Welcome to The Sports Examiner SPEED READ, a 100 mph (44.7 m/s) review of what happened this week in Olympic sport:
LANE ONE
Wednesday: The end appears to be in sight for the Russian doping saga, as the World Anti-Doping Agency announced that it had retrieved 2,262 samples stored at the Moscow Laboratory that was at the center of the Russian doping program from 2011-15. There are still some steps to go, but this development is a major step toward finishing the inquiry into one of the largest doping projects in history.
Friday: The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision against Caster Semenya was about biology, not sex. The full decision has not been released, but a summary shows how the panel got to its holding, step-by-step. Anguished, complex, but logical … and possibly far-reaching.
THE BIG PICTURE
Tuesday: First detailed budget from the LA28 organizers, with the total now up to $6.88 billion after accounting for inflation to 2028, four extra years of operations and the $160 million pledged for youth programs in the Los Angeles area. It’s a start.
Wednesday: The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed the request for arbitration for Athletics South Africa and twice Olympic 800 m champ Caster Semenya against the new female eligibility regulations (and testosterone levels) of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Semenya and others will now be subject to the IAAF’s requirements for maximum serum testosterone levels to compete in women’s events from 400 to the mile.
HEARD AFTER HALFTIME
Thursday: Trouble for track in Jamaica … in the stands? Also, USA Cycling and USA Triathlon get together; USA Gymnastics dismisses its new medical director after one day; another insurer wants to give the USOC its money back instead of cover its sex-abuse losses, and more…
TSX STAT PACK
Monday: Your all-in-one results package for the busy week of 22-28 April: 25 events in 18 different sports!
ATHLETICS
Wednesday: A look ahead to the Doha Diamond league opener on Friday, with excellent fields in many events, especially the men’s pole vault, men’s shot, women’s 800 m and 3,000 m.
Thursday: Caster Semenya decides to jump into the Doha Diamond League 800 m, the last event she can run before the IAAF testosterone rules come in. At the same time, IAAF chief Sebastian Coe said he is grateful for the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling and that the federation will not defer its rules for the 1,500 m and mile events.
FENCING
Tuesday: Big weekend ahead with four World Champions in action in the third Epee Grand Prix (in Cali) and Foil World Cups in St. Petersburg and Tauberbischofsheim.
FOOTBALL
Thursday: U.S. Soccer announced the 23-player roster for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup with all of the expected stars, but also late addition Ali Krieger, 31, to shore up the defense. The U.S. is ranked no. 1 by FIFA, but the oddsmakers have them as second choice in France in June.
SPORT CLIMBING
Wednesday: Set a world record and see what happens! China’s 18-year-old YiLing Song authored the two fastest performances in history in the Chongqing leg of the IFSC World Cup, so this week she’s the poster girl for the World Cup in Wujiang!
SWIMMING
Wednesday: The USA Swimming Nationals for Open Water events are on this weekend in Miami, with all of the stars ready to go, including Worlds medal winners Jordan Wilimovsky, Haley Anderson and Ashley Twichell.
MORE PREVIEWS
Badminton: Japan favored in three divisions of the New Zealand Open in Auckland
Beach Volley: Rio champ Laura Ludwig returns to the sand in Port Dickson three-star
Cycling: Tour of Romandie signals the start of the prep season for the Tour de France
Cycling: Can anyone beat Alexander Kristoff after four wins at Eschborn-Frankfurt?
Cycling: First time for the Pan American Road Championships in Hidalgo!
Gymnastics: The Rhythmic World Challenge Cup series starts this week in Guadalajara
Modern Pent.: Five current & former World Champs collide in Szekesfehervar World Cup
UPCOMING
Highlights of the coming week, with previews in the coming days on TheSportsExaminer.com:
● Athletics: The IAAF World Relays, with qualifying for the World Champs, in Yokohama
● Cycling: First of the Grand Tour – the 102nd Giro d’Italia – gets started on the 11th!
● Ice Hockey: Last of the winter-sport champs: the IIHF men’s World Championships in Slovakia.
Plus full coverage of the action in Doha and elsewhere as track & field revs up!