Feyisa Lilesa... Rio protest gesture.

Olympics: An Ethiopian marathon runner who made a protest gesture against government violence versus members of his tribe at last month’s Olympic Games in Rio told reporters in Washington that he wants to stay in the United States. Feyisa Lilesa held his arms over his head, wrists crossed, as he finished second in the Olympic marathon, a gesture that he described as being a sign of support for members of his Oromo tribe who have been protesting government plans to re-allocate farmland. The protests have been met with violent police action, sparking the country’s worst unrest in more than a decade.

Paralympics: Former F1 driver Alex Zanardi won his third Paralympic gold medal yesterday, a day before the 15th anniversary of the Champ Car crash that cost the Italian both legs and nearly his life. The 49-year-old won the 20km H5 hand-cycling road time trial in Rio de Janeiro to add to the two golds he won on his Paralympics debut in London four years ago. “Normally I don’t thank God for these type of things as I believe God has more important stuff to worry about,” he said. “But today I had to raise my eyes and thank him. I feel very lucky, I feel my life is a never-ending privilege.”

Cricket: England cricket supporters have joined players Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales in deciding not to tour Bang-ladesh. The England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Sunday that captain Morgan and opener Hales had ruled themselves out of contention for the tour due to security concerns in a country where 29 people were killed during a July terror attack. Now the Barmy Army has confirmed it will not travel either, after the Bangladesh Cricket Board failed to provide guarantees over the security of fans while travelling to and from venues. The supporters’ group was provided with a list of hotels which will receive police security.

Motor Sport: McLaren’s Jenson Button could race in Rallycross or in Japan’s Super GT series when he takes a break from Formula One next year. The 2009 world champion, who has spent almost two decades in grand prix racing, is handing over his race seat to Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne next season. McLaren have retained the 36-year-old Briton under contract until the end of 2018, however, and could draft him in if a reserve is needed before then. Button is the most experienced driver on the starting grid and while his sabbatical is likely to spell the end of his Formula One racing career, he said he could still compete elsewhere.