Football’s governing body FIFA is joining other sports federations in reviewing their rules for transgender athletes, a spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.

The aquatics sports body, FINA, and the International Rugby League (IRL) decided over the past few days to exclude trans athletes from women’s events.

The World Athletics may follow suit, according to its president Sebastian Coe.

The FIFA spokesperson said “FIFA is currently reviewing its gender eligibility regulations in consultation with expert stakeholders.

“FIFA thereby takes guidance from many stakeholders (medical, legal, scientific/performance and human rights) as well as the November 2021 IOC Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations.

“Due to the ongoing nature of the process, FIFA is not in a position to comment on specifics of proposed amendments to the existing regulations.

“Should FIFA be asked to verify the eligibility of a player before the new regulations will be in place, any such case will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

“This is taking into account FIFA’s clear commitment to respect for human rights.”

Cycling’s UCI had last week tightened its transgender rules on lower testosterone levels.

FINA decided at the weekend that transgender athletes can participate in women’s races if they have gone through only part of male puberty.

It is also planning an open category for athletes whose gender is different than at birth.

The IRL said late Monday that transgender players were banned from women’s matches “until further research is completed to enable the IRL to implement a formal transgender inclusion policy.”

Coe told journalists that athletics could follow FINA, with a council meeting to discuss the issue later in the year.

Under its current rules, trans athletes need low testosterone levels in certain running events.

“We have always believed that biology trumps gender and we will continue to review our regulations in line with this. We will follow the science,” Coe said.

Oyedeji promised to make the voice of athletes heard and to represent and protect their interests

Former D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji on Tuesday in Abuja retained his position as chairman of the Nigeria Athletes Commission (NAC) with 29 votes out of the 30 votes cast.

The election was conducted under the guidance of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

NOC president Habu Gumel was represented by a member of the committee, Ademola Are, who is the President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF).

The membership election, Henry Okorie had 20 votes, while Aimiaemmonsa Amin had only one vote, Joseph Udale had 18 votes and Emmanuel Jatto 20 votes.

Jatto and Okorie were therefore elected to be members of NAC in the male category.

Blessing Onyeali had 16 votes, Seun Faleye had 15 votes, with Onyeali declared the member to represent female athletes.

Speaking with reporters later, Oyedeji promised that he would properly represent athletes’ interests.

“I will be there to make the voice of athletes heard and to represent their interests and protect their interests and the interests of the country.

“I will be there to make sure that they do what they need to do to promote the image of sports and to be good ambassadors for the image of the country.

“I will make sure that they are involved in every policy or decision that concerns them as athletes,” he said.

NAN reports that athlete representatives from 30 national sports federations participated in the two-day seminar held by NAC, which concluded with the election.

Algerian IOC member Mustapha Berraf says dialogue is an intrinsic part of Sport and therefore it must be promoted to establish and maintain peace

Sport is a formidable rallying instrument that stirs up all kinds of emotions and passions. These are normal human feelings that must remain so in all purity inherited from nature.

Sport involves the whole body of an individual, whatever his race, size, sex, build, looks, appetite, tastes, pleasures, etc…

Sport very much transcends negative values, and extinguishes all the dark shades of evil. Sport only spreads positive vibes. This power emanates from its very essence.

This is the very first thing to understand and to retain universally before seeking to explain all the norms that have entangled Sport due to the action of men like us.

This action has become more serene and credible since Pierre De Coubertin’s visionary legacy bequeathed to posterity an Olympic Movement which we now have the heavy responsibility of perfecting.

Getting closer to Perfection? Yes, why not? We have the means through the power of sport to come closer to perfection. On this exceptional day of 23 June 2022, as we celebrate Olympism, it suffices for us to understand that Sport for Peace must be our common cause.

Dialogue is an intrinsic part of Sport and therefore it must be promoted to establish and maintain peace.

Many crises divide people and sadden nations. We need to bring more people together to make our planet a haven of peace, and Sport is an excellent vehicle to this end.

All crises must be resolved through dialogue, hand in glove, in consensus, and fair play, just like in a sports competition where there is healthy competition for true and sustainable development.

In Africa, the Association of National Olympic Committee of Africa ANOCA, has always cherished the Olympic values of solidarity, love, sharing, and fair play, all to achieve peace.

We have in the past contributed our share to sport and still participate in all major sports events. We were at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, then at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, and we will go to Paris for the 2024 Olympics. The most important thing will be not only to participate but to hoist the white flag of PEACE next to the Olympic flame.

In this concert of nations, Africa desires to sprint at the same pace as all the continents in the permanent quest for peace through all the sports disciplines that exist and are the pride of the Olympic movement.

The moments of competition are the right occasions to silence all that pulls us down; for instance, with Sport, we resisted and countered the pernicious Covid-19 pandemic.

The International Olympic Committee and President Thomas BACH have shown the way forward.

It is the way of resilience and concerted efforts to stave off all adversity. This has been possible thanks to Sport and will continue to be because the Power of Sport is the Power of Peace.

A new 60-ball cricket format, which includes the chance for fans to vote for a batter to have a ‘free hit’ where they can’t be dismissed, will launch in the Caribbean in August.

The 6ixty is being organised by Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Men’s and women’s teams are to compete.

“I am really excited about the innovation, excitement and entertainment,” said CWI president Ricky Skerritt.

The tournament will introduce new rules with the aim of making the game faster, including:

• Each batting team has six wickets – at the fall of the sixth wicket they are all out.
• Each batting team has two powerplay overs. They can unlock a third powerplay by hitting two sixes in the first 12 balls. This extra powerplay over can be taken at any time between overs 3-9.
• There will be 30 balls bowled from one end before the action switches to the other end for the final 30 balls.
• The 30 balls will be delivered as five separate overs, with no bowler being able to bowl more than two overs for the innings.
• If teams do not bowl their overs within the allotted time a member of their team is removed from the field for the final six balls. 
• Fans will vote for the timing of a ‘mystery free hit’ where a batter can’t be dismissed by the bowler

Organisers have said some of the world’s best cricketers will be involved, though have not said who.

CPL chief executive officer Pete Russell said: “This is a hugely exciting moment for both CPL and Cricket West Indies as we create a tournament that will see cricket fans brought closer to the game. 

“There will be world-class men’s and women’s cricketers taking part in a fantastic event for the Caribbean, and this combined with cutting-edge innovations, signals a great moment for all fans of West Indian cricket.”

Cricket is trying to find new audiences and one way in which the sport is aiming to do so is through new formats. The Hundred, a 100-ball tournament, was introduced in England and Wales in 2021 in a bid to open the sport to new fans.

Serena Williams’ comeback continued as she and Ons Jabeur reached the Eastbourne doubles semi-finals with an entertaining win over Shuko Aoyama and Chan Hao-ching.

The American great, playing just her second match in 12 months, produced a strong serving performance in a 6-2 6-4 win over the doubles specialists.

She and Jabeur saved all nine of the break points they faced.

“Ons held me up today, she was so good,” Williams, 40, said.

Williams has been given a singles wildcard into Wimbledon, which begins on Monday, but joined forces with the Tunisian singles world number three to gain some grass-court practice.

The two have visibly enjoyed playing alongside one another, with both players showing a mix of power and deft touch at the net.

“I think we played together much better today – although I thought we played really well yesterday,” said 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Williams.

“I was looking at Ons like ‘wow’ during the match.”

Jabeur jokingly asked Williams if she would pair up with her for the US Open, adding: “It’s really great. I think we played really good.”

The two will face Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic and Poland’s Magda Linette for a place in the final.

‘It’s OK, it’s been a while!’

Williams is a 16-time Grand Slam doubles champion but is testing out her fitness following the ankle injury at Wimbledon last year that created doubts about her returning to the tour c

‘Onserena’ – the nickname given to the two by Williams – started strongly, with Williams showing little rust despite playing back-to-back matches for the first time in more than a year.

The two did not face a break point in the opening set, winning five games in a row to take a 5-1 lead before serving out the set.

When they did face two break points on the Williams serve, the American did what she has done so many times – she sent down three aces to cancel out the opportunity and hold.

Williams moved well, with she and Jabeur coming out on top of an entertaining rally during which Jabeur hit the wall at the back of the court as she raced to make a shot.

At the changeover, Williams checked a rule with the umpire about tipping the ball over the net, adding: “It’s OK, I just wanted to make sure – it’s been a while!”

On the whole, Williams served well and came out the better on several baseline exchanges, with Jabeur the stronger of the two on the return of serve.

Asked afterwards what she did to celebrate their victory on Tuesday, Williams joked: “I went to the beach and for a swim like everyone here in the cold water… no, no way!

“I didn’t do much, I just played with my baby [daughter Olympia]. She is so fun.”