Athletics: Yulia Stepanova’s much-heralded return to action turned into a damp squib late Wednesday when the Russian whistleblower, running as an independent athlete, dropped out of her 800 metres heat with a foot injury having been off the pace throughout. Stepanova has not raced since September due to the ban on Russian athletes but raced under the European Athletics Association flag at the European Championships in Amsterdam after the sport’s governing body had requested she be given special dispensation to compete as an independent.
Tennis: Marion Bartoli has said she will undergo hospital treatment once Wimbledon is over after contracting a virus that is preventing her from eating. The 31-year-old Frenchwoman, who lifted the women’s singles at Wimbledon in 2013 and retired soon afterwards, has lost weight since giving up the game and becoming a fashion designer. Concerns about her health have been raised during recent weeks, after pictures of her appearing frail were published. Bartoli said she will travel to Italy to be treated.
Weightlifting: Former Olympic weightlifting champion Sa Jae-hyouk has been fined $8,000 for an assault that left a fellow lifter in hospital with facial injuries. South Korean Sa, who won gold in the men’s 77kg category at the 2008 Beijing Games, has already received a 10-year ban from the Korea Weightlifting Federation after assaulting Hwang Woo-man on New Year’s Eve. The suspension ruled the 31-year-old out of the Rio Olympics this summer.
Greyhound racing: Greyhound racing will be outlawed in the Australian state of New South Wales from next year after a damning investigation into the sport uncovered reports of systemic animal cruelty, including mass killings and live baiting. State Premier Mike Baird said the findings of a commission of inquiry had left the government with “no acceptable course of action except to close the industry down”. The inquiry found that up to 68,000 greyhounds bred in the past 12 years had been destroyed because they were considered uncompetitive.
Tour de France: Mark Cavendish further cemented his status as the Tour de France’s greatest sprinter when the Briton claimed his 29th career win in the sixth stage yesterday. The 31-year-old Dimension Data team rider surged ahead in the final straight and held off the charge of German Marcel Kittel (Etixx-Quick Step), who finished second. Cavendish has now won half of the stages in this year’s race, having managed only one last year. Belgian Greg van Avermaet (BMC) had a quiet day in the peloton to retain the overall leader’s yellow jersey as did defending champion and favourite Chris Froome (Team Sky).