Russia’s athletics federation yesterday published a list of the 68 athletes who have formally requested to be allowed to compete at the Rio Olympics following a decision to suspend the track and field team.

Doping cheat-turned-whistle blower Yuliya Stepanova is “very welcome” at the European Athletics Championships, track and field’s continental chief insisted yesterday.

A distraught Alysia Montano called her career “a farce” and branded the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) “a corrupt institution” after crashing out of the US Olympic trials on Monday.

Jenson Button has not stood on the British Grand Prix podium in 16 attempts and, heading into what could be his last chance on Sunday, accepts it may never happen.

The turn of the Olympic cycle has ushered in a new generation of riders plotting to overthrow track queen Anna Meares, but the seasoned Australian is confident of being in top gear to defend her sprint title at the Rio de Janeiro Games.

When Joe Allen walked through the door at Liverpool football club his former manager Brendan Rodgers beamed at the waiting television cameras and confidently proclaimed: “This is the Welsh Xavi.”

Real Madrid teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale go head-to-head hoping to carry Portugal and Wales respectively to the Euro 2016 final today.

Wales boss Chris Coleman hailed Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale’s mental strength ahead of the showdown between the Real Madrid stars when Wales face Portugal in the Euro 2016 semi-finals today.

Vincenzo Nibali began the Tour de France tasked with helping Astana teammate Fabio Aru try to win on his debut but the fickle nature of the world’s greatest cycling race means the Italian could yet fight for the yellow jersey.

For the second day in a row, a photo-finish decided the stage winner at the Tour de France, with Marcel Kittel coming up trumps yesterday.

Speed king Mark Cavendish hit out at the Sky team of Tour de France champion Chris Froome for making sprint finishes dangerous.

Australia winger Joe Tomane confirmed yesterday he will be leaving the ACT Brumbies for French club Montpellier at the end of the season, robbing the Wallabies of one of their best finishers.