1. Semenya loses landmark ruling
South African athletics star Caster Semenya has vowed to come back stronger despite losing her landmark case against the IAAF at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
The 28-year-old will now be required to lower her testosterone levels to compete in events from 400m to the mile, the Irish Times reports. Athletics South Africa (ASA) is “reeling in shock”, says the BBC, following the ruling.
In a statement Semenya said: “I know that the IAAF’s regulations have always targeted me specifically. For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger.
“The decision of the Cas will not hold me back. I will once again rise above and continue to inspire young women and athletes in South Africa and around the world.”
2. Ruby rides his last winner
Ruby Walsh shocked the racing world on Wednesday by announcing his retirement. After winning the Punchestown Gold Cup on Kemboy the 39-year-old jumps jockey said: “Time moves on, I’ve done this for 24 years and to be honest I want to do something else for the next 24. I can’t do this forever.” AP McCoy said: “He was like Lionel Messi on a horse.”
3. Messi scores stunning free-kick
Talking of Lionel Messi the Barcelona star was in superb form against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday night. The No.10 scored twice in the 3-0 win and his second – a sensational free-kick – marked his 600th goal for the Spanish side. See the video and reactions to the Messi goal and today’s back pages for more.
4. Van Dijk: we must believe
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has urged his team-mates to believe that they can overturn Barcelona’s three-goal advantage in the Champions League semi-final second leg at Anfield next Tuesday. The Dutchman said: “3-0 sounds very bad. It sounds like we had a proper shocker, but we created big chances against them and should have scored at least one. Then it would be a totally different feeling to what we have now, but we have to take it how it is. I know it’s going to be very tough to come to Anfield. We all have to believe, I will definitely believe, so we’ll see.”
5. Guard of honour for Ramsey and Cech
Sunday’s Premier League match between Arsenal and Brighton will see the Gunners give a guard of honour to Aaron Ramsey and Peter Cech. It’s the final home game of the season for Arsenal at the Emirates and it will be the last time fans can bid farewell to the duo. Welsh star Ramsey, who is leaving for Juventus at the end of the season, has been ruled out of the final games because of a hamstring injury. Goalkeeper Cech, 36, is retiring.
6. Europa semi-final action for London rivals
Arsenal are also in action at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night when they host Spanish side Valencia in the first leg of the Uefa Europa League semi-finals. Chelsea are away in Germany against Eintracht Frankfurt. Both games kick off at 8pm and are live on BT Sport.
7. Ruiz Jr. wants to make history
Andy Ruiz Jr. is excited to have been given the opportunity to fight world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in New York on 1 June. Mexican Ruiz Jr. has stepped in as Joshua’s challenger following Jarrell Miller’s failed drugs tests. “The chills – I’m really excited for this fight,” 29-year-old Ruiz told ESPN. “There’s nervousness in me, but they’re happy nerves. This is my chance to make history. I want to be one of those greats like [Julio Cesar] Chavez, [Mike] Tyson, [Evander] Holyfield, Lennox Lewis. I want to be in that category.”
8. Trump progresses at the Crucible
England’s Judd Trump is through to the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship after beating Scotland’s Stephen Maguire 13-6. Trump will now face qualifier Gary Wilson and the other last-four clash will see John Higgins play David Gilbert. Both semi-finals at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield are live on BBC Two.
9. Ferrari turned down Senna
GPFans.com reports that former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt turned down the chance to sign Ayrton Senna for the “fateful” 1994 season. The Brazilian instead signed for Williams and died after crashing at the San Marino Grand Prix. Read our Talking Points feature about the iconic Formula 1 driver here.
10. Casillas stable after heart attack
After suffering a heart attack in training on Wednesday Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas has posted a picture on social media to tell well-wishers that “everything is controlled”. The BBC reports that the 37-year-old, who won the Fifa World Cup with Spain in 2010, is stable in hospital after he had an acute myocardial infarction.
