Good evening!

On this day in 1901, American baseball player Joe McGinnity was given a lifetime suspension from baseball for spitting on and punching an umpire named Tom Connolly during a game the previous day.

The lifetime suspension was subsequently reduced to just 12 days.

He must’ve had a decent lawyer!

I’ve got 10 seconds

Stat of the day

4
The number of Women’s Rugby 7s stars who have switched codes to play in the NRLW following the Paris Olympics. Australians Sharni Smale and Dominique du Toit joined the Cronulla Sharks, while New Zealand gold medallists Stacey Waaka and Tenika Willison have joined the Broncos and Knights respectively.

Quote of the day

“It is a shame not to be hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh as we know the [Bangladesh Cricket Board]  would have staged a memorable event…We look forward to taking an ICC global event to Bangladesh in the near future.”
International Cricket Council chief executive Geoff Allardice announcing the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup will now be hosted by the United Arab Emirates instead of Bangladesh. The change of location follows violent anti-government protests in Bangladesh which saw former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resign and flee the country. 

Random fact of the day

The record for the most ascents of Mt Everest belongs to Kami Rita Sherpa. The 54-year-old from Nepal has summited the mountain 29 times, most recently in May this year. The women’s record also belongs to a Nepali, Lhakpa Sherpa, who made her 10th ascent in 2022.

I’ve got 30 seconds

In case you missed it…

🏉 The NRL will hold a ceremony tonight to induct 17 players, two coaches, two referees, and four contributors from the men’s and women’s games into the Hall of Fame. Additionally, at least one player from the Hall of Fame will be named as an ‘Immortal’, joining 13 of the game's legends who have achieved the elevated status.  

🏉 Port Adelaide player Dan Houston will miss the remainder of the 2024 AFL season after being handed a five-match ban. Houston received the ban at the AFL tribunal last night for a hit that left Adelaide Crows player Izak Rankine unconscious during Saturday afternoon’s clash. 

🚴‍♂️ Slovenian cyclist Primož Roglič has claimed the lead in the prestigious La Vuelta a España after winning Stage Four last night. Roglič, a three-time Vuelta winner, now holds an eight-second advantage over Portuguese rider João Almeida.

🏀 WNBA players have called for more time off between the Olympics and the resumption of the regular season. Breanna Stewart, who won gold with Team USA in Paris, was one of several athletes who had only four days off between the Olympics and their next WNBA game. Stewart said: “It’s like, onto the next, onto the next, onto the next, where we kind of [can’t] even really celebrate what we did, of winning a gold medal, as much as you would want to.”

I’ve got 1 minute

Sports journalist Sam Landsberger has died after he was allegedly hit by a truck in Richmond, Melbourne, on Tuesday morning. Landsberger was 35.  

Career

Landsberger was a sports journalist with News Corp for 14 years, mainly covering AFL and cricket. He wrote for the Herald Sun and also made appearances on television with Fox Footy.

In 2023, Landsberger won the Australian Football Media Association’s award for best print news reporter. He also won a Walkley Award for Student Journalist of the Year in 2014. 

Tributes

The Herald Sun’s chief football writer Mark Robinson said: “Sam Landsberger had an enormous future in journalism who took giant strides early on. He loved the game and understood it, and he respected his craft. He was such a valuable member of Melbourne’s sports journalism world, someone who could cover all aspects of footy. And people trusted him.”

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said: "Sam has been taken from his family and friends in a terrible tragedy…and all our love and care go out to them in this time of greatest need.”

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Jannik Sinner, the world’s number one tennis player, has been cleared of any wrongdoing after two positive tests for trace amounts of a banned substance earlier this year. This season, the 23-year-old won his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open and four other ATP titles. His season record of 48-5 is the best on tour. 

What happened?

This week, the International Tennis Integrity Association announced that Sinner had recorded two positive tests for a banned substance at the Indian Wells tournament in March. 

It said an independent tribunal had since ruled Sinner was not at fault. 

Sinner tested positive for clostebol, a steroid derivative of testosterone. It’s banned due to its anabolic qualities, which can improve muscle growth. 

Sinner

In a statement on Sinner’s Instagram today,  his team argued that the prohibited substance entered the player’s system accidentally. They allege Sinner’s physiotherapist applied topical cream containing clostebol to a wound on their own finger, before treating him. 

“Coupled with various skin lesions on Jannik’s body, [the physiotherapist] caused the inadvertent contamination,” the statement said. 

Tennis world

Several former players questioned the ITIA’s decision on social media, including Australian Nick Kyrgios. 

Kyrgios said: “Ridiculous - whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for 2 years.”

Fellow Australian and former player John Millman said: “Before jumping to conclusions, Jannik Sinner had less than a billionth of a gram in his system... I believe him”.

Consequences

Sinner reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells. His result has now been disqualified and he’ll be stripped of his $US325,000 ($AU482,000) winnings, and the 400 ATP ranking points he earned from making the semi-final at the event. 

Sinner will remain the world's number one player heading into the U.S. Open, which starts on Monday.

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From plate to podium: Nutrition for young athletes

Peak performance isn't just about rigorous training, physical skills and genetics – it’s also about nutrition.

Whether you’re chasing gold or just looking to optimise your health, Dr Dominique Condo, a researcher and lecturer from Deakin’s School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, says that “proper nutrition is key.”

Nutrition has the power to make or break your athletic performance, and according to Dr. Condo, there are three key ingredients for a winning plate:

1. A balanced diet

Young athletes need a well-balanced diet that is rich in carbohydrates for slow-burning energy, proteins for muscle repair and growth, and fats for overall health. Picture a colourful plate full of fruits and veggies!

2. Hydrate

Unfortunately, the ‘eight glasses of water a day’ trick might not cut it! “It’s important to understand the demands of the sport and individual factors, including thirst, that may impact hydration needs,” Dr Condo said. Proper hydration depends on factors like body size, climate, activity level and overall health.

3. Meal timings

“Meal timing is just as important as what the meal is made of,” Dr Condo advises. “Eating a nutritious meal 2-3 hours pre-exercise or competition will allow for the food to be digested and able to be used as energy.”

Think beyond the field. Study sport at Deakin.

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