athletics

The US Supreme Court has upheld state laws banning transgender girls from competing on girls' school sports teams. The ruling allows such bans, already passed in multiple states, to remain in effect and is a significant setback for advocates of transgender inclusion in school athletics, while supporters of the laws say it protects fairness in women's sports.

The 20th Asian Games are under way in Japan's Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya, running from 19 September to 4 October. Around 11,000 athletes from 45 countries are competing across 43 sports. The Guardian has published a photo gallery from the event, showing scenes from the opening days of competition in Japan.

Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad, reportedly citing principled objections to facing Israel in an international match. The reported decision raises questions about player activism in international football and how federations respond when athletes decline selection on ethical or political grounds. Ireland's management has not publicly detailed the circumstances, and reactions have focused on the precedent such a withdrawal could set.

Reports suggest Republic of Ireland players are considering boycotting a fixture against Israel. The potential move comes amid ongoing political tensions and debate over sporting ties with Israel. Fans and commentators are divided, with some backing the players' stance on principle and others arguing sport should remain separate from politics. Football authorities have yet to respond formally to the reports.

The 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan are underway, with Olympic officials publishing live athletics results and medallist lists throughout the track and field programme. Fans and media across Asia are following the events closely, tracking national medal counts and standout performances as competitions unfold in Nagoya.

The trend refers to news that Manchester City has been found guilty, covered in an explainer by The Athletic via The New York Times. The headline frames three questions: what the ruling says, how serious it is, and what happens next. Beyond that, the available evidence only includes the headline itself, so the specifics of the charge, the verdict, and any penalties are not clear from the posts. It concerns the English Premier League club.

Manchester City's legal fight with the Premier League over its financial rules continues to be described as sport's 'trial of the century'. The Athletic profiles the lawyers on both sides of the dispute, which centres on the league's associated party transaction regulations and allegations City breached financial fair play rules. City has denied wrongdoing throughout. The case is widely seen as a landmark test of how far football authorities can regulate club finances.

Germany has chosen Munich as its candidate city to host the Olympic Games. If successful, it would be the first Olympics held in Germany since the 1972 Munich Games, which were overshadowed by the terrorist attack that killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches. The bid now heads to international competition, and reactions are likely to weigh the city's modern sporting infrastructure against the weight of 1972's history.

Coverage of the Asian Games 2026 on September 27 centres on India's scores, updates and results from Day 8 of the competition. Sports outlets are tracking how Indian athletes are faring across events as the Games, hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, move into their second week, with medal standings and key match outcomes drawing particular attention from Indian audiences.

South Korean golfer Tom Kim will follow up his Presidents Cup appearance by competing at the Asian Games, where a medal could earn him an exemption from South Korea's mandatory military service. The 21-year-old, a two-time PGA Tour winner, is among the high-profile athletes South Korea hopes will secure sporting exemptions. The move has drawn attention to the country's conscription rules for male athletes.

India and the West Indies are facing off in an international cricket series, with searches spiking across India, the UK, Australia, Canada and beyond. West Indies captain Shai Hope has acknowledged his side are wary of the challenge posed by a strong Indian team. Fans are also following related fixtures and athletics coverage from the Asian Games.

The Asian Games have opened in Japan, with attention turning to ten standout athletes expected to headline the competition. Coverage highlights the competitors seen as most likely to dominate their events and shape the medal race. As one of the world's largest multi-sport events, the Games draw wide interest from fans and national teams across Asia ahead of the opening contests.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe is expected to be sidelined for roughly two weeks, according to a report by The Athletic. The France international's absence comes as a blow to Real Madrid's attacking plans, and it also raises questions about his availability for upcoming France fixtures. Fans and pundits are reacting to how the club will cope without its star striker during his recovery.

On September 28, India's cricket team begins its Asian Games 2026 campaign in Japan, while Indian javelin throwers chase gold on the athletics programme. The day marks a busy stretch for India's contingent, with fans tracking schedules and medal chances across both sports as the continental multi-sport event continues.

India take on Iran in the kabaddi final at the 2026 Asian Games, with India also meeting Japan in hockey and Indian athletes competing in athletics events. The clashes are drawing major attention from Indian sports fans, with hundreds of thousands engaging with live coverage of the day's action across the Games.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield left late in the game against the Minnesota Vikings with an apparent hand injury, according to The Athletic. The incident raises immediate concern for the Buccaneers, whose season outlook could hinge on the severity of the injury and Mayfield's availability going forward.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is back in the news, with coverage examining the current state of scientific knowledge about the degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head impacts. Reports emphasise that while researchers have documented CTE in athletes and others with head trauma histories, key questions remain open, including how widely it occurs, how to diagnose it in living people, and how repeated hits translate into disease.

Several US Senators who played college sports are playing an outsized role in shaping legislation to reform college athletics, NPR reports. Their firsthand experience with the NCAA system gives them credibility and influence in debates over athlete pay and name, image and likeness rules. The bill touches on longstanding concerns about compensating college athletes, a topic that has intensified since NIL rights were introduced and conference realignment reshaped college sports.

The US Senate has taken an initial step toward overhauling the college sports system, according to ABC News. The move signals growing federal interest in reforming how college athletics are governed, a debate that has intensified amid questions over athlete compensation, name-image-likeness rules and the broader structure of collegiate sports. Few details of the legislation were given in the report.

South Korean golfer Tom Kim will head straight from the Presidents Cup to the Asian Games, where a team or individual gold medal would earn him an exemption from South Korea's mandatory military service. The 21-year-old, a multiple PGA Tour winner, is among the highest-profile athletes representing South Korea at the Hangzhou Games, and fans are watching closely to see whether he can secure the exemption.

Premier League clubs are earning significant revenue by hosting concerts at their stadiums, with major acts like Oasis, Beyonce and Coldplay playing football grounds. The Athletic examines how much clubs make from these events, which have become a key income stream as clubs look for revenue beyond matchdays and broadcast deals.

Red Bull had appeared to slip out of contention in this year's Formula 1 championship, but a strong showing from Max Verstappen and rookie teammate Isack Hadjar has revived the team's challenge. Analysts at The Athletic ask whether the pair have dragged Red Bull back into the fight at the front, with recent results suggesting the team is once again a genuine threat to its rivals.

Premier League clubs are reportedly planning legal action in response to guilty verdicts in the Manchester City charges case, according to The Athletic. The development marks a new phase in the fallout from the long-running disciplinary process, with rival clubs preparing to contest elements of the outcome and the implications for the league's financial rules.

An approaching storm on the US East Coast has led sports leagues and organizers to postpone or cancel scheduled events across the region. Teams and venues have adjusted calendars as conditions are expected to disrupt travel and outdoor competition. The Athletic reports the changes are spread across multiple sports throughout the affected area.

Coverage tracks India's performance on Day 7 of the Asian Games 2026, with live scores, updates and results for Indian athletes across events on September 26. Readers are following how India's contingent is faring in the medal standings and which competitors advanced or won on the day.

Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has withdrawn from matches involving Israel, citing the Gaza war. The move has drawn attention in Middle East and sports circles, with reports circulating in regional media. It is part of a wider debate about athletes' responses to the conflict and participation in fixtures connected to the war.