PARIS (AFP) - British sprinter CJ Ujah, who won an Olympic silver medal in the 4x100m relay in Tokyo, was Thursday (Aug 12) suspended for an alleged anti-doping breach, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced. If the case is proven, then 27-year-old Ujah and the British team will be stripped of the silver they won behind Italy in Japan. The AIU said that Ujah was found to have "presence/use of prohibited substances ostarine and S-23, which are selective androgen receptor modulators (SARM)". They are substances commonly used to build muscle. In his most recent Instagram posting, Ujah wrote: "Stay focused... Because truth is madder than fiction." As well as Ujah, Bahrain's 1500m runner Sadik Mikhou, Georgian shot-putter Benik Abramyan and Kenyan sprinter Mark Otieno Odhiambo have also been provisionally suspended following adverse tests, the AIU added. "The AIU now awaits the conclusion of the International Testing Agency (ITA) proceedings against the above athletes, which will determine whether any anti-doping rule violations have been committed and what consequences (if any) should be imposed in relation to the Olympic Games," said a statement. "Any consequences beyond the Olympic Games to be imposed upon the athletes under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules will be determined following the conclusion of the ITA proceedings." View this post on Instagram A post shared by UnstoppableUjah (@cj_ujah) More on this topic Related Story Carl Lewis slams US athletics men's relay team as 'total embarrassment' after semi failure Related Story Olympics: Jamaica win women's 4x100m relay, Italy take home the men's title
SILVERSTONE (REUTERS) - Lewis Hamilton won his home British Grand Prix for a record eighth time on Sunday (July 18) after battling back from a 10-second penalty imposed for a first-lap collision that halted the race and left Red Bull rival Max Verstappen in hospital. The Mercedes driver, now only eight points behind Verstappen after 10 races, passed Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc with two laps to go as a capacity 140,000 crowd rose to cheer him on. Hamilton’s team mate Valtteri Bottas finished third after being told to let Hamilton through to chase Leclerc, who had led from the re-start and was voted driver of the day. The win was the 99th of seven-times world champion Hamilton’s Formula One career, fourth of the current campaign and one of the more controversial in his long list of achievements. It was also the worst possible result for Verstappen, who had started on pole position with a 33-point lead but failed to complete a lap after suffering the biggest accident of his career when he crashed out at Copse corner. Hamilton went down the inside, Verstappen moved across and they tangled wheels – the Red Bull’s rear right touching the front left of the Mercedes. The stewards deemed Hamilton was to blame. Red Bull said Verstappen was battered and bruised and in hospital for further checks. Team boss Christian Horner criticised Hamilton for a mistake he deemed amateur, dangerous and desperate. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said, however, that the situation was more nuanced and “it takes two to tango”. A day that was almost a return to pre-pandemic normality, with crowds cheering in the sunshine from packed grandstands, ended with a British winner, a thrilling late chase for victory – and plenty to argue about. It also lit a fire under the title battle, after previous pleasantries between the two rivals, with the gloves now decidedly off and Red Bull’s momentum abruptly halted after five wins in a row. From being 44 points clear in the constructors’ championship, Red Bull are now only four ahead of Mercedes. The front-running pair are now at daggers drawn with Red Bull accusing Hamilton of dangerous driving and the Briton highlighting Verstappen’s aggressive approach. More on this topic Related Story Motor racing: Hamilton penalised for Verstappen’s race-ending crash at British GP Home hero None of that was stopping the home hero from celebrating with his army of fans, however. “This is a dream for me today, to do it in front of you all,” Hamilton told the biggest crowd to attend a sporting event in Britain since Covid-19 made its presence felt. Last year’s race was held without spectators. “I always try to be measured in how I approach, particularly with battling with Max, he’s very aggressive. And then today I was fully alongside him and he didn’t leave space. “Regardless of whether I agree with the penalty, I take it on the chin and I just kept working. “I was like ‘I’m not going to let anything get in the way of the crowd’s enjoyment of the weekend and the national anthem and the British flag’.” Leclerc also kept his head up after missing out on what would have been Ferrari’s first win since 2019. “I gave not 100% but I gave 200%. I gave all of me but it was just not enough in the last two laps,” said the Monegasque. “Congratulations to Lewis, he did an incredible job.” There was no point awarded for fastest lap, with Red Bull’s Mexican Sergio Perez setting it and then retiring with no prospect of the top 10 finish that would have triggered the bonus. The main aim at that point, however, was to keep it out of Hamilton’s hands. More on this topic Related Story Formula One: Upgrades will help but Red Bull still ahead, says Hamilton Related Story Motor racing: Hamilton wants more diversity in F1 as report makes recommendations McLaren’s Lando Norris gave the fans more to cheer about with fourth place, a result that lifted him to third in the standings, ahead of Australian team mate Daniel Ricciardo. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was sixth, his hopes hit by a stuck wheel in a slow pitstop but the points helping Ferrari narrow the gap to McLaren. Behind them, double world champion Fernando Alonso was seventh for Renault-owned Alpine with Canadian Lance Stroll eighth for Aston Martin. French driver Esteban Ocon made a return to the points with ninth for Alpine and AlphaTauri’s Japanese rookie Yuki Tsunoda took the final point.
SANDWICH, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - South African Louis Oosthuizen held his nerve to lead the British Open by one shot after a gripping third round played out in bright sunshine at Royal St George's on Saturday (July 17). Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open champion, had moved serenely to 13 under par with a birdie at the ninth hole before two bogeys, his second and third of the tournament, halted his progress. Americans Jordan Spieth and Collin Morikawa joined him in a three-way tie for the lead but Oosthuizen then sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-three 16th to move back to the top of the leaderboard and carded a 69 to finish at 12 under. "Definitely wasn't swinging freely today, was a little all over the place with my iron shots," Oosthuizen told Sky Sports. "The R&A weren't happy with the low scoring and they put some pins out there that were very questionable, but it was tough and I'm glad I could hold it together." Oosthuizen, 38, has finished second in six major championships since his triumph at St Andrews 11 years ago. "I'm very excited, it's a great position," he said. Closest challenger Morikawa emerged as Oosthuizen's closest challenger, recovering from a poor start to collect four birdies and sign for a 68 that left him on 11 under. Spieth, bidding to lift the Claret Jug for the second time, racked up four early birdies and another one at the 10th took him to 12 under. The 27-year-old's putter went cold on the back nine, however, a dropped shot at the 11th halting his momentum before he bogeyed the last two holes in a round of 69 to finish at nine under. Canadian Corey Conners put together a sparkling 66 to get to eight under alongside American Scottie Scheffler, one ahead of Spain's Jon Rahm, Canadian Mackenzie Hughes and South African Dylan Frittelli. US Open champion Rahm eked out three birdies on the back nine in a battling 68. "Really good round. Played good golf. Had some really good highlights," Rahm told reporters. More on this topic Related Story Golf: McIlroy's roller coaster entertains crowds at British Open as leaders lie in wait Related Story Golf: Koepka says he 'loves his driver' after DeChambeau's equipment issues American world number one Dustin Johnson's challenge faded with a disappointing 73 that left him at four under, while his compatriot Brooks Koepka struggled to a patchy 72 and the four-times major champion ended at three under. Defending champion Shane Lowry made a gutsy 69 to get to five under but the Irishman conceded he was probably too far behind the leaders to retain the title. "I'm not sure I can win from here, but the way I'm playing, I can shoot six under," Lowry told reporters. "I'm very happy with how I played today. It was very frustrating out there all day today and I'm proud of myself the way I battled." More on this topic Related Story Golf: Hatton's temper - and club - snaps at British Open Related Story Golf: Oosthuizen chases down Morikawa to lead Open at halfway point
SANDWICH, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Former champion Louis Oosthuizen chased down American pace-setter Collin Morikawa then turned on the afterburners to take a two-stroke halfway lead at the British Open with a sizzling five-under 65 under cloudless skies on Friday (July 16). Early starter Morikawa tore up the Royal St George's links with a superb six-under 64 to storm three shots clear before overnight leader Oosthuizen had even started his second round. But with the course becalmed by light winds, 2010 champion Oosthuizen made scoring look even easier with four birdies and an eagle to storm to the top of the leaderboard on 11-under 129 - the lowest 36-hole total in Open history. To the relief of the rest of the field, the South African, who carded 64 on Thursday, blotted his copybook with a bogey at the par-three 16th - his first of the tournament. Open debutant Morikawa heads into the weekend on nine under with Jordan Spieth, the 2017 champion, in third place on eight under after a round of 67. "I played really solid today and am in good position for the weekend," Oostuizen told reporters. "I know it's a really good leaderboard. I will have to play good golf this weekend if I want to come out first. Around this golf course, a lot of things can happen." With conditions ideal, a high-quality pack made hay in the sunshine to move into contention with Oosthuizen having fellow South Africans Dylan Frittelli and Daniel Van Tonder for company on seven and six under respectively. World number one Dustin Johnson warmed to the task with a menacing five-under 65 moving him to seven under alongside fellow American Scottie Scheffler while Germany's Marcel Siem, Argentina's Emiliano Grillo, who matched Morikawa's 64, and Englishman Andy Sullivan were all on six under. US Open champion Jon Rahm muscled his way up the leaderboard with a faultless 64 to move six off the pace along with American Brooks Koepka and England's Paul Casey. With his almost effortless swing in the groove, Oosthuizen began reeling in Morikawa with a birdie on the first hole and then picked up another at the seventh. Devastating burst In a devastating burst he went birdie, birdie, eagle from the 12th to surge clear of the field. Until Oosthuizen's masterclass the day had belonged to Morikawa as the 24-year-old world number four collected seven birdies in a round that was threatening a new Sandwich course record until he dropped his only shot on the 15th hole. The 2020 PGA Championship winner narrowly missed a birdie on the 18th which would have tied the course record owned by Nick Faldo and Payne Stewart had it dropped. But with his immaculate iron play he is primed for an assault on the old Claret Jug over the weekend. "I feel pretty good. Towards the end of the round we stopped hitting fairways and making a few birdies, but overall, it's a very good 64 and I will take it," said Morikawa. "It was great conditions for scoring and I made a lot of fairways early on. Bit more of a grind the last few holes." More on this topic Related Story Golf: Hatton's temper - and club - snaps at British Open Related Story Golf: McIlroy relieved just to make the cut at British Open Van Tonder, who was caddied by his wife Abigail, carded a 66 after a birdie on the 18th. Spieth made three birdies in his opening four holes as he began to look more like the player who had the golfing world at his feet in 2017 before a slump. A three-putt bogey at the long par-four 15th halted his momentum but it was still a good day for the American. "The last six holes were kind of frustrating," Spieth said. "I need to bring more food on the golf course tomorrow, I got fatigued on the 13th and lost a bit of sharpness. "I was eyeing a number lower than what I finished at today." Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, seeking a first major since 2014, made the cut on even par after a second successive 70 while Bryson DeChambeau shrugged off his spat with his driver manufacturer to scrape into the weekend on one over. More on this topic Related Story Golf: Majestic Morikawa seizes British Open 2nd-round clubhouse lead with a 64 Related Story Golf: Oosthuizen, Spieth light up British Open
SANDWICH, UNITED KINGDOM (AFP) - Tyrrell Hatton endured fresh British Open misery on Friday (July 16), with the Englishman set to miss the cut and likely to be fined after a second round that featured a swearing outburst and a snapped club. Trouble flared for the world number 10 on the 11th green at Royal St George's where Hatton was heard to utter audible obscenities following a double bogey five. "I hit a good tee shot and literally could hardly get the club onto the back of the ball," he later said of a poor lie on a slope behind the green. Worse was to come at the last hole when the 29-year-old broke his wedge in half after hitting a poor approach shot. "That was a load of frustration built up," said Hatton. "This is a tough one to take. I knew I needed to hit that shot in close. It's massively disappointing. I just can't bring my game at the Open." At two over par after two rounds, Hatton is on the verge of his sixth missed cut in nine Open appearances. No Englishman has lifted the Claret Jug since Nick Faldo won the last of his three British Open titles in 1992, with Hatton particularly stung by his latest lacklustre showing at golf's oldest major championship. "This one is definitely tough to take because the support has been amazing," he said. "I'm not one of the popular guys so I'm not used to having that kind of reception on the first tee. I'm disappointed I'm not going to be here this weekend." More on this topic Related Story Golf: McIlroy relieved just to make the cut at British Open Related Story Golf: Majestic Morikawa seizes British Open 2nd-round clubhouse lead with a 64
SANDWICH, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Former champions Louis Oosthuizen and Jordan Spieth sparkled in the morning sunshine to set the pace in the first round of the 149th British Open at Royal St George's on Thursday (July 15). South African Oosthuizen, the winner in 2010, made six birdies in a flawless 64 to finish on six under par, one shot ahead of American Spieth, champion in 2017. Brian Harman matched compatriot Spieth with a 65 to share second place, one clear of Canadian Mackenzie Hughes, South African Dylan Frittelli, Frenchman Benjamin Hebert and Americans Webb Simpson and Stewart Cink, another former champion. The 2020 tournament was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic but up to 32,000 fans are allowed in each day this year as part of a government test event and warm applause rippled around the links course. "The fans are fantastic here," Spieth told reporters. "They're just the best in golf. Very knowledgeable. It was really great to have them back and have what feels like normalcy when we teed off on the first hole." "I've really loved this tournament and so last year missing being able to play it was certainly something that I didn't want to do," added the 27-year-old Spieth, who made four consecutive birdies from the fifth hole and sank a 12-foot putt on the 16th green to confirm his return to form after he finished 2020 ranked 82nd in the world. Oosthuizen, 38, struck his irons beautifully to pick up three birdies around the turn and added three more on the closing holes to make a strong start to his bid for a second major title. "Probably in my mind it was the perfect round I could have played," he told reporters. "I didn't make many mistakes. When I had good opportunities for birdie, I made the putts. So, yeah, just a very good solid round." England's Justin Rose, Danny Willett, Andy Sullivan and Jack Senior carded 67s along with South African Justin Harding, German Marcel Siem, Americans Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler, and South Korean An Byeong-Hun. Tough day It was a tough day for 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau who battled to a roller-coaster round of 71. The long-hitting American visited the treacherous rough on several occasions and made three bogeys on the front nine to drop back to one over. DeChambeau appeared to have worked out the undulating fairways when he collected three consecutive birdies from the 12th but two more dropped shots left him well off the pace. More on this topic Related Story Golf: Driving well the key for Johnson's British Open bid Related Story Golf: British Open players face disqualification for coronavirus bubble breaches World number one Dustin Johnson started with a solid 68 and defending champion Shane Lowry of Ireland carded 71 playing with Oosthuizen and Spanish US Open champion Jon Rahm, whose 71 was spoiled by a double-bogey at the ninth. Four-times major champion Rory McIlroy ground out a level-par 70, mixing four birdies and four bogeys as the wind picked up late in the day, but the Northern Irishman's problems paled beside those of Phil Mickelson. The 51-year-old American, who won this year's PGA Championship to become the oldest major champion, racked up eight bogeys and a double-bogey at the last in an ugly 80.
LONDON (REUTERS) - Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday (June 24) that Formula One could be moving too fast with the decision to allow a 140,000-capacity crowd at his home British Grand Prix next month. The sport announced that hundreds of thousands of fans could attend the July 16-18 grand prix at Silverstone in a significant easing of Covid-19 restrictions. That would be the biggest crowd at a British sporting event since the pandemic triggered a national lockdown in March last year. The last pre-pandemic race held at the circuit with spectators in 2019 saw a three-day attendance of 351,000 and 141,000 on Sunday. The circuit hosted two races last year, both without a crowd. "I'm kind of split," Mercedes driver Hamilton told reporters ahead of the Styrian Grand Prix at Austria's Red Bull Ring. "I can't tell you how excited I am to see people and the British crowd, because it is the best crowd of the whole year. "Obviously, I watch the news so I hear about the (Covid-19) cases going up massively in the UK and so on that side I worry for people, naturally. "It feels a bit premature to me," he added. Informed that everyone attending would have to be vaccinated, or test negative for the virus, Hamilton, who is outspoken on social issues, said that was a good thing but it did not change his opinion. "I like to err on the side of caution and slowly build up rather than full pelt and using our British fans as a test," he said. Silverstone, a home GP for the majority of teams, joins Wimbledon tennis, golf's British Open and the Euro 2020 semi-finals and final at Wembley in the British government's Event Research Programme (ERP). Data driven The circuit's managing director, Stuart Pringle, told Reuters the race would end about nine hours before for all restrictions were due to be lifted anyway, and the ERP programme was data driven. "The reasons why we are the largest attendance of any sporting event is because we are the last one of the Events Research Programme which has been in operation now for some months," he added. He said the crowd would not have been sanctioned if the data indicated it was unsafe. "I'm very grateful to Lewis for his concern about our fans but he's probably not close to the data of the Events Research Programme," added Pringle. A 2019 photo shows Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton (right) celebrating in front of the crowd after winning the British grand prix. PHOTO: REUTERS Other British drivers Lando Norris of McLaren and Williams' George Russell were effusive. "I'm very, very happy. Delighted in fact," said Norris. "We missed it a lot last year. It's been nice slowly having more and more through this season already here and there. "Just to have them all back and feeling more normal again is something I'm very excited for." More on this topic Related Story Football: Three Denmark fans infected with Delta coronavirus variant at Euro 2020 game Related Story Coronavirus microsite: Get latest updates, videos and graphics Some 15,000 are expected for Sunday's Styrian Grand Prix, with many more to be allowed at the following weekend's Austrian Grand Prix at the same circuit. "It is fantastic news that Silverstone will be a full capacity event," said Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali. "It will be an incredible weekend with hundreds of thousands of fans being there to see our first ever Sprint event on the Saturday and the main event on Sunday." The grand prix will be the first to try out a new format, with qualifying on Friday and then a sprint race on Saturday to determine the grid for Sunday's race. Points will also be awarded to the top three finishers on Saturday. More on this topic Related Story Football: Spain lifts crowd restrictions in La Liga from next season Related Story Japan's 'Dr Fauci' dampens Olympic mood with call to ban fans Related Stories: Related Story S'pore to ramp up Covid-19 vaccination, doubling number of doses given to 80,000 per day Related Story More seniors urged to get vaccinated ahead of S'pore's further reopening Related Story Over 85% of staff who work in same ward as infected NCID nurse test negative Related Story British man tests positive for Covid-19 for 10 straight months Related Story No cases of Delta Plus Covid-19 variant detected in S'pore Related Story Changi General Hospital porter among unlinked cases; 3 new cases linked to Bukit Merah View food centre Related Story S'pore tightens border measures for Australia's New South Wales as Covid-19 cases rise there
LONDON (AFP) - British Open champion Shane Lowry says he cannot wait to defend his title in front of fans at Royal St George's after coronavirus restrictions were eased in England. The pandemic forced the postponement of the 2020 British Open, meaning Lowry will be playing to retain the Claret Jug for the first time when this year's tournament starts in July. Several pilot events have been staged in the UK to test the return of fans to sport, with the FA Cup final and Premier League matches allowed reduced capacities recently. After many tournaments were played without fans once golf resumed following lockdown, Lowry is looking forward to the backing of up to 30,000 spectators at the British Open. "I was disappointed at the start but I am going to get the upside of defending in front of a few people this year," Lowry said on Tuesday. "Selfishly, the way everything happened last year I wasn't able to go to the Irish Open or play in front of crowds as the Open champion. "But I didn't pack the trophy away in July and say 'That's my year over'. Just to have it for that length of time and be able to share it with friends and family was incredible." Lowry revealed the famous British Open trophy had been a little damaged during the Irishman's extra long spell in possession of it. "It has been sent back to be straightened once, yes. I noticed as it was going through the airport scanner it had a little dent on it but I talked to Zach Johnson (the 2015 champion) and he said he also bent it," Lowry said. "I can assure you it is in good shape and will come back nice and shiny. It will be a sad time giving it back but hopefully I get it back in the future. "And I will prefer going back to defend my title with crowds as opposed to playing last year with no crowds." Lowry, 34, registered his first top-10 major finish in five outings since winning the British Open at Royal Portrush with a joint-fourth place in the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island on Sunday. Related Stories: Related Story Why were some classmates of Covid-19 cases quarantined but others not? Related Story HSA permits storing of Pfizer vaccine at standard fridge temperature for up to 31 days Related Story 3 Pizza Hut outlets cleaned, closed for 2 weeks following Covid-19 infections among staff Related Story Man who died a day after first Covid-19 jab suffered from heart attack, death not linked to vaccine: MOH Related Story 3 students, pre-schooler and SKH staff among 18 new Covid-19 community cases Related Story 2,400 bed spaces for Covid-19 patients at community care facilities Related Story Changi Airport to segregate workers into 3 risk-based zones: How it works Related Story Covid-19 testing operations at Block 559 Pasir Ris completed; 285 residents, visitors tested Related Story Rental fees fully waived for Jewel and Changi Airport tenants until June 13