Another domino has fallen in the Enhanced Games saga.

British Olympic medal-winning swimmer Ben Proud has declared his intent to compete in the event, which allows athletes to take performance enhancing drugs usually banned by anti-doping authorities, next year.

The news comes a little over a month after Proud won a silver medal in the men’s 50m freestyle at the 2025 world championships. The 30-year-old produced the same result at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, both times finishing behind Australian Cam McEvoy.

Proud told BBC Sport: “I think realistically I’ve achieved everything I can, and now the Enhanced [Games] is giving me a new opportunity. I definitely don’t think that’s undermining a clean sport.”

Aquatics GB, Great Britain’s governing body for swimming, released a statement saying it was “immensely disappointed” with Proud’s decision.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this divisive issue. Reply to this email to let me know what you think.

$30,000
The amount that former Australian tennis star and current Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt has been fined for pushing an anti-doping official last year. The incident occurred after Australia’s Davis Cup semi-final loss against Italy in November last year. Hewitt pushed a 60-year-old volunteer official against a wall. He has also been handed a two-week suspension, which he will serve between 24 September and 7 October. Australia is set to play its first Davis Cup tie on home soil since March 2022 when it takes on Belgium in Sydney this weekend.

"I know they are out there. For that person, you're not alone. I'll stand with you, I'll walk with you, if that's what it takes."
Former West Coast Eagles player and the AFL’s first current or former openly bisexual player, Mitch Brown, speaking in an interview with Triple J Hack. Brown, who came out in a sit-down interview with TDA two weeks ago, was referring to any other current or former players in the league who identify as gay or bisexual. 

Brazilian tennis player Nauhany Vitoria Leme Da Silva has become the first player born in the 2010s to win a match in the main draw of a WTA tournament. The 15-year-old defeated fellow Brazilian Carolina Alves in three sets in the opening round of the São Paulo Open after being handed a wildcard to play her home tournament. 

🏏 South Africa edged out England by 14 runs in a rain-shortened T20I in Cardiff. The Proteas set a total of 97 runs in 7.5 overs before rain intervened. England were then given five overs to chase a total of 69 runs, but fell short at 54 runs, despite a fierce 25 off 11 from Jos Buttler. Officials calculate a revised total when rain interrupts the match using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. After the game, England captain Harry Brook said: "You can't read into that too much."

🏉 The NRLW’s Sydney Roosters will look to defend their undefeated season record tonight when they play the Cronulla Sharks in a rematch of the 2024 grand final. Headed into the final round of the regular season, the reigning premiers have demonstrated their intent to win back-to-back titles with a flawless 10-0 record so far. The Sharks currently sit fourth on the ladder, having won six of their 10 matches to date. When the two sides met in a pre-season match earlier this year, the result was a 12-12 draw. The match is set for kick-off at 7:45pm in Gosford. 

🎾 Canada’s Davis Cup tennis match against Israel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, this weekend will be held behind closed doors due to safety concerns. National and local agencies flagged the potential of disruption, prompting Tennis Canada to pull the plug on fan attendance. Ticket holders are set to receive refunds, and the tie will still determine who advances to the 2026 Qualifiers.

🚴‍♂️ Stage 17 of the Vuelta a España was won by Italy’s Giulio Pellizzari as the race avoided further disruption from pro-Palestinian protests. Before the stage, the cyclists voted for the event to continue but threatened to abandon the race if it was impacted by any further disruptions. Previous interruptions forced the early ending of Stages 11 and 16, and the time trial on Stage 18 has also been reduced in length from 21 kilometres to 12 to make it easier for police to enforce the security of the riders. Israel Premier-Tech, a team that is a joint venture between an Israeli and a Canadian company, has been the specific subject of disruptions.

⚽ The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found  Triple M violated broadcasting standards when it aired sexist comments by Marty Sheargold earlier this year. Sheargold was removed from Triple M’s presenter lineup in February after he compared the women’s team to “Year 10 girls” and made a crude joke about the Asian Cup. ACMA has now deemed Sheargold’s comments as sexist, demeaning, and beyond acceptable levels of decency. The breach occurred across four stations, prompting thousands of listener complaints. ACMA is now considering formal sanctions, which could include staff training or warnings.

Why is iron crucial to athletic performance?

Because it helps carry oxygen to your muscles, supports energy production, and keeps fatigue at bay. 

Without enough iron, even your warm-up can feel like a workout. The Blackmores Iron Rapi-Melt is a quick, tropical-flavoured melt that supports iron levels when dietary intake is inadequate – no pills, no water, just a fast-dissolving melt for on-the-go iron support. 

Whether you’re hitting the gym, the field, or the pavement, it’s an easy way to help keep your energy up and your performance strong.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. 

Tane Edmed is set to make his starting debut for the Wallabies this weekend when they host Argentina in Sydney. 

The Wallabies will be looking to improve upon their last-gasp 28-24 victory over Los Pumas in Townsville last week. 

Here’s what to know headed into the weekend. 

The Wallabies will take on Argentina in front of a sellout crowd in Sydney as they look to improve their chances of winning The Rugby Championship on Saturday. 

Coach Joe Schmidt has opted to select Edmed over veteran playmaker James O’Connor after Tom Lynagh left sits this week out with concern for his hamstring. Centre Hunter Paisami will replace Len Ikitau, who has been rested this weekend with two Tests against the All Blacks looming. 

In the forwards, the Wallabies’ most capped player James Slipper will return after missing the most recent two Tests and lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has also been brought back into the fold. 

The match will kick-off at 2:00pm (AEST). You can watch it on Channel 9 and Stan Sport. 

Also on Saturday, the All Blacks and Springboks will meet in Wellington. The Springboks will be looking to avenge last week’s 24-17 loss as the All Blacks successfully defended their Eden Park fortress in Auckland. 

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus will field a starting lineup which includes seven changes while speedy Kiwi winger Leroy Carter will make his Test debut for the All Blacks. 

The match will kick off at 5:05pm (AEST). You can watch it on Stan Sport. 

Enjoying the newsletter?

If you are, why not share the love with your friends? We’d love your help in getting the word out there.

Send them this link to sign up.

The 2025 World Athletics Championships kick off in Tokyo this weekend and will run from 13 to 21 September.

Australia is sending a team of 88 athletes, its largest ever. 

Here’s what to know and who to watch. 

This year’s team features several rising stars as a new generation of athletes begins to make their presence felt. It comes after Australia had its best-ever result at last year’s under-20 championships, winning a total of 14 medals. 

On the track, all eyes will be on Gout Gout as he makes his senior debut in the 200m. He’ll run his heats on 17 September, aiming to reach the final on the 19th. The 17-year-old already holds the Oceanian record and has drawn comparisons to Usain Bolt. 

Of Gout, veteran athletics commentator Bruce McAvaney said: “He may be 17, but I think it’s possible for him to reach the 200m final in Tokyo, which would be an extraordinary achievement at his age – even Usain Bolt couldn’t do that.”

Another rising sprint star is Torrie Lewis, who will compete in the women’s 100m, 200m, and 4x100m. Lewis, aged 20, is a four-time national champion and is ranked 17th in the world for the women’s 200m. 

20-year-old Olympic semi-finalist and Australian record holder Claudia Hollingsworth will compete in the women’s 800m while 19-year-old Cameron Myers is set to shine in the men’s 1500m. Myers came within 0.39 seconds of Oliver Hoare’s Australian record at a European meet in June. 

In the field events, long jumper Delta Amidzovski will compete in her first senior world championships after becoming Australia’s first ever junior long jump world champion last year. 

The Australian team also includes a large contingent of seasoned Olympians and medal-winning athletes. Australia’s top gold medal hope might be women’s high jumper Nicola Olyslagers. The two-time Olympic silver medallist set a career-best mark of 2.04 metres this year and won gold in the Diamond League final last month. Also competing in the women’s high jump is 2022 world champion Eleanor Patterson. 

Other strong medal hopes in the field events include pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall, who has consistently finished on the podium this season, and Olympic bronze-medal-winning discus thrower Matt Denny. 

Australia’s middle-distance contingent also includes Olympic medallist Jess Hull, who will compete in the women’s 1500m and 800m and has shown some career-best form this season, setting several national records. Two-time Olympian Peter Bol will race the men’s 800m. 

Some notable Aussie athletes are missing the world championships due to injury, including Olympic pole vault champion Nina Kennedy, sprint star Lachlan Kennedy, and Olympic medal-winning race walker Jemima Montag. 

For the first time, both Channel Nine and SBS will broadcast the full event live and free.