Athletics: The London Marathon will remain on the BBC until at least 2021 after its long-standing broadcast contract was extended by three years, reports said yesterday. Announced ahead of this year’s race, which takes place on Sunday, the deal includes coverage of the 40th London Marathon which takes place in 2020. The BBC has broadcast the event since it was first held in 1981 and its previous deal was due to expire in 2018.

Rugby Union: An Argentine player has been banned for 29 years for kicking a rival’s head during a match between two local amateur sides, his club’s president told reporters yesterday. Pucara prop Cipriano Martinez was found guilty of a premeditated kick at the head of grounded San Albano lock Juan Masi during a match on April 2. He was banned for life by his club while they awaited an official sanction from the Buenos Aires Rugby Union (URBA). Pucara president Eduardo Bernardello said: “The club have been notified of a sanction of 1,508 weeks, which is equivalent to 29 years, and we agree with it.”

Tennis: Rafael Nadal swept aside Albert Montanes in straight sets yesterday to set up a Barcelona Open quarter-final against Fabio Fognini. Nadal continued his quest to reclaim the title he held between 2005 and 2009 and 2011 and 2013 by seeing off compatriot Montanes 6-2 6-2. Nadal has lost just three of his 48 matches at the Barcelona event, and will now face Fognini, the man who dumped him out in last year’s third round. Fognini eased past eighth seed Viktor Troicki 6-3 6-2 to reach his first quarter-final since the first week of the season in Auckland.