Here is this week's dose of “5-Point Friday”. A weekly round-up of the sports news and stories that I find most interesting and enjoyable.
Athletics news I am following -
Caster Semenya (@caster800m) has lost her appeal to Switzerland's Federal Supreme Court against the restriction of testosterone levels in female runners.
Semenya is not allowed to compete in events between 400m and a mile without taking testosterone-reducing drugs, following a 2019 rule change by the governing body World Athletics.
"I am very disappointed," Semenya said. "I refuse to let World Athletics drug me or stop me from being who I am."
Athletics' governing body brought in a rule that athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) must either take medication in order to compete in track events from 400m to the mile, or change to another distance.
Athletes with DSD have higher levels of natural testosterone, which World Athletics believes gives them a competitive advantage.
"Excluding female athletes or endangering our health solely because of our natural abilities puts World Athletics on the wrong side of history," Semenya added.
"I will continue to fight for the human rights of female athletes, both on the track and off the track, until we can all run free the way we were born.
"I know what is right and will do all I can to protect basic human rights, for young girls everywhere."
In a statement, World Athletics said "For the last five years World Athletics has fought for and defended equal rights and opportunities for all women and girls in our sport today and in the future.
"We therefore welcome today's decision by the Swiss Federal Tribunal to uphold our DSD regulations as a legitimate and proportionate means of protecting the right of all female athletes to participate in our sport on fair and meaningful terms."
The Swiss Supreme Court said"Fairness in sport is a legitimate concern and forms a central principle of sporting competition. It is one of the pillars on which competition is based."
The ruling means Semenya will not be able to defend her 800m title at the rearranged Tokyo Olympics next summer.
Football story I am interested in -
Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) looks set to make a virtual return in EA Sports’ Madden NFL 21 video game. This will be the first time the former 49'ers QB has appeared in the franchise since 2016.
Kaepernick, who is still hoping to make a playing comeback in the NFL, will be the top free-agent quarterback in Madden NFL 21, with an 81 overall rating. His rating places him among the elite quarterbacks on the popular series, higher than the likes of Cam Newton and Baker Mayfield.
EA Sports said in a statement“Colin Kaepernick is one of the top free agents in football and a starting-caliber quarterback. The team at EA Sports, along with millions of Madden NFL fans, want to see him back in our game.
“Knowing that our EA Sports experiences are platforms for players to create, we want to make Madden NFL a place that reflects Colin’s position and talent, rates him as a starting QB, and empowers our fans to express their hopes for the future of football. We’ve worked with Colin to make this possible, and we’re excited to bring it to all of you today."
Kaepernick was “hands-on” in determining how his avatar would be depicted, including an Afro which is an update on his appearance in Madden NFL 17 with cornrows in his hair. Kaepernick also weighed in heavily on his avatar’s signature celebration, a Black Power fist, which users can activate after a score.
College sports news I am following -
Online sportsbook PointsBet has struck a five-year sponsorship agreement with the University of Colorado, in what is believed to be among the first deals of its kind between a betting operator and a Division 1 athletics program.
PointsBet, whose North American division is currently being constructed in Denver, will have exclusive marketing rights across the entire gaming category, including free-to-play sports games, daily fantasy sports, casino games, and retail and online sports betting.
As well as gameday advertising and broadcast integrations, the company intends to provide career opportunities for CU students studying in areas like business and technology.
The NCAA, college sport’s governing body, has long been averse to sports betting due to integrity concerns, but the organization is relaxing its stance as more U.S. states introduce regulated gambling markets in the wake of a landmark ruling by the country’s Supreme Court in May 2018.
My fantasy team -
What I have been watching -
Anelka: Misunderstood by Franck Nataf. The Netflix documentary focuses on the life and career of French soccer player Nicolas Anelka, and attempts to showcase a troubled genius.
We follow Anelka’s long march through Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and so on, while frequently returning to his low-key, apparently idyllic new life in Dubai. There are a few glimpses of Anelka’s startling on-pitch talent but everyone knows that’s not the story here. Throughout his career Anelka attracted trouble, and much of the film’s running time is given over to letting him have his say. In a calm, measured voice, he explains why he walked away from PSG as a teenager, how it all went wrong at Real, why he felt stitched up at Liverpool, what it felt like to miss the crucial penalty in the 2008 Champions League final.
Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Jonathan