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Lin Yu-ting, the 30‑year‑old Taiwanese Olympic champion, secured a bronze medal at the Asian Boxing Elite Championships in Mongolia, marking her return to competition after a gender‑eligibility controversy that clouded her 2024 Paris Olympic triumph.Competing in the 60kg division for the first time, Lin was defeated in the semifinals by North Korea’s Won Un Gyong, resulting in a third‑place finish.Her coach, Tseng Tzu‑chiang, told Taiwan’s Central News Agency that the shift to a higher weight class presented “new opponents’ skills, strategies and styles,” and that the tournament served as a valuable learning opportunity.Lin had opted out of last year’s World Championships after World Boxing announced mandatory sex testing for female athletes, a policy introduced following the high‑profile gender disputes involving Lin and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif after their gold medals in Paris.Following an appeal by Taiwan’s boxing federation, World Boxing cleared Lin to compete in the female category last month, enabling her participation in the Asian championships.Looking ahead, Tseng indicated that Lin aims to compete at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan later this year, noting that while her physical condition was not yet optimal, the experience provides “room for improvement and a clear path forward.”In parallel, the International Olympic Committee has introduced a new eligibility policy that excludes transgender female athletes from women’s events, aligning with a U.S. executive order. The IOC stated that eligibility will be determined by a mandatory gene test, limiting participation to “biological females.”

Courtney Lawes, the 37‑year‑old former England captain, is slated to return to the English Premiership after completing two seasons with French club Brive. His departure will be announced at the close of the 2025‑26 season.Lawes, who retired from international rugby following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, moved to France after helping Northampton Saints clinch the 2023‑24 Premiership title. During his 17‑year tenure at Saints, he secured two Premiership championships and two European Challenge Cup trophies.While the specific English club he will join remains undisclosed, the move would render him eligible once again for England selection. Brive’s management expressed support for his decision, noting the club’s appreciation for his contributions.Brive president Thierry Blandinières praised Lawes, stating: “We are very proud to say that Courtney Lawes will have been a Brive player for two seasons. He arrived here with humility and ambition and has shown the full extent of his talent since his first day in Brive.” The club added that Lawes is “one of the legends of world rugby and one of the best back‑row forwards of his generation.”Lawes’ international résumé includes 105 caps, three Six Nations titles, and participation in four Rugby World Cups. He was part of the England side that finished runner‑up in 2019 and secured third place in 2023.Reflecting on his time in Corrèze, Lawes said: “I’m having an experience in Brive that I’ll never forget, both on and off the pitch. I’m going to give it my all until the end of the season to finish this adventure with CAB in the best possible way. My family and I have been very warmly welcomed in Corrèze and we will always have Brive at heart.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is facing criticism from parents of learning‑disability cricketers who say the board has permitted non‑disabled players to compete in the Disability Premier League (DPL), jeopardising the league’s role as the top feeder for England’s mixed‑disability side.Parents of former England internationals Jai Charan and Alex Jervis claim their sons were replaced by players who do not meet the ECB’s learning‑disability (LD) criteria. An anonymous parent estimates that 12 of the 64 players drafted in December were not disabled, a figure that, if accurate, would represent a significant breach of the league’s purpose.The DPL is intended to be the pinnacle of the pathway to the England Mixed‑Disability team. Under the ECB’s affiliation with Virtus – the global federation for athletes with intellectual impairments – any cricketer seeking an LD spot must demonstrate an IQ of 75 or below, as assessed by an educational psychologist.Owen Jervis, volunteer manager of Yorkshire’s disability team, alleges that several neurodiverse athletes have been fielded despite failing the LD assessment. He notes that most neurodiverse players would not satisfy the eligibility thresholds, citing professional bowler Em Arlott, diagnosed with ADHD and autism in 2023, as an example of a mainstream player with a neurodiverse profile.While the ECB is not legally bound to apply Virtus rules to a domestic competition, critics argue that the inclusion of non‑disabled players undermines the league’s integrity. “You can’t call it a Disability Premier League if the players aren’t disabled,” said Tracey Jervis.Another parent highlighted that his son, a learning‑disability cricketer, is now confined to county disability cricket rather than mainstream county cricket, where many England‑qualified players develop. He warned that the DPL has become an “old‑boys’ club” where selection is driven by personal connections rather than merit.The shift to a mixed‑disability format – combining learning, physical and deaf impairments in the same squads – has further reduced available spots. Parents claim that players without a qualifying LD are occupying key batting and bowling positions, relegating genuine LD athletes to peripheral roles such as fielding or carrying equipment.Owen Jervis raised these concerns with Richard Hill, the ECB’s events and competition manager for disability cricket, in September 2024. Hill acknowledged “several challenges” linked to high‑functioning conditions and said the ECB was drafting an action plan, though Jervis says the situation has worsened.Jai Charan, who debuted for the England LD team in 2023 and holds the DPL’s best bowling average and strike‑rate, and Alex Jervis, a decade‑long LD representative and three‑time LD Ashes winner, were reduced to non‑playing roles in the 2025 season. Charan’s father, Shanial Charan, expressed his disappointment: “My son has the best stats in the league yet he isn’t selected – it feels like discrimination within disability cricket.”The ECB responded that the DPL offers top‑level competition for 60 mixed‑disability players annually, with a strict quota for physical, learning and deaf impairments, making selection highly competitive. It acknowledged ongoing debates about eligibility and indicated a review slated for 2027 to potentially adjust criteria.

The US Department of Education has been notifying approximately 164,000 federal student loan borrowers about their eligibility for automatic student loan forgiveness. This move comes after allegations of misconduct against more than 150 colleges, including misrepresentation of graduation rates, post-graduation employment, and the cost of degrees.Borrowers whose colleges engaged in such misconduct can apply for loan discharge. The Guardian is seeking to hear from individuals who have successfully had their student loans forgiven. We are interested in understanding how this development will impact their lives, what new plans they will make, and what advice they have for other borrowers.Share your experience with The Guardian using their online form. The form allows for anonymous submissions and includes fields for name, location, background information, and details on how the loan forgiveness affects their life and future plans.If you’re having trouble using the form, click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here.

Gary Woodland has emerged victorious at the Houston Open, a triumph that seemed improbable just 30 months ago when he underwent brain surgery. His journey to this moment was further complicated by his recent struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Woodland's win, secured with a closing three-under 67, was a dominant performance that saw him finish five shots ahead of Nicolai Hojgaard. This victory is not only his fifth career win but also his first since the 2019 US Open at Pebble Beach, making it a significant milestone in his career. The emotional weight of Woodland's journey was palpable as he described the moment of victory. The gallery's chant of his name fell silent as he prepared to roll in the winning putt, a moment he described as 'a good day' after a long and challenging period. Woodland's struggles began in 2023 when he discovered a lesion on his brain that caused unfounded fears about his mortality. Surgery in September 2023 removed much of the lesion, but he continued to face challenges with PTSD. Just two weeks ago, he opened up about his struggles in a Golf Channel interview, sharing that he often felt like he was 'living a lie' and that he was 'dying' inside. His decision to go public with his struggles has had a profoundly positive impact, allowing him to feel '1,000lbs lighter'. Despite ongoing challenges, Woodland expressed hope and gratitude for the support of his loved ones, particularly his wife, Gabby Granado, who was instrumental in his recovery. This victory not only marks a personal triumph for Woodland but also a professional one, as it secures his eligibility for the Masters in two weeks and moves him up to No 51 in the world ranking, his highest in five years. The win also underscores his standing on the PGA Tour, with Hojgaard and Min Woo Lee choosing to let him have the moment to himself on the 18th green. Woodland's resilience and determination serve as a powerful reminder to anyone struggling with their own challenges, as he poignantly noted, 'We play an individual sport out here, but I wasn’t alone today.'

South African Olympic champion Caster Semenya has expressed her strong disapproval of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to reinstate gender verification tests for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Semenya, a two-time Olympic 800-metres champion, described the move as 'a disrespect for women'.The IOC's new policy, announced under President Kirsty Coventry, will limit eligibility for women's events to 'biological females' determined through a one-time SRY gene screening. This decision comes after the organization previously abandoned chromosomal sex testing in 1999 due to scientific concerns and athlete backlash.Semenya, who has been a symbol of the struggle for hyperandrogenic athletes' rights, emphasized that such measures 'cause harm' and are unnecessary. She pointed out that the policy seems to imply that women need to prove their worthiness to participate in sports, which she finds disrespectful.The IOC's policy shift aligns with US President Donald Trump's executive order banning transgender athletes from women's sports. Trump took credit for the IOC's decision, stating it was influenced by his order.The new policy follows a gender row at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Algerian fighter Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan were allowed to compete despite failing eligibility tests. The IOC's decision aims to create a unified approach across all Olympic sports regarding athlete eligibility.

Caster Semenya, the South African two-time Olympic 800m champion, has expressed strong disapproval of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to reinstate sex verification tests for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Semenya, who has been a symbol of the struggle for hyperandrogenic athletes, described the move as 'a disrespect for women'.The IOC's new policy, announced on Thursday, limits eligibility for female category events to biological females, determined through a one-time SRY gene screening. This move effectively bans transgender athletes and a large number of intersex athletes from women's sports.Semenya, who has male XY chromosomes, is a well-known athlete with a difference in sex development (DSD). She has been a vocal advocate for the rights of athletes like herself, who are often subjected to sex verification tests and scrutiny.The IOC's decision has been met with criticism from Semenya and others, who argue that such tests are ineffective and discriminatory. Semenya stated, 'For you as a woman, why will you be tested to prove that you fit? You know, it's like now we need to prove that we are worthy as women to take part in sports. That's a disrespect for women.'The new policy is set to be implemented starting with the 2028 Olympics, and will be carried out through a saliva sample, cheek swab, or blood sample. This move has sparked controversy, with many arguing that it undermines the rights and dignity of transgender and intersex athletes.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a new eligibility policy for female category events at the Olympics, excluding transgender women athletes from competing in women's sports. This decision aligns with US President Donald Trump's executive order on sports, which aims to keep biological males out of women's sports.The IOC's policy, set to take effect at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, requires a mandatory gene test once in an athlete's career to determine eligibility. The test screens for the SRY gene, typically found on the Y chromosome, which initiates male sex development.According to the IOC, biological males have a performance advantage of 10-12% in most running and swimming events, and at least 20% in most throwing and jumping events. This advantage can be greater than 100% in explosive power events, such as punching sports.The policy change has been met with criticism from human rights experts and activist groups, who argue that the mandatory gender screening is invasive and discriminatory. The IOC has stated that the policy aims to protect "fairness, safety, and integrity in the female category."Caster Semenya, a two-time Olympic champion runner from South Africa, has been a prominent figure in the debate over female eligibility. The IOC's policy document details its research on the physical advantages retained by biological males, which it believes are retained even after transitioning.The US Olympic body has updated its guidance to national sports bodies, citing an obligation to comply with the White House's executive order. President Trump signed the order in February 2023, pledging to deny visas to athletes attempting to compete at the LA Olympics if they do not comply with the new rules.

Los Angeles Rams star receiver Puka Nacua is facing a civil lawsuit filed by a woman named Madison Atiabi, who claims he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder on New Year's Eve. According to the lawsuit, Nacua allegedly said 'fuck all Jews' during a dinner in Los Angeles, which Atiabi, who is Jewish, found deeply distressing.The lawsuit also alleges that Nacua bit Atiabi on the shoulder, leaving teeth marks, and also bit her friend's thumb 'with such force that her companion screamed in acute pain.' The suit cites gender violence and negligence in addition to the antisemitic remark and biting incident.Nacua's attorney, Levi McCathern, has strongly denied the allegations, stating that multiple sober witnesses confirm Nacua never made the claimed comments. McCathern described the bites as 'horseplay' and announced that Nacua intends to sue Atiabi for defamation. This development comes after Nacua apologized last December for performing a gesture that invoked antisemitic tropes during an internet livestream.The 24-year-old receiver had a stellar season with the Rams, leading the league with 129 catches, 1,715 yards, and 10 touchdowns, and then leading the NFL again in playoff catches. His future with the Rams includes eligibility for a contract extension this offseason that could make him one of the highest-paid receivers in NFL history.