WORLD OF SPORT

WORLD ATHLETICS have fined the Russian athletics federation £8million for breaching antidoping rules but have lifted a suspension on their athletes competing as neutrals at the 2020 Olympics. The governing body have put a limit of ten Russians taking part in track and field events in Tokyo. Russia have been banned from athletics since 2015 because of state-sponsored doping. World Athletics president Lord Coe said they felt ‘let down’ by the previous Russian administration.

THE row between leading athletes and the British Olympic Association ended yesterday as they struck a compromise over marketing rights. Under the new conditions around marketing rules, which athletes led by Adam Gemili had attacked for limiting their earning potential at the Olympics, GB stars can now send up to three tweets thanking a sponsor during the Games instead of one. They also no longer have to formally submit all marketing materials for approval by the BOA. The deal comes after a prolonged and angry stand-off.

BRITISH TENNIS is set for more uncertainty at the top as it prepares to lose performance director Simon Timson to Manchester City. Timson departs the Lawn Tennis Association to take up a comparable role at the Etihad after being the latest figure to try to solve the problems of elite player production. He has been at Roehampton for three-and-a-half years and said: ‘We have established a firm foundation for sustainable success, so I leave with a heavy heart.’