:54 remaining, Kyler Murray quickly got the Cardinals in scoring range with a 33-yard completion to running back James Conner that put the ball on Los Angeles' 22-yard line.
Arizona (3-4) ultimately got to the Chargers' 14 while bleeding the clock to set up Ryland's kick that split the uprights as time ran out.
Murray ripped off a 44-yard touchdown run earlier in the fourth quarter to give the Cardinals a 14-9 advantage, and added a touchdown pass to Greg Dortch in the first half while finishing 14 of 26 for 145 yards with one interception.
Conner accounted for 101 rushing yards in addition to his key catch as Arizona piled up 181 yards on the ground.
Los Angeles (3-3) lost for the third time in four games following a 2-0 start after failing to score a touchdown and losing two fumbles, one of which landed out of Arizona's end zone for a touch-back after Jalen Reagor was stripped of the ball just short of the goal line on a 41-yard reception in the first quarter.
Justin Herbert completed 27 of 39 passes for 349 yards in the loss, while Will Dissly recorded 81 yards on eight catches for the Chargers.
Dicker converted two field goals of 50 or more yards in the second quarter, including a 59-yarder that matched the longest in franchise history.
The Denver Nuggets made another big move towards keeping its core together for the long term by agreeing to a new four-year contract with forward Aaron Gordon prior to Monday's extension deadline.
Gordon, a major contributor to Denver's NBA championship run in 2022-23, was the lone player on a veteran contract to be extended at the deadline. Eight members of the 2021 draft class received extensions on their rookie deals, most notably the Houston Rockets' duo of center Alperen Sengun and guard Jalen Green.
Sengun was awarded the largest contract of that group, a five-year, $185 million deal. Green, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 draft, agreed to a three-year, $106 million extension.
Gordon's new deal is essentially a three-year extension that includes a $37.1 player option for 2028-29, as the 10-year veteran exercised a $22.8 million player option for 2025-26 as part of the agreement.
The 29-year-old, who averaged 13.9 points and 6.5 rebounds in 73 games last season and is one of the Nuggets' most important defenders, is the second starter Denver has locked up this off-season. The Nuggets handed high-scoring guard Jamal Murray a four-year, $208 million max extension in September.
Green and Sengun have emerged as essential parts of an up-and-coming Rockets team that finished 41-41 in 2023-24, a 19-game improvement over the previous season.
Sengun himself took a big step forward last season by averaging career bests of 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and five assists per game and finishing third in voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player award. The Turkey native was one of six players to average 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists, a list that also includes superstars Nikola Jokić, Joel Embiid, Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Julius Randle.
Green has averaged 19.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game over his first three seasons, and his 4,450 career points are the most of any player of the 2021 class.
Three other teams reached notable extensions with young players. The Orlando Magic signed guard Jalen Suggs to a five-year, $150.5 million deal, Jalen Johnson got a five-year, $150 million contract from the Atlanta Hawks and the New Orleans Pelicans agreed to a four-year, $112 million extension with sharpshooter Trey Murphy.
Suggs, the fifth overall pick in 2021, is coming off his best season, as he averaged 12.6 points in 75 games and shot nearly 40 per cent from 3-point range to help the Magic end a three-year playoff drought.
Johnson is coming off a breakout campaign as well, as the Duke product averaged 16 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists while starting 52 of 56 games in his third NBA season.
Murphy is a career 39.2 per cent 3-point shooter and excelled as a sixth man for a New Orleans team that went 49-33 in 2023-24. The 2021 No. 17 overall pick has averaged 14.6 points per game over the last two seasons.
Others to agree to rookie-scale extensions were Washington Wizards shooting specialist Corey Kispert (4 years, $54 million), Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (3 years, $39 million) and Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy (3 years, $18 million).
After an offseason of massive free agent signings, blockbuster trades and the captivating Olympic Games in Paris, the 2024-25 NBA season will tip off on Tuesday.
While player movement and new rosters have grabbed the majority of the headlines since June, the defending champion Boston Celtics remain mostly unchanged and poised to make a run at a repeat.
Jayson Tatum returns as one of the top scorers in the league, and Jaylen Brown is coming off a Finals MVP performance. Tatum, however, barely played for this year’s gold medal-winning Team USA squad – and Brown was left off the roster entirely – despite Boston teammates Derrick White and Jrue Holiday playing key roles in Paris.
These dynamics could cause a lesser team to engage in a power struggle, but the core of this Celtics team appears to be as cohesive as they come, with Brown and Tatum gladly passing the “primary scorer” baton back and forth in their seven seasons together.
The Celtics finished last season 64-18, then followed with a 16-3 post-season, making them one of the most dominant champions in recent memory. Sports books have forecasted Boston’s win total this season at 58.5, the highest in the league.
With Tatum and Brown still in the heart of their primes, the Celtics will be difficult to dethrone, but Al Horford, 38, and Holiday, 34, may begin to regress. Boston will also closely monitor the status of Kristaps Porziņģis, who underwent left leg surgery in June and may be out until the calendar turns to 2025.
Knicks, Sixers load up to compete in East
The Celtics’ most likely challengers in the Eastern Conference appear to be the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers, both of whom made attention-grabbing acquisitions in the offseason.
The Knicks lost Isaiah Hartenstein to free agency but made a massive trade to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns. The multi-talented big man joins a stacked starting lineup that includes Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.
New York won 50 games last season before injuries decimated their play-off hopes. This year’s squad is undoubtedly more talented than last year’s, but how quickly can this group gain cohesion after losing three of last season’s top five scorers?
The Knicks will play in the NBA’s tip-off game Tuesday in Boston, where the Celtics will raise another championship banner.
The 76ers were successful in their gambit to accrue salary cap space for last offseason and made a massive addition in signing Paul George to a four-year max contract that includes a player option.
George teams up with former MVP Joel Embiid and rising star Tyrese Maxey on a team with title aspirations. Philadelphia also added veteran role players this offseason in Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, Caleb Martin and Reggie Jackson.
The 76ers are built to contend this season but face a number of durability questions. Embiid announced last week that he will not play on back-to-back nights after missing 45 games last season. George, 34, played 74 games last season but averaged 47 games played over the previous four seasons.
Philadelphia have said that their sole focus will be on having a healthy roster when the playoffs start in April, so Embiid and George could have plenty of rest days during the regular season.
While Philly and New York appear to be Boston’s most formidable challengers in the East, others are lurking just a tier below.
The Milwaukee Bucks expect the second year of the Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard pairing to yield better results under coach Doc Rivers, while Tyrese Haliburton and a young Indiana Pacers team will look to build on last season’s Eastern Conference finals appearance.
James family history
While the Western Conference is loaded with championship contenders, a team likely outside the title conversation has stolen most of the attention this offseason.
The Los Angeles Lakers used the 55th overall pick in June’s draft on Bronny James, making him teammates with his father, LeBron James. The pair will become the first father-son duo to play in the same NBA game.
Bronny struggled in six preseason games, shooting under 30 percent from the field and racking up more turnovers than assists. Even if Bronny spends most of the season in the G League, the Lakers will almost certainly allow him to take the court with his legendary father at some point.
The elder James will celebrate his 40th birthday this season as the future Hall of Famer enters his 22nd NBA season.
While James seems to have defied the aging process over the last several years, Los Angeles will likely ease his workload and give more opportunities to Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves and DeAngelo Russell.
James and Davis missed just 17 combined games last season, and the Lakers will need a similarly healthy season to compete in a loaded West.
MVP race: West is best
Luka Dončić won last season’s scoring title at 33.9 points per game and guided the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA Finals appearance.
The Mavs added veteran sharpshooter and long-time Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson in hopes of a title run and will be banking on big growth from second-year center Derek Lively II.
Dončić opens the season as the betting favourite to win MVP, but he will have plenty of competition both for personal accolades and team success.
Nikola Jokić was voted MVP for the third time last season and enters the 2024-25 season as one of the favourites, although he would need a truly spectacular season to overcome voter fatigue and win a fourth MVP in a five-year span.
After the free agent departures of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown and Jeff Green the last two off-seasons, the Nuggets will need contributions from younger players and will hope Jamal Murray’s health improves as the season progresses.
For years, the Oklahoma City Thunder were considered a sleeping giant, and OKC has signalled over the past year that they are ready for contention.
The Thunder were the top seed in the West last season with a 57-25 record, then used the playoffs to identify weaknesses and gain experience. OKC acquired Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein in the offseason, giving them a better-fitting and more flexible roster, and the Thunder enter this season as the favourites in the West.
Hartenstein will miss the first six-or-so weeks of the season after breaking his left (shooting) hand, but once healthy he should help negate a rebounding weakness that doomed the Thunder in the playoffs.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is among the MVP favourites after averaging 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists last season while shooting a career-high 53.5 percent from the field.
As deep and talented as the Thunder are as currently constructed, they own a staggering amount of future draft capital and could become a juggernaut if they decided to trade for another star player.
The Minnesota Timberwolves turned heads with their run to the West finals last season and stunned the basketball world when they traded Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
The decision to move on from Towns puts more of the offensive load on Anthony Edwards, whose scoring and efficiency have improved each year since being the No. 1 overall pick in 2020.
Minnesota made easy work of the Phoenix Suns last post-season, but the Suns will look to rejoin the contenders’ conversation as Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal enter their second season as a teammate trio.
Wembanyama: A matter of time
One of the most prevalent storylines entering 2024-25 is the continued growth of Victor Wembanyama in his second NBA season.
Wembanyama had one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory, with the 7-foot-4 center leading the league in blocks and finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Wembanyama followed with an impressive run in the Paris Olympics and has hit all the early checkpoints of a future MVP.
Most experts agree that the San Antonio Spurs aren’t ready to compete for a play-off spot this season, but Wembanyama seems destined to become a top-five player, and his ascendancy could happen sooner rather than later.
Flounder for Flagg?
This year’s rookie class is full of questions, but prognosticators are bullish on several top prospects in the 2025 class, setting the stage for a race for the bottom.
Duke forward Cooper Flagg is projected to be a two-way force and is the consensus No. 1 prospect in the class after playing with Team USA Select Team over the summer.
Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, along with Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper of Rutgers, have also got scouts excited in a draft class considered much deeper than 2024’s crop.
With one or more possible franchise-changers available in the 2025 draft, many of the NBA’s less talented teams will be content to sit at the bottom of the standings this season, especially in the Eastern Conference.
From the Washington Wizards to the Brooklyn Nets to the Portland Trail Blazers, there will be a handful of organisations focused more on the 2025 draft than their 2024-25 record.
Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) has issued an apology to its customers and stakeholders following the cancellation of Monday’s Heroes' Day race meet at Caymanas Park. The cancellation came after a series of disruptions stemming from the disqualification of the first-place finisher in Race 2, which caused unrest among some punters at the track.
In a statement, SVREL explained the incident: "On Monday, October 21, 2024, a series of unfortunate events led to the disruption and subsequent cancellation of races at Caymanas Park by the Jamaica Racing Commission Stewards."
The unrest began when the stewards' decision in Race 2 led to the disqualification of the initial winner. Displeased with the result, some punters expressed their dissatisfaction by throwing debris, creating an unsafe environment for patrons, participants, and horses.
"After the announcement of the race results, some punters became agitated and expressed their dissatisfaction in a manner that compromised the safety and security of all present. This included the throwing of debris across the Park, creating an unsafe environment for patrons, participants, and horses alike," the statement continued.
As the situation grew more volatile, trainers began voicing concerns for their safety, leading to the cancellation of subsequent races.
"In light of this development and prioritizing the safety of the horses, horsemen, punters, and all attendees, the stewards made the decision to abandon race 4 and subsequently, the entire race meet for the day," SVREL said.
The company further emphasized that security personnel, supported by the police, were working to manage the situation and prevent any further escalation.
SVREL concluded by offering a formal apology for the inconvenience caused: "Supreme Ventures Racing & Entertainment Limited, the operator of Caymanas Park, extends our sincerest apologies to our valued customers and stakeholders for the inconvenience caused by the abandonment of the race meet."
The company reiterated its commitment to the safety of all involved in the sport, while promising to address the issues that led to the disruption.
Naomi Osaka apologised after a troublesome back injury forced her to withdraw from the Hong Kong Open and cut her comeback season short.
The four-time major champion was expected to feature in the final WTA 500 event of the year but has pulled out, still citing an injury she suffered in the China Open against Coco Gauff this month.
Osaka has posted a 22-17 record since returning from maternity leave, but her comeback campaign was confirmed to have hit an abrupt end on Monday.
"I'm really sorry that I have had to withdraw from competing at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open and the rest of this tennis season," said Osaka.
"I love visiting the tournament and, despite the obvious disappointment of not being able to play, I want to reassure all my wonderful Hong Kong fans that I will still be attending the event.
"I am very much looking forward to meeting you all.
"There is a wonderful line-up of world-class players coming to the tournament and I want to wish them all the best of luck in this exciting event."
Osaka racked up six victories over top-20 opponents this year, including her first win over a top-10 opponent in two years by beating Jelena Ostapenko in the first round of the US Open.
Peter Johnston, the director of International Events at the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association, offered his well-wishes to Osaka despite her withdrawal.
"We are obviously very disappointed that Naomi has had to withdraw from competing, and we sincerely hope that she makes a speedy recovery from her injuries," he said.
"We are nevertheless confident that we have a stellar field of world-class players to enthuse and excite Hong Kong tennis fans."
Deshaun Watson won't take another snap for the Cleveland Browns this season.
An MRI on Monday confirmed that Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture in Sunday's 21-14 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
The results of the tests were expected after the embattled quarterback was injured on a non-contact play with 1:26 remaining in the first half.
Watson took a snap and dropped back to pass, but when he tried to plant his right foot, his leg buckled underneath him. He immediately dropped to the ground and was carted off the field after he was tended to by trainers.
With Sunday's loss, the Browns fell to 1-6 this season.
Watson is in the third year of a five-year, $230million fully guaranteed contract he signed with the Browns in March 2022 after being traded from the Houston Texans.
He has not lived up to the mega-contract, however, playing in just six games in each of his first two seasons in Cleveland before making it to seven this year.
In his first season in 2022, he served an 11-game suspension and in 2023, he was limited to just six starts because of a shoulder injury that required surgery.
In seven games this season, Watson had five touchdowns and three interceptions, ranking 27th in passer rating (79.0) and 31st in pass yards per attempt (5.31).
He was replaced Sunday by Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but he later left with a finger injury and was replaced by Jameis Winston.
The Browns have been a mess offensively and just traded away their top receiver Amari Cooper last week, though they did manage to top 300 yards of total offence Sunday for the first time this season (336).
They still failed to reach 20 points, and their 109 total points are the franchise's fewest through seven games since the 2017 team scored 103.
Aryna Sabalenka has ended Iga Swiatek 11-month reign at the summit of the world rankings ahead of the WTA finals.
Sabalenka previously held the top spot for eight weeks from September to November last year, and has returned once again after a sensational run of form.
The Belarusian has compiled a record of 20-1 since mid-August, during which she claimed her third grand slam title at the US Open after beating home favourite Jessica Pegula.
Sabalenka also recently claimed the Cincinnati Open and Wuhan Open titles, while she also started the year with a major triumph at the Australian Open.
She is the player with the most wins in 2024 with 46, including the women's singles grand slam and WTA-1000 events, one more than Swiatek who is in second.
The next chance for Swiatek to return to number one is the season-ending WTA Finals next month in Riyadh.
Five-time losing finalists, the New York Liberty, can finally call themselves WNBA champions after defeating the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime of a decisive Game 5 on Sunday night in Brooklyn.
Bahamian Jonquel Jones scored 17 points to lead New York, which was one of the original franchises in the league.
The win gave the city of New York its first basketball title since 1973, when the Knicks won the NBA championship.
With stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu struggling offensively, other players stepped up for the Liberty, mainly Leonie Fiebich and Nyara Sabally.
Fiebich, a rookie from Germany, started off overtime with a three-pointer before Nyara Sabally had a steal for a layup to make it 65-60 and bring the sellout crowd to its feet.
Minnesota didn’t score in the extra period until Kayla McBride hit two free throws with 1:51 left.
The Lynx, five-time WNBA Champions, missed all six of their field goal attempts in overtime.
After Ionescu missed a shot with 21 seconds left, her 18th miss in 19 shot attempts, the Lynx had one last chance, but Bridget Carleton missed a three-pointer with 16 seconds left.
Stewart, who missed a free throw with 0.8 seconds left in Game 1, hit two free throws with 10.1 seconds left to seal the victory.
Jones was named Finals MVP with averages of 17.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 56 percent shooting throughout the five games.
During Game 5, Jones finished with 17 points, six rebounds and one assist to help the Liberty grab the title.
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski fears that quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during their 21-14 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Watson will go through tests to confirm a diagnosis for his injury, which he suffered on Sunday.
But Stefanski did not have a great outlook after the game.
"Obviously, it doesn't look good with the injury," he told ESPN.
"I'll give him a call here in a little but ... disappointed for him. Any of our guys that you lose, you're disappointed because you know much this means to them and how hard they work. It's tough."
Watson's injury was sustained during a non-contact play when his leg hyperextended and he fell to the ground.
It compounds a miserable start to the season for the Browns, who are bottom of the AFC North with a 1-6 record.
Fan frustration was noticeable, with many seeming to cheer Watson's injury after he had been booed during the pregame.
"We don't boo guys that are injured on the field, especially when the cart comes out," said defensive end Myles Garrett said after the game.
"We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans to boo anyone and their downfall."
Stefanski was in agreement with Garrett.
"I don't think it's ever OK to cheer when someone's injured. I'm sure it's not every person in the building doing that, but that's disappointing," he said.
Meanwhile, it is feared San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL during their 28-18 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
"That's what it looks like, but we don't know for sure," coach Kyle Shanahan told ESPN. "Been wrong before. So, praying that we are [again]."
Further tests will confirm the exact issue and determine whether Aiyuk will miss the rest of the season.
With fitness problems mounting for the 49ers, Deebo Samuel was also announced to be suffering from illness before kick-off but was still expected to play.
He was withdrawn after four snaps with no catches or carries.
"Throat, stomach things, just real fatigued," Shanahan said, on Samuel. "Struggled to breathe, couldn't catch his breath ... he kept trying to fight through it, but once he was struggling with the breathing and everything, we had to shut him down."
Aiyuk's teammates, meanwhile, were vocal in their disappointment at potentially missing the wide receiver for the remainder of the season.
"It sucks," said tight end George Kittle. "I love Brandon Aiyuk, the energy that he brings, what he can do on the football field, routes, catching the ball. He's an incredible football player. You can't really replace, in my opinion, one of the best receivers in the NFL."
Quarterback Brock Purdy echoed Kittle's sentiments.
"What BA does for our offense and who he is and as a teammate and the brother of ours, man, it's sad," he said.
"Wish him nothing but the best and praying for him. So that's my guy. And when he goes down like that, obviously we have other guys that can step up and do their job really well ... we all just got to come together as a group collectively, the receiver unit and all of us."
Lando Norris described the decision to penalise him for a passing move that saw both him and Max Verstappen go off the track as a "momentum killer" in the race for the Formula One Drivers' Championship.
The penalty given to Norris saw him leapfrogged by Verstappen onto the podium positions, with the McLaren driver dropping from third to fourth.
Following the race, the gap between Norris and Verstappen in the Drivers' Championship was 57 points with five to go and 146 points available.
The United States Grand Prix started controversially, with both Norris and Verstappen jostling for position on the first corner in a way that allowed race winner Charles Leclerc to gain ground on the duo.
While Norris admitted he had "driven like a muppet" at that point, an incident with four laps to go was more pertinent.
With Norris attempting an overtake, Verstappen defended the inside and both cars ran off the track with Norris emerging in front. The McLaren driver was penalised for overtaking off the track, although he saw it a different way.
"For me, the thing that is incorrect is what Max did, which is defend his position by going off the track and effectively keeping his position," he told BBC Sport.
"He over-defended and made a mistake and gained from that. I had to go off the track.
"It is impossible for people to know whether I could have made it on the track or couldn't, therefore you cannot steward that kind of thing."
Norris thought that the stewards should have waited to review the incident with both drivers after the race had finished.
"It's just a rash decision," he said. "They don’t hear or understand our points, which they should do after the race. They just want to make a decision at the time so they don’t alter points and podiums and things like that.
"But they don’t hear my point or my team's point or Max's point, which I don't think is the most correct thing. But today it's a penalty and there's not a lot I can do apart from accept that.
"It was a great battle. Max defended very well but he ended up on top and congrats to him."
Despite his magnanimous comments, Norris' frustration was palpable as he claimed that race officials were "just guessing."
He added: "I don’t think that's how stewarding should be done".
Cheryl Reeve lashed out at the officiating after her Minnesota Lynx team lost 67-62 to the New York Liberty in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals.
The Liberty clinched their first championship with an overtime victory on Sunday.
Yet Reeve, who has won four titles with the Lynx, was left seething after a disputed foul handed New York's Breanna Stewart the chance to restore parity with 5.2 seconds of the game remaining in regulation time.
She did not hold back during her postgame media duties.
"We know we could have done some things, right, but you shouldn't have to overcome to that extent," Reeve said.
"This s*** ain't that hard. Officiating is not that hard.
"Bring it on, because that s*** was stolen from us.
"This is for a championship, for both teams. Let them decide it. What contact is legal should be the same for both teams."
Reeve was not the only big name to criticise the officiating.
LeBron James posted on X: "I'm sorry but that wasn't a foul! Let the damn players dictate the outcome of a close battle-tested game."
Damian Lillard posted on X, too.
"Refs called this game like they knew the assignment in the second half boy. Great game," he wrote.
While Reeve and the Lynx will have to accept defeat, the Liberty celebrated a famous moment in their history.
"This is something special right here and I'm trying not to cry," said Stewart, who finished with 13 points, 15 rebounds and four assists.
"We had some ups and downs. This series was tough but we fought through because we wanted to bring it home to this city and this crowd."
Jonquel Jones top-scored with 17 points and was named the WNBA Finals MVP.
"I could never dream of this," said Jones. "It's the biggest moment and you have to lock in if you want to be a champion. It was all about this and us winning together because we really love each other."
The Kansas City Chiefs got the better of the San Francisco 49ers once again, only this time without an MVP-like performance from Patrick Mahomes.
Kansas City used a strong running game and another excellent effort on defence to keep its perfect 2024 record intact with Sunday's 28-18 win over the 49ers, the first meeting between the teams since the Chiefs' overtime victory in Super Bowl LVIII back in February.
Kareem Hunt had two of four Kansas City rushing touchdowns and the Chiefs amassed a season-high 184 yards on the ground to move to 6-0 and record their 12th straight victory when including play-off games. The two-time defending NFL champions have not lost since a 20-14 defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day.
The Chiefs offset Mahomes' two interceptions and a 154-yard passing day from the three-time Super Bowl MVP by picking off Brock Purdy three times, including twice in the second half, to help them pull away in the fourth quarter.
San Francisco dropped to 3-4 and was dealt with another significant injury to a key player when wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk exited in the second quarter with a right knee injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said afterward the team believes Aiyuk sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament that would end his season.
Purdy did rush for two touchdowns but was held to 212 yards on 17-of-31 passing. George Kittle recorded six catches for 92 yards in the loss.
Touchdown runs of one and six yards from Hunt in the second quarter staked the Chiefs to a 14-6 half-time lead, though Deommodore Lenoir's interception of Mahomes and 33-yard return set up Purdy's 1-yard touchdown plunge early in the third quarter that trimmed the margin to two points. 49ers kicker Anders Carlson missed the extra point.
San Francisco's next two drives ended in Purdy interceptions, however, and the Chiefs scored touchdowns on their first two possessions of the fourth quarter to separate. Mahomes had the first with a 1-yard run, while Mecole Hardman scored on an 18-yard jet sweep with 3:09 left to put the game out of reach.
Lions hand Vikings first loss on late field goal
The Minnesota Vikings were the NFL's only other unbeaten team entering Week 7, but their five-game winning streak to start the season came to an end when Detroit's Jake Bates made a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to give the Lions a hard-earned 31-29 victory.
Minnesota overcame an 11-point third-quarter deficit to take a 29-28 lead with 5:50 remaining on linebacker Ivan Pace's 36-yard touchdown return of a fumble by Lions running back David Montgomery. The Vikings could not convert the ensuing 2-point conversion attempt, however, as Sam Darnold's pass intended for Jordan Addison landed off the mark.
That misfire would prove costly for Minnesota (5-1). Detroit's defence forced a three-and-out on the Vikings' next possession, and the Lions marched 44 yards in eight plays after getting the ball back with 2:32 left to play to set up Bates' winning kick.
The Lions owned a 21-10 advantage at half-time on the strength of two Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown runs, including a 45-yard scamper early in the second quarter. Their lead was 28-17 following Jared Goff's second touchdown pass of the day, a 21-yard strike to Kalif Raymond with 5:43 left in the third quarter.
Goff completed 22 of 25 passes for 280 yards and no interceptions in the fourth straight win for Detroit (5-1). The veteran became just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to record a passer rating of 140 or more in three consecutive games.
Gibbs finished with 116 rushing yards on 15 attempts, while Amon-Ra St. Brown caught Goff's first touchdown pass and recorded 112 yards on eight receptions.
Aaron Jones had a 34-yard touchdown run in the first quarter for Minnesota and ended with 93 yards on 14 carries. Justin Jefferson led the Vikings with 81 receiving yards on seven catches and had a 25-yard touchdown grab from Darnold in the third quarter.
Wilson's solid Pittsburgh debut helps send Jets to fourth straight loss
Russell Wilson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in his long-awaited first game with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who extended the New York Jets' struggles by pulling away for a 37-15 victory.
After missing the season's first six games with a lingering calf injury, Wilson completed 16 of 29 passes for 264 yards with touchdown connections to George Pickens and Van Jefferson to help Pittsburgh (5-2) move a half-game up on the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North.
New York (2-5), meanwhile, dropped three games behind the first-place Buffalo Bills in the AFC East after dropping its fourth straight game during what's been a turbulent season for the expected contenders. The Jets are now 0-2 since firing head coach Robert Saleh on Oct. 8 and replacing him with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
While Wilson had a productive Pittsburgh debut, Davante Adams had a quiet one in his first appearance since being acquired by the Jets from the Las Vegas Raiders earlier in the week. The accomplished receiver and former Green Bay Packers team-mate of Aaron Rodgers was held to 30 yards on three catches.
Rodgers was intercepted twice by Beanie Bishop as the Jets failed to hold on to a 15-6 second-quarter lead. The Steelers scored the game's final 31 points and outscored New York by a 24-0 margin in the second half.
Bishop's first interception ignited the rally, with the turnover leading to Wilson's 11-yard touchdown pass to Pickens that pulled Pittsburgh within 15-13 at half-time.
The rookie cornerback came through again midway through the third quarter, as he snared a deep pass that fell out of the hands of New York's Garrett Wilson and returned the pick 41 yards to the Jets' 1-yard line. Wilson scored on a quarterback sneak on the following play to give the Steelers a 23-15 advantage.
Pickens finished with 111 yards on five catches for Pittsburgh, which also received 102 rushing yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown from Najee Harris.
Breece Hall had a rushing touchdown for New York and led the Jets with 103 receiving yards on six catches. Rodgers finished 24 of 39 for 276 yards with one touchdown in addition to the two picks.
Commanders crush Panthers despite star rookie Daniels' departure
The Washington Commanders lost quarterback Jayden Daniels to a rib injury in the first quarter, though Marcus Mariota stepped in capably for the rookie sensation and helped the NFC East leaders to a 40-7 rout of the Carolina Panthers.
Mariota completed 18 of 23 attempts for 205 yards with touchdown passes to Zach Ertz and Ben Sinnott as Washington (5-2) rolled to its most lopsided win since 2015 despite Daniels exiting after just one drive. The 2024 No. 2 overall pick is scheduled for further testing Monday, and Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said after the game he had yet to receive an update on the injury.
Washington also received a 67-yard interception return touchdown from edge rusher Dante Fowler in the first quarter and four field goals from Austin Seibert for the game. Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for a team-high 71 yards with a touchdown on 12 carries, while Terry McLaurin had 98 receiving yards on six catches for the Commanders.
Fowler's pick was one of two by the Washington defence against Andy Dalton, who managed just 93 yards on 11-of-16 passing before being relieved late by 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young.
Chuba Hubbard had 52 rushing yards for Carolina (1-6) and scored the Panthers' lone touchdown with a 4-yard run early in the fourth quarter, after the Commanders had built an overwhelming 37-0 lead after three periods.
Barkley burns former team for 176 yards as Eagles cruise past Giants
Saquon Barkley's return to MetLife Stadium was a memorable one, as the first-year Philadelphia Eagle piled up 176 rushing yards and a touchdown to lead his new team to a 28-3 victory over the New York Giants.
Facing the Giants for the first time since leaving New York to sign a three-year, $37.5 million contract with Philadelphia in the offseason, Barkley registered the second-highest single-game rushing total of his seven-year career. He spent the first six of those seasons with the Giants and ranks fourth in team history with 5,211 rushing yards.
Philadelphia (4-2) also received a dominant effort on defence en route to its second straight win, as the unit racked up eight sacks and held New York (2-5) to 119 total yards.
Daniel Jones took seven of those sacks and mustered just 99 yards on 14-of-21 passing before being pulled after three quarters in favour of backup Drew Lock.
Barkley ripped off a 55-yard run in the second quarter and later finished that drive with a 3-yard touchdown to break a scoreless tie with 8:58 left before half-time.
The Eagles extended the lead to 14-0 less than five minutes later when Jalen Hurts hit A.J. Brown with a well-thrown deep ball on 4th-and-3 for a 41-yard touchdown.
Hurts added a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs in the second half and finished with 114 passing yards while completing 10 of 14 attempts. Brown led all receivers with 89 yards on five catches.
Newcomer McManus boots winning field goal as Packers edge Texans
Brandon McManus capped his Green Bay debut with a 45-yard field goal as time expired to give the Green Bay Packers a 24-22 win over the Houston Texans in a clash of teams off to strong starts.
After the AFC South-leading Texans took a 22-21 lead on Ka'imi Fairbarin's 35-yard field goal with 1:44 left, Jordan Love drove the Packers into range for McManus' kick that put an end to a three-game winning streak for Houston (5-2).
McManus signed with the Packers on Wednesday, more than four months after being released by Washington following allegations he sexually assaulted two flight attendants while traveling to London last season while then with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The NFL announced last month it found no evidence the veteran kicker violated its personal conduct policy.
Love shook off two first-half interceptions to throw for 220 yards and three touchdowns in the third straight win for Green Bay (5-2). The young quarterback delivered scoring strikes to Tucker Kraft and Dontayvion WIcks in the second quarter, then later found Josh Jacobs for an 8-yard touchdown that put the Packers up 21-19 in the third quarter.
Jacobs rushed for 76 yards on 12 carries in addition to his touchdown catch, while Romeo Doubs compiled eight catches for 94 yards for Green Bay.
Houston received 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Joe Mixon but got an off day from C.J. Stroud. The 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year was held to 86 yards on 10-of-21 passing while being sacked four times by a Green Bay defence that yielded just 197 total yards.
Tommy Edman drove in four runs with a homer and a double as the Los Angeles Dodgers captured their 25th National League pennant with Sunday's 10-5 victory over the New York Mets in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series.
Will Smith added a two-run homer to help set up a World Series clash between two of baseball's most storied franchises in the Dodgers and the American League champion New York Yankees. Game 1 of the best-of-seven series will take place Friday in Los Angeles.
The Dodgers and Yankees will be meeting for the 12th time in a World Series, the most frequent matchup of any two teams in the event's history, though they last opposed one another in 1981.
This World Series will also pit this season's likely MVP winners against one another in Los Angeles' Shohei Ohtani and the Yankees' Aaron Judge. It will be the first World Series appearance for both star sluggers.
Ohtani finished 2 for 4 with a run-scoring single and two runs scored in Sunday's clincher, in which Dodgers manager Dave Roberts used seven pitchers in a bullpen game.
Ben Casparius received the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Michael Kopech, who walked two batters in the first inning and gave up the game's first run when Pete Alonso drove in Francisco Lindor with an infield single.
The Dodgers countered with two runs in their half of the first, with both Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez reaching on singles off Mets starter Sean Manaea before Edman knocked in each with a double.
Los Angeles knocked Manaea out during a third inning in which they scored four times to increase their lead to 6-1.
Edman followed Hernandez's single with a two-run homer to start the big inning. Manaea then walked Max Muncy, who later crossed the plate on Smith's homer off Phil Maton to further extend the margin.
Manaea, who beat Los Angeles in Dodger Stadium in Game 2, was tagged for five runs on six hits in two-plus innings of work.
The Mets did close the gap in the fourth on Mark Vientos' two-run homer that cut the lead to 6-3, but Ohtani plated Smith with a single in the sixth to put Los Angeles ahead by four runs.
After the Mets scored once in the seventh to get back within three, the Dodgers put the game away with a three-run eighth.
Mookie Betts doubled in the first of those runs before Hernandez brought in Ohtani with a sacrifice fly for a 9-4 advantage. Edman later reached on a fielder's choice before coming home on Enrique Hernandez's single.
The New York Liberty captured their first WNBA championship in franchise history by outlasting the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime of Sunday's decisive Game 5 of the league FInals.
After Breanna Stewart made two free throws with 5.2 seconds left in regulation to force extra time, the Liberty held the Lynx without a field goal during the additional five-minute period to claim the title that had eluded one of the WNBA's charter teams for the first 27 seasons of its existence.
New York had reached the Finals five times previously and was ousted in four games by the Las Vegas Aces in last year's championship round.
The Liberty, who finished the regular season with a league-best 32-8 record, did manage to prevail in this winner-take-all showdown despite the shooting struggles of its top two stars, Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.
Ionescu missed 18 of 19 field goal attempts while limited to five points, while Stewart went 4 of 15 on a night New York misfired on 21 of its 23 shots from 3-point range.
Stewart did pull down 15 rebounds while finishing with 13 points, however, and the Liberty got a big lift from Jonquel Jones as the All-Star center posted 17 points and six rebounds while being named WNBA Finals MVP.
Second-seeded Minnesota, seeking to become the first team to win five WNBA titles, got 22 points from Napheesa Collier and 21 from Kayla McBride. The Lynx failed to hold onto a 12-point second-quarter lead, however, and went 0 of 6 from the field in overtime to come up just short in their bid for a first championship since 2017.
Minnesota owned a 60-58 lead entering the final minute of regulation after Collier capped a 6-0 run with consecutive baskets. The Lynx came up empty on their next two possessions, though, before Stewart was fouled by Alanna Smith and knocked down both free throws to tie the contest.
After McBride missed a would-be game-winning 3-pointer just before the buzzer, the Liberty scored the first five points of overtime and never trailed thereafter.
Leonie Fiebich began extra time with a 3-pointer to put New York ahead, and Nyara Sabally later stole McBride's errant pass before converting a layup that extended the lead to 65-60 with 3:14 to go.
Charles Leclerc says Ferrari "couldn't have dreamed for better" after claiming his third victory of the Formula One season at the United States Grand Prix.
The Monagasque started fourth on the grid but slipped ahead of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen on Turn One at the start of a dominant performance.
His Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz claimed second place but failed to put Leclerc under any pressure as he coasted along at the front of the pack.
It is the 87th time the Italian team have achieved a one-two in their F1 history, while Leclerc took his eighth win in his career.
The 27-year-old, however, was pleased with the way the team overcame what he said had started as a tough weekend in Austin.
"Very happy, it hasn't been an easy weekend until now. I have been struggling with the feeling in the car, but I had the confidence in the race and the feeling was better," he said.
"We said in the sprint race we weren't scared, but we felt that the others will improve, but today we still had the upper hand, so really happy with how it went today, a one-two for the team. We couldn't have dreamed for better.
"Very happy [to get the first Ferrari one-two in the US in 18 years], and now we are still targeting the title, it's still a long way to go, but it's a good start to this triple header."
Leclerc now sits just 22 points behind Norris, who finished fourth behind Verstappen, in the drivers' championship, while Ferrari are just 48 points off McLaren in the race for the constructors' championship.
Having snuck in front of the two title challengers so early in the race, Leclerc was happy that he was able to hold onto his lead throughout.
"It was a pretty good Turn One, that is exactly how I wanted to do, we had a good launch, and I knew it would be tight," he added.
"[Saturday], I was a bit of a victim being in the wrong place at the wrong time, [on Sunday] I gained from it and that helped a lot in our first stint because we had a lot of mega pace.
"In the second stint it was all about managing behind, but we did a great job, the pace of the car this weekend was really good and that's thanks to the engineers.
"They've been working like crazy to bring the upgrades that we had in Singapore, and it seems to be paying off. Everything worked out well, and we are really, really happy."
Jamaican judoka Ebony Drysdale-Daley is considering legal action against the Jamaica Judo Federation (JJA) after her one-year ban, which was imposed in June 2024, was overturned by the JJA Appeals Committee last week. The athlete, who became Jamaica’s first judoka to compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021, expressed her relief at returning to the sport she loves but voiced disappointment over how the situation was handled by the federation.
“I feel really relieved that I can come back to the sport I love. It’s been so depressing not being able to be a part of something that’s been a part of most of my life,” said Drysdale-Daley. “I feel hugely disappointed, the way I felt abandoned, it’s been very hurtful and I am now considering suing.”
One of her legal representatives, Dr. Emir Crowne, lashed out at the JJA, describing their actions as shocking and unjustified. He criticized the federation for imposing the ban without granting Drysdale-Daley the opportunity to defend herself, stating that it was one of the most egregious cases he had encountered in his legal career.
“It is absolutely shocking what the Jamaica Judo Federation has done to Ms. Drysdale-Daley, a promising Olympian,” Dr. Crowne said. “It banned her on the heels of an Olympic qualifying event, where she was ranked No.1 and would have received a bye to the finals, thereby earning enough points to qualify for the Olympics, irrespective of whether she placed first or second.”
The suspension was initially imposed by JJA President Dwayne Barnett under the federation’s Vexatious Complaints and Unacceptable Behaviour Policy, citing a violation of the federation’s Code of Ethics. Drysdale-Daley was accused of actions that allegedly brought the JJA into disrepute. The suspension letter, issued on July 26, 2024, notified her of the one-year ban, which would last from June 13, 2024, to June 12, 2025.
The JJA justified conducting the disciplinary hearing without Drysdale-Daley’s presence, claiming it was in line with the policy. However, the Appeals Committee found significant procedural errors, including the failure to notify Drysdale-Daley of informal resolutions or grant her the opportunity to respond to the accusations.
In his statement, Dr. Crowne further criticized the JJA’s handling of the case. “To ban her in those circumstances, and completely deprive her of any right to be heard or any due process at all, is absolutely indefensible. The initial ban—of indefinite duration—was apparently initiated by the President, Mr. Dwayne Barnett, and then replaced with a one-year ban by the Executive Committee (of which Mr. Barnett was a member). Even the appeal itself, Mr. Barnett appeared for the Jamaica Judo Federation in defense of the Executive Committee’s decision. It was akin to a High Court judge appearing before the Court of Appeal defending his decision. Most unusual.”
The Appeals Committee, after reviewing the case, found that the JJA had not adhered to its own policies or Statutes. The Committee ruled that the Vexatious Complaints and Unacceptable Behaviour Policy was invoked prematurely, without exhausting reasonable measures to resolve the issue through informal dialogue, as required. Additionally, the Committee found no evidence that Drysdale-Daley was formally invited to appear before the Executive Committee, further invalidating the decision to suspend her.
As a result, the Appeals Committee overturned the suspension and reinstated Drysdale-Daley’s membership with immediate effect, highlighting that the federation’s actions violated its governance structures.
“At the end of the day, the Appeals Committee ‘saw through’ the glaring transparency breaches committed by the Jamaica Judo Federation and ordered that her membership be reinstated with immediate effect,” Dr. Crowne added. “To say that this is one of the most egregious cases I’ve seen in my career would be an understatement. It is but another example of a federation acting with absolute impunity. ‘Wrong and strong’ till the end.”
With her membership restored, Drysdale-Daley can now return to competitive judo. However, her legal team is now exploring the possibility of suing the JJA for damages caused by the suspension, which came at a critical time as she aimed to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
As the dust settles on her successful appeal, the legal battle between Drysdale-Daley and the JJA may be far from over.
Ferrari claimed an impressive one-two finish at the United States Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc dominating to take the win.
Starting from fourth, the Monegasque took advantage of Lando Norris' distraction in his attempt to hold off Max Verstappen, slipping in front to take the lead on the very first corner.
While Carlos Sainz attempted to try and close the gap to his team-mate as he challenged for the win, he did not have enough to force a nervy finish for Leclerc.
That meant all eyes were drawn to the fight for third place, as Verstappen attempted to hold off title rival Norris, though he could only hold out until Turn 12 on lap 52.
The Brit finally got the move around the Red Bull driver, but came off the track to do so, and was handed a five-second penalty, which meant he finished in fourth behind Verstappen.
It means the Dutchman, who won the sprint on Saturday, increases his lead over Norris to 57 points in the drivers' championship with five races to go.
Meanwhile, George Russell had to start from the pit lane after a crash in qualifying but, remarkably, finished sixth – behind Oscar Piastri – the place he was supposed to start from.
But it was a disappointing day for his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who spun out inside the first three laps – on the same corner where Russell crashed in qualifying – and was unable to finish the race.
Data Debrief: All eyes on Ferrari
It was a brilliant race from Leclerc, even if his win became a slight footnote due to Norris and Verstappen's eye-catching battle further back.
This was his eighth win in Formula One, and his third in 2024, his joint-most in a calendar year during his racing career (also three in 2022).
And it was a good day for Ferrari, who achieved the 87th F1 one-two in their history, and their second of 2024 - it is the first time they have achieved two in a single year since 2017.
Top 10
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
6. George Russell (Mercedes)
7. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
8. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
9. Liam Lawson (RB)
10. Franco Colapinto (Williams)
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Drivers'
1. Max Verstappen - 354
2. Lando Norris - 297
3. Charles Leclerc - 275
Constructors'
1. McLaren - 544
2. Red Bull - 504
3. Ferrari - 496
Little has gone right for Deshaun Watson in 2024, and now it appears his season could be over.
The embattled Cleveland Browns quarterback suffered a right Achilles tendon injury on a non-contact play against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
The injury occurred on a second down with 1:26 remaining in the first half when Watson took a snap and dropped back to pass.
When he tried to plant his right foot, it buckled underneath him, and he immediately dropped to the ground.
Cleveland's training staff rushed out to tend to him and Watson was carted off the field. He was replaced by Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
The Browns announced he sustained an Achilles injury, and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported it is feared to be a tear, which will likely end his season.
Watson has been criticised for his poor play this season and the Cleveland fanbase had been calling for coach Kevin Stefanski to bench him.
In the first six games of the season, Watson had five touchdowns and three interceptions and led the Browns to just one victory. Among qualifying QBs, he ranked 28th in passer rating (76.6) and 31st in pass yards per attempt (5.13).
He was playing well before his injury, however, completing 15-of-17 passes for 128 yards.
The injury could bring an end to a massively disappointing tenure with Cleveland after the Browns signed Watson to a fully guaranteed $230million contract in 2022.
He only played in six games in his first season with Cleveland because of an 11-game suspension by the NFL, and was limited to just six starts last season because of a shoulder injury that required surgery.
The suspension of Jamaican judoka Ebony Drysdale-Daley by the Jamaica Judo Federation (JJA) has been overturned following a hearing by the Appeals Committee last week. The committee ruled that the federation failed to follow proper procedures in enforcing its Vexatious Complaints and Unacceptable Behaviour Policy, resulting in an invalid disciplinary process.
The Appeals Committee, chaired by Rashid Hall and Lyle-Anthony Golding, convened on October 14, 2024, to hear the appeal submitted by Drysdale-Daley, who had been handed a one-year suspension by the JJA for allegedly violating its Code of Ethics. The suspension, which was originally set for the period June 13, 2024 to June 12, 2025, had been imposed by the JJA’s Executive Committee, which included President Dwayne Barnett, Vice-President Marvin Anthony Rickards, and Treasurer Fernando Gonzalves.
During the hearing, Drysdale-Daley was represented by Dr. Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones, and Sayeed Bernard, while Dwayne Barnett represented the JJA.
The case centered around the JJA’s use of its Vexatious Complaints and Unacceptable Behaviour Policy to justify Drysdale-Daley’s suspension and the decision to conduct a disciplinary hearing without her being present. However, the Appeals Committee found significant procedural flaws in the federation’s handling of the case.
Drysdale-Daley, who became Jamaica’s first judoka to compete at an Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, claimed the JJA initially registered her for an event in Lima, Peru, but later removed her, depriving her of the opportunity to challenge Ashley McKenzie for the sole available judo spot for Jamaica. McKenzie had secured a silver medal at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games last year.
“They have removed me from the competition registry. I feel the Jamaican Judo Association has favoured the other athlete in contention over me. They have effectively secured the other athlete’s qualification ahead of mine by blocking me from this final tournament, of which I have paid flights for,” Drysdale-Daley said.
The Dwayne Barnett-led JJA, in a statement, firmly denied these accusations, asserting that the federation’s decisions were based on adherence to deadlines and procedures, including missed Anti-Doping tests, which Drysdale-Daley reportedly failed to attend.
“The JJA categorically refutes any claims of impropriety or personal interests influencing the selection process. The General Secretary and other mentioned individuals have no personal or vested interests that would compromise the integrity of these processes,” the statement read.
She was subsequently suspended.
One of the key issues identified was the failure to exhaust all reasonable measures before invoking the policy, as outlined in Point 1.4 of the policy, which mandates that it should be used "only as a last resort." The Appeals Committee determined that there were no attempts by the JJA to resolve the matter through informal channels or standard procedures before resorting to disciplinary action.
Additionally, the Appeals Committee found that Drysdale-Daley was not properly notified or given an opportunity to address the situation before sanctions were applied, violating Point 4.2 of the policy. This failure to follow due process rendered the JJA’s decision invalid.
Further scrutiny of the JJA’s Statutes also revealed that Drysdale-Daley had not been formally invited to appear before the Executive Committee to address the accusations against her, as required by Article 17. This failure to follow the association’s own statutes constituted another breach, further invalidating the suspension.
In its ruling, the Appeals Committee concluded that the Jamaica Judo Federation had not adhered to the correct procedures in both invoking the Vexatious Complaints and Unacceptable Behaviour Policy and enforcing its Statutes. Consequently, the committee overturned the suspension and ordered Drysdale-Daley's immediate reinstatement as a member of the federation.
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