Injured Chelsea Defender Reece James to Miss Rest of Season

Chelsea's Reece James passes the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Saturday, April 1, 2023. (AP)
Chelsea's Reece James passes the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Saturday, April 1, 2023. (AP)
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Injured Chelsea Defender Reece James to Miss Rest of Season

Chelsea's Reece James passes the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Saturday, April 1, 2023. (AP)
Chelsea's Reece James passes the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Saturday, April 1, 2023. (AP)

Chelsea defender Reece James' injury-hit campaign came to an early end after he was ruled out for the final few weeks of the season on Tuesday because of a hamstring problem.

Fitness issues have limited the England right back to just 16 starts in the Premier League this season.

His latest injury came during the loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals last week, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said. James completed the game against the European champions at Stamford Bridge but a scan revealed the extent of the problem.

Lampard also said midfielder Mason Mount, who has been linked with a move away from the club, is also unlikely to play again before the season’s final game.

Mount is set to have surgery on a long-term pelvic problem. With uncertainty over a new contract, he could have played his last game for Chelsea.

“Medical staff have been trying, but we’ve got to a stage where he will have minor surgery,” Lampard said of Mount. “It’ll probably be a four-week recovery and we all know where that gets us to.”



UN Human Rights Office Condemns Racist Abuse Targeting Gauff

Coco Gauff, of the United States, pauses during a press conference following her loss to Elise Mertens of Belgium in the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Coco Gauff, of the United States, pauses during a press conference following her loss to Elise Mertens of Belgium in the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
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UN Human Rights Office Condemns Racist Abuse Targeting Gauff

Coco Gauff, of the United States, pauses during a press conference following her loss to Elise Mertens of Belgium in the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Coco Gauff, of the United States, pauses during a press conference following her loss to Elise Mertens of Belgium in the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

United Nations Human Rights office has condemned online racist abuse faced by Coco Gauff after a replayed point sparked a backlash against the American tennis player this week.

Gauff was targeted after stopping play during a crucial point in her win over Sun Xinran at the China Open, raising her hand to complain about a flickering advertising board as Sun was about to hit a winner.

Women's tennis governing body WTA responded to the incident, saying they were appalled by the racist abuse directed at Gauff, and are in contact with her to offer full support.

"As we do for all WTA players ⁠experiencing online abuse, ⁠our Threat Matrix team is monitoring the abusive messages, working with the athlete’s team to report them to the relevant platforms and seeking action on the content and the accounts responsible," WTA told Reuters in a statement.

The umpire ordered the point to be replayed after a video review, and Gauff went on to win the match 7-5 ⁠6-1, but the American later revealed in a social media post that she had received a huge amount of racist abuse following the match.

"You can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist," Gauff, who is Black, said on X in reply to a post containing a racial slur.

The official UN Human Rights office posted a statement on Saturday calling for players, coaches and sports bodies to unite against racial and sexist abuse.

"Racist messages such as those targeting tennis player Coco Gauff online are appalling and illustrate that ⁠Black female ⁠athletes are specifically targeted for vitriol and racial abuse," it wrote on X, according to Reuters.

"There is no place in sport for racial or sexist slurs and abuse. Players, coaches, and sports bodies need to stand up for those facing such attacks and fans need to push back against those who sully sport with racism and sexism."

Two-time Grand Slam winner Gauff exited the tournament on Wednesday with a round-of-16 loss, and said the incident had left her drained.

A study by the WTA and World Tennis showed players were subjected to over 12,000 abusive posts and messages on social media in 2025, up from 8,000 posts the previous year.


Resurgent Verstappen Wins Singapore Grand Prix for 1st time

Race winner Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands celebrates on the podium during the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, 11 October 2026.  EPA/FAZRY ISMAIL
Race winner Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands celebrates on the podium during the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, 11 October 2026. EPA/FAZRY ISMAIL
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Resurgent Verstappen Wins Singapore Grand Prix for 1st time

Race winner Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands celebrates on the podium during the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, 11 October 2026.  EPA/FAZRY ISMAIL
Race winner Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands celebrates on the podium during the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, 11 October 2026. EPA/FAZRY ISMAIL

Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix for the first time in his career on Sunday to complete a perfect weekend where he also finished first in the sprint and was on pole for both races.

Red Bull's Verstappen finished 7.335sec ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc with championship leader Kimi Antonelli third for Mercedes after 62 laps under the lights of the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

The four-time world champion had never won or even achieved a pole position in nine previous attempts going back to his debut for Toro Rosso in 2015.

"It has taken a while but I think this race was very good," said a delighted Verstappen, who was celebrating back-to-back wins after triumphing in Malaysia seven days ago, his first victory of 2026.

"We had pace when we needed to have it on the soft tire and the medium. So of course very happy to win here," the Dutchman added after claiming the top step of the podium on his 250th grand prix start.

"I think the last few races have been really positive for us, we have a lot of motivation in the team to try and deliver even more results.

"Hopefully we can have a bit more fun until the end of the year."

The McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were fourth and fifth, ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who dropped from third on the grid to sixth after botching his tire strategy.

Liam Lawson's RB was seventh, Nico Hulkenberg eighth in the Audi and George Russell, who started from the back of the grid because of engine penalties, came home ninth in his Mercedes.

"It was a very tough race out there, but really happy with a podium in the end," said Antonelli, who increased his championship lead to 102 points over Russell.

Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull, who started from the pit lane, rounded out the points scorers in 10th.

"We were quite strong at the beginning of the race, then we started degrading," Reuters quoted Leclerc as saying.

"We did a different strategy to Max, I gave it my all and I don't regret anything. I don't think there was much more to do today."

Verstappen was put under immediate pressure from the quick-reacting Leclerc as he launched from pole position at lights out.

The Dutchman had to swoop across to his left to cut off the Ferrari driver and stay ahead into turn one.

Leclerc stuck to the rear of Verstappen through the first few laps as his teammate Hamilton kept Antonelli at bay.

Hamilton was the only one of the front-runners to start on the slower medium tires and he was the first to pit, taking on fresh soft rubber on lap 19.

Verstappen left it until lap 32 to stop, and once all the top six had pitted, the order was the same as at the start.

Antonelli and Leclerc dived for a second time under a virtual safety car caused by Lance Stroll's Aston Martin breaking down.

But Hamilton bafflingly decided to stay out on much older tires, despite being called in by his team, an aberration that would cost the seven-time world champion a podium finish.

Leclerc on fresh rubber quickly passed Hamilton for second.

Norris attempted to overtake Hamilton at the start of lap 55 only to lose his place to Antonelli, who then picked off the Ferrari to move up to third.

"I managed to take advantage of the fight with Lando and Lewis, and very happy with that," said Antonelli.

Norris did get past Hamilton, whose tires were shot, on the next lap followed by Piastri.

"Sorry boys. I let you down today with that strategy," said Hamilton on team radio.

"My call, and I lost us valuable points. I'll try and make up for it in the next one."


Kenyan Great Kipchoge Wins First Marathon in Three Years

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge won his first marathon in three years at Melbourne. Saeed KHAN / AFP
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge won his first marathon in three years at Melbourne. Saeed KHAN / AFP
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Kenyan Great Kipchoge Wins First Marathon in Three Years

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge won his first marathon in three years at Melbourne. Saeed KHAN / AFP
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge won his first marathon in three years at Melbourne. Saeed KHAN / AFP

Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge won his first marathon in three years on Sunday when the Kenyan great cruised to victory at Melbourne.

The most-decorated marathoner in history crossed the finish line in 2hrs 9min 10sec, two seconds inside the race record.

It was his first victory over the distance since Berlin in 2023 and part of his "World Tour" to raise funds for causes he believes in.

The 41-year-old former world record-holder announced in 2025 he planned complete marathons on all seven continents, including Antarctica, over two years.

Melbourne was the third stop after South Africa and Brazil.

He broke away inside the last 10 kilometers on a course raced partly on the Australian Formula One track at Albert Park and which finished inside the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"On the course, it was really wonderful, I enjoyed seeing people standing, cheering, and shouting my name," Kipchoge said, looking fresh at the finish.

He would have gone faster, but slowed down inside the MCG waving to fans.

"It was actually different -- running on a beautiful course, but also running on the Formula One track, and above all else, finishing on a cricket ground," he added.

"It makes me proud to run with the younger generation and inspire the running community in Melbourne."

Australian Thomas Do Canto was runner-up in 2:10:35 while New Zealand's Camille French came first in the women's race in 2:28:25.