Good evening!

If you thought watching Test cricket required patience, it requires much more when the players are intermittently rushing off the field for cover from the rain. It’s safe to say Queensland isn’t living up to its moniker as “The Sunshine State”.

At the time of writing, India are still in the midst of their first innings and trailing by 258 runs with four wickets in hand. Australia is now racing the clock with the final day tomorrow but it looks as if the most likely outcome for the third Test is a draw.

I’ve got 10 seconds

Stat of the day

48
The number of three-pointers scored in Monday’s NBA match between the Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks. It is a record for the highest number of three-pointers in an NBA game. The Mavericks won the high-scoring affair 143-133. The Mavericks’ Luka Dončiċ was a standout, recording 45 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists.

Quote of the day

“Doubles at Brisbane. See y’all there.”
Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios on social media announcing that he and 24-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic will compete as a doubles pairing at the Brisbane International. Kyrgios is set to make a return to professional tennis after being sidelined for almost two years due to knee and wrist injuries. The Brisbane International begins on 29 December. 

Random fact of the day

The record for the most consecutive Wimbledon women’s singles titles belongs to Martina Navratilova, who won the tournament every year from 1982 to 1987. In the Open Era, no other player has won Wimbledon more than three times in a row. The Open Era started in 1968 and allowed both professional and amateur players to compete at the four grand slams.

I’ve got 30 seconds

In case you missed it…

🏏 Australian women’s cricket player Kim Garth has been reprimanded by the International Cricket Council for swearing during the recent One-Day International series against India. During the third test in Perth last week, the fast bowler was found guilty of the "use of an audible obscenity during an international match" after being hit for a boundary. Garth, who accepted the sanction, has been handed one demerit point. If a player is given four demerit points in 24 months, they may face suspension from the game.

🏈 San Francisco 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell will miss the rest of the regular season (three games) after being suspended by his team for refusing to take the field. Campbell was asked to enter the field as a substitute and refused during the third quarter in the 49ers 12-6 loss to the Lions. In a statement, 49ers general manager John Lynch said: “We have suspended De’Vondre Campbell for three games due to conduct detrimental to the team.” 

🏉 The Rugby League Player’s Association has released the results from its annual players survey to the public. Among the key issues the report discusses is the monitoring and treatment of concussions in training environments. 36% of NRL players and 46% of NRLW players reported they had continued training after a suspected concussion. The RLPA said it will seek to further educate players on the importance of reporting concussion symptoms to safeguard their long-term health.

⚽ In the A-League, Melbourne Victory’s Patrick Kisnorbo will depart the club after just seven games as coach. According to the club, Kisnorbo is pursuing a coaching opportunity overseas. Assistant Arthur Diles will step into the role as interim coach while the club finds a replacement. Victory chairman John Dovaston said: "We are disappointed to see Patrick depart the club so early in his expected journey with us, however Patrick has advised us that this is an opportunity he wanted to take for his own development as a coach". The Victory sit third on the A-League ladder.

I’ve got 1 minute

AFLW holds historic inaugural national draft

The AFLW’s inaugural national draft saw 60 promising draftees selected by clubs to join the league next year. Midfielder Ash Centra was taken as the number one pick by Collingwood.

Inaugural national draft

Last night’s draft was historic, as it marked the first year that AFLW draftees were selected from a national pool. Previously, players could nominate the state they wished to play in.

Victorian Ash Centra will stay in her home state after being selected by the Collingwood Magpies as the first pick. Havana Harris, known for her ability to play multiple positions, was taken by the Gold Coast Suns as the second pick. South Fremantle product Molly O'Hehir was chosen by Melbourne as the third pick.

What they said

Centra said: "Nothing's set in stone, so to be read out as number one, I'm super grateful. It hasn't really sunk in."

O’Hehir said: "I'm a yapper and usually I talk away, but I don't even know what to say right now, I didn't believe it, like I kind of forgot to get up at first. I just heard it and was shocked but I'm so, so happy. So excited."

Help us grow!

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.

I’ve got 2 minutes

Former national pole vault coach allegedly “preyed upon” female athletes

An investigation by The Australian into the alleged misbehaviour of former pole vault coach Alex Parnov has prompted police involvement.

The coach, who worked at the West Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) from 1998 until he was sacked in 2019, allegedly “preyed upon” female athletes during his tenure as a pole vault coach. The report also alleges that accusations levelled against Parnov were not acted on by the sporting bodies that knew about them. WA Police are now assessing “potential criminal conduct” from the Russian-born coach.

Investigation

The Australian investigated claims that Parnov had behaved inappropriately as a coach. It alleges Parnov “groomed, propositioned, sexually harassed and inappropriately touched multiple young female athletes in his care”. Seven female athletes, including Olympic champion Nina Kennedy, who were coached by Parnov and subject to his behaviour spoke to The Australian.

In 2019, WAIS hired a law firm to investigate reports they had received, and subsequently sacked Parnov. The reports were not passed on to the police.

WAIS and Athletics Australia's responses

Both WAIS and Athletics Australia released statements in response to The Australian’s investigation. WAIS’s statement apologised to the victims of Parnov’s alleged behaviour and encouraged anyone affected to either contact Western Australian police or access mental health support through the Australian Institute of Sport. The statement also said that the current board of the organisation, appointed in 2023, was aware of some allegations of misbehaviour but not to the extent revealed by The Australian’s investigation.

Athletics Australia said that when Parnov was fired in 2019, he was banned for life from coaching athletics in Australia. The organisation took additional action to ensure Parnov would not be able to coach internationally either.

What they said

Olympic gold medallist Nina Kennedy said: “I’ve been fighting this battle behind closed doors, in my own way, while trying to reach and succeed at the pinnacle of my sport. This story has weighed on my shoulders for many years. It was only once my coach resigned that I felt like I could fulfil my ­potential and see what I could do in the sport; all the other individuals didn’t get that chance – which is heartbreaking.”

Part of the WAIS statement read: “The current board of the WAIS is appalled by the behaviour of former WAIS employee Alex Parnov and the devastating effect on athletes who were entitled to be safe in their sporting environment… While the current Board has been aware of some allegations against Mr Parnov, the disturbing accounts published in The Australian newspaper are far more extensive than previously known.”

What’s next?

Parnov is believed to be in his home country of Russia. Australia does not have an agreement with Russia allowing the ‘extradition’ (removal) of people from the country to face charges. This means that Parnov can’t be arrested unless he travels to another country that does have a treaty with Australia.

1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732

ICYMI: TDA Sport has a new game on Instagram called Blurdle. IYKYK.
Today’s answer: Steve Smith
Useless clue: common issue for 13% of the population when ink is wet

A message from Deakin University

Women in Sport and the Increasing Use of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids (AAS)

This study highlights the rising prevalence of AAS use among women in sport, particularly athletes, recreational gym-goers, and bodybuilders. While overall prevalence is 4%, bodybuilders show the highest rates (16.8%).

Motivations and health risks differ from men’s, requiring tailored harm reduction strategies for women, especially bodybuilders.

However, research on women’s AAS experiences is limited. This study calls for more women-specific, regionally diverse research, targeted education, and more training for non-judgmental support.

Read more about the study here.

Looking back…

Looking forward… (All times are AEDT)

TDA asks