Weightlifting: Three Chinese Olympic champions in women’s weightlifting from the 2008 Beijing Games have failed doping tests conducted eight years later. The trio were among 15 weightlifters who tested positive for a variety of banned substances after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) re-tested samples using methods which were more advanced than the ones available at the time. The gold medallists were Chen Xiexia, who won the 48kg category, Liu Chunghong (69) and Cao Lei (75).

Olympics: China’s Olympic team were given a warm welcome from big crowds waving banners and photographs at Beijing airport yesterday upon their return from a disappointing Rio Games. China’s largest overseas Olympic delegation of 416 athletes managed 26 golds, their lowest tally since the 1996 Atlanta Games, and 70 medals overall in Brazil. Surprise failures in badminton, shooting and gymnastics left China third in the medals table, behind the US and Britain.

Cricket: England players will be given the chance to opt out of this autumn’s tour of Bangladesh if they have security concerns. Captains Alastair Cook and Eoin Morgan and team members will meet with the England and Wales Cricket Board  today to learn about the current situation in the country. Militant group Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack in Dhaka last month which saw 20 hostages killed, including nine Italian citizens.