SPORTS

London, United Kingdom | AFP | AFP Sport picks out five facts on Sam Allardyce who is expected to be named the new England manager on Thursday: Big Sam Blunt talking is his style — reflected in his autobiography ‘Big Sam’ — and no surprise after a playing career where …

Lausanne, Switzerland | AFP | The International Olympic Committee barred Russia’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko from the Rio Games and withdrew backing for international events in Russia over a state-run doping programme, but delayed ruling on a complete ban on the country until after a key court case on Thursday. …

Jacob Kiplimo got Uganda off to a fine start on the first day of the World U-20 Athletics Championship in Bygdgoszcz, Poland by snatching bronze in the 10000m final. The 15-year-old Olympic-bound runner came third Tuesday in 27:26.68 behind  Kenya’s Rodgers Chumo Kwemoi, who stamped his authority on this race from the …

Russia operated a state-dictated doping system during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and other events, an independent investigator said Monday in a report likely to lead to demands for Russia to be completely banned from the Rio Games. Canadian law professor Richard McLaren said Russia’s FSB secret service had backed …

Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA | AFP | South Africa’s Caster Semenya is back and vowing to win an Olympic gold medal that could reignite the complex biological and ethical gender storm that once engulfed her life. The athlete, who was at the centre of a bitter dispute over gender testing seven …

Wigan, United Kingdom | AFP | Jose Mourinho’s first game as manager of Manchester United ended in a short trip and comfortable 2-0 victory over newly-promoted Championship side Wigan Athletic at their DW Stadium on Saturday. Goals early in the second half from Will Keane and Andreas Pereira secured victory …

Uganda’s Olympic team has finally been confirmed. It will comprise six women and 15 men. The athletics event will provide the bulk of the team, 17, which is the biggest track and field team since the previous record 13 at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Unlike four years ago when Stephen …

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |AFP | Could hunting for a Pokemon get any hotter? Maybe in Rio, so the city about to host the Olympic Games is urging makers of the popular app to come down to Brazil. The app, based on a Nintendo title that debuted 20 years ago, uses …

Over the weekend Rugby Cranes head to Harare to face a Zimbabwe Sables side that was mauled by Kenya Simbas 61-15 Make no mistake; Kenya is aflame; they seek to emulate their 7s brothers and are gunning for the World Cup in 2019 in Tokyo. Motivation is high on the …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | France and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry ended his association with the English Premier League club on Tuesday preferring to focus on his burgeoning media career. The 38-year-old former striker — part of the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winning teams — could have …