Athletics

February 7: World 5,000m silver medallist Mohamed Katir has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit after missing three doping tests.

The 25-year-old Spaniard is the world indoor 3,000m record holder and the European record holder over 5,000m. Athletes must log their whereabouts to assist unannounced out-of-competition tests, with three missed tests in 12-months resulting in a violation.

Katir, who won world 1,500m bronze in 2022, will appeal against the sanction. In a statement, Katir said he has been subjected to many out-of-competition doping tests – both urine and blood samples – over recent months “without the slightest problem”. “I consider that there is no violation arising from three location failures in the last 12 months,” Katir said.

Boxing

February 10: Middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz defeated Liam Williams in one round in an unstoppable performance in London. The Briton extended his unbeaten record to 19 fights, dropping Williams twice thanks to his blistering speed.

Sheeraz, 24, delivered on a promise to make a statement by stopping Williams, a former world title challenger. “I had a lot of doubters going into this fight [who] thought I wasn’t able to keep up with this calibre of fighter,” Sheeraz said. “I do my talking in the ring. When I get in here, I entertain.”

Cricket

February 15: The Pakistan Cricket Board has terminated fast bowler Haris Rauf’s central contract after he refused to go on the Test tour of Australia. Pakistan lost 3-0 in the three-match series between December and January.

The Test tour clashed with Australia’s T20 franchise tournament, the Big Bash League, which Rauf subsequently featured in for Melbourne Stars. The PCB has also banned the 30-year-old from playing in any foreign leagues until June 30. The governing body has not given Rauf the ‘no objection certificate’ which would allow him to play in overseas domestic competitions.

However, this does not affect his international commitments – and the seamer is expected to feature in Pakistan’s matches during that time, including a white-ball series against England in May.

Football

Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast, January 13 – February 11, 2024, final; Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé, Abidjan: Ivory Coast came from a goal down to beat Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations. Sébastien Haller scored late to lead host nation Ivory Coast to a remarkable Africa Cup of Nations title with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final. Haller fired in from close range in the 81st minute to complete the turnaround after Franck Kessié drew the Elephants level in the 62nd. It was Ivory Coast’s third title after wins in 1992 and 2015, both won on penalties.

AFC Asian Cup, Qatar, January 12 – February 10, 2024, final; Lusail Stadium, Doha: Akram Afif scored a hat-trick of penalties as Qatar defeated Jordan 3-1 in the Asian Cup final. The outcome made hosts Qatar the fifth Asian team to win back-to-back titles, following their victory in 2019. Yazan Al-Naimat’s second-half goal levelled the game after Afif converted a first-half penalty.

However, Afif scored twice more from the penalty spot in the final stages after video assistance referee assessments, bringing his tournament total to eight goals. Jordan had been aiming to win the Asian Cup for the first time, however, Qatar were awarded their first spot-kick of the game when Afif was felled in the box by Abdallah Nasib after running onto Lucas Mendes’ pass.

Afif found the bottom corner to cap a terrific first-half display, but Jordan improved in the second period and deservedly restored parity when Ihsan Haddad’s pass was collected in his stride by Yazan Al-Naimat, who skipped away from his marker before rifling a vicious drive past goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.

Jordan were on level terms for only six minutes, however, Afif converted his second penalty of the game against the run of play after Ismaeel Mohammad was fouled by Mahmoud Al-Mardi.

Jordan fans’ hopes were buoyed when the fourth official indicated 13 minutes of extra time, but the video assistant referee gave Qatar their third penalty of the match when Afif was felled by goalie Yazeed Abulaila after overcoming Jordan’s offside trap. Afif kept his composure once again making Qatar the first team to defend their Asian Cup crown since Japan in 2004.

Photo: Mohamed-Katir (Credit: Erik van Leeuwen Erki Pictures)