Author: Kate Man

Great Britain bobsleigh athlete Arran Gulliver has been provisionally suspended for failing a doping test.The International Testing Agency (ITA) said the 27-year-old returned an “adverse analytical finding” for the banned substance ostarine during an out-of-competition test on 2 March.According to the ITA, ostarine can enhance performance by “promoting lean muscle growth and improving strength” and is described by UK Anti-Doping as having similar effects to testosterone.Gulliver, who could face a ban of up to four years, can request that his B sample is tested.”If the B sample analysis is requested and confirms the result of the A sample, the case…

This is not, it must be stressed, a criticism of Tuchel, whose tenure in its infancy.It is simply a confirmation that providing the sort of thrill ride the German coach wants to serve up for England fans is easier said than done in these types of games with this team, and there is no quick fix to change that.If Tuchel thought he could quickly blow away the cobwebs he believed had gathered on Southgate’s England, then his first two games in charge will have been a sobering dose of reality.There has been little, so far, to distinguish Tuchel’s team from…

Carrick Rangers goalkeeper Jack McIntyre has apologised for the incident in Saturday’s Irish Premiership game against Cliftonville in which a ball boy appeared to be pushed to the ground. A Carrick Rangers statement said the club and the goalkeeper wished to “apologise for any distress caused”. “In acknowledging any distress caused, the Club has made a donation to the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice, and will also endeavour to make contact with the ball tender and their family,” said the club’s statement.”Any internal disciplinary investigation will, in accordance with employment good practice, remain confidential between the employee and employer. Carrick Rangers…

Pochettino’s recent remarks appeared to swing the door open towards him replacing Postecoglou should the Australian lose his job before next season.”I am in the USA, so I am not going to talk about that now – but what I said then I still, after six years or five years, feel in my heart,” he said last week. “Yes, I would like one day to come back.”However, according to well-placed sources, Pochettino has no immediate wish to return to Spurs. He is said to be fully committed to leading the US to a home World Cup.Of course, the mammoth cost…

So penalties would be needed to determine the final two sides that would progress to the semi-finals.In Spain, Dutch forward Noa Lang and Yamal both missed in the shootout before Spanish keeper Unai Simon kept out Donyell Malen’s effort to allow Pedri to clinch a last-four spot for the 2023 winners.The Netherlands don’t seem to have much luck in penalty shootouts, as their manager Ronald Koeman even alluded to afterwards.”I think that both teams should have gone through but that’s impossible,” he said. “In part fortune decided that Spain won.”In France, home goalkeeper Mike Maignan was the hero as he…

Republic of Ireland defender Jimmy Dunne said his debut for his country “feels like a long time coming”.The Dundalk native won his first international cap as he came off the bench to help Republic of Ireland pick up a 2-1 win against Bulgaria at home in their Nations League B play-off, and a 4-2 aggregate victory.The 27-year-old was delighted to finally make his international bow after first entering the Irish senior set-up in 2018 and having previously rejected the chance to declare for Northern Ireland.”I’m not embarrassed to admit it is one of the proudest moments of my life -…

Lando Norris says he and McLaren are “ready” to cope with the tension of an internal fight for the world championship between himself and team-mate Oscar Piastri.The Australian made it two wins from two for McLaren this year with a dominant victory in Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, leading Norris over the line for the team’s first one-two of the season.Piastri’s win moves him 10 points behind Norris in the championship following the Briton’s impressive win in the season-opener in Melbourne last weekend, where Piastri finished ninth.Norris said: “We were free to race. We’re both excited – probably nervous and excited…

Lewis Hamilton faces potential disqualification from the Chinese Grand Prix for a technical infringement on his Ferrari.One of the skid blocks on Hamilton’s car was found to be less than the required thickness after the race.Ferrari have been asked to report to the stewards on the matter. But if there are no extenuating circumstances, the likelihood is that Hamilton’s car will be declared not to comply with the regulations.If so, Hamilton would lose his sixth-place finish in the grand prix, following his victory in the sprint race in Shanghai on Saturday, his first win for his new team.Formula 1 cars…

Liverpudlian Molly McCann called time on her MMA career after 10 years fighting following a defeat by Alexia Thainara.The loss was McCann’s fourth in five fights, prompting the 34-year-old to leave her UFC gloves in the centre of octagon, signalling her retirement.McCann retires as one of the biggest MMA stars the UK has produced and can stake her claim as the best British female MMA fighter.BBC Sport selects some of the best pictures from her always entertaining career.

World number one Judd Trump held off John Higgins to set up a final against world champion Kyren Wilson at the Players Championship.Trump, 35, made two century breaks on his way to a 3-1 lead in the best-of-11 semi-final before Scotland’s Higgins cut the deficit with a break of 107.The pair exchanged frames before four-time world champion Higgins, 49, won two in a row to level at 4-4.But 2019 world champion Trump compiled runs of 61 and 53 to beat the Scot 6-4 and set up a final against fellow Englishman Wilson in Telford on Sunday.Trump has won three events…